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https://up.edu.ph/off-label-drug-therapies-in-covid-19-may-lead-to-arrythmias/ | Off-label drug therapies in COVID-19 may lead to arrythmias – University of the Philippines | Off-label drug therapies in COVID-19 may lead to arrythmias Off-label drug therapies in COVID-19 may lead to arrythmias July 2, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Screenshot from the replay of “COVID-19 and the Heart”, available on TVUP’s YouTube channel. The use of antivirals and antimalarials as off-label therapies in the treatment of COVID-19 may result in arrythmias or heartbeat irregularities, according to Dr. Chito Permejo, a UP Manila College of Medicine 2001 graduate who is a cardiology intensivist at the Philippine Heart Center. In his talk, “COVID-19 and the Heart”, the eighth installment of UP’s STOP COVID DEATHS webinar series streamed on June 12, Permejo said these medications should be used with caution and extreme care in patients with preexisting cardiac issues who have contracted COVID-19. These drug therapies are linked to QTc interval prolongation, which may lead to arrythmias, including life-threatening torsades de pointes. Screenshot of Dr. Chito Permejo in “COVID-19 and the Heart” from the replay on TVUP’s YouTube channel. The side effect of these drugs, along with COVID-19-related cardiac injury and the cytokine storm resulting from the body’s abnormal immune response, may be fatal and thus necessitates careful management and monitoring by doctors. It is acknowledged that those with heart conditions are at a higher risk for severe illness if they are infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19. Cardiac involvement figures prominently in the disease. Based on the studies that Permejo has read, he enumerated the most likely causes of cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients: increased cardiac stress due to respiratory failure and hypoxemia or low oxygen levels in the blood; direct myocardial injury; indirect injury from systemic inflammatory response; or, the combination of all three. He revealed that studies have shown acute cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients, preceded by sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Screenshot of Permejo’s presentation slide in “COVID-19 and the Heart” showing the likely causes of cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients. For those with co-morbidities in particular, he said the link between COVID-19 and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) provides “a good theoretical mechanism for cardiac dysfunction.” While cellular ACE2 is associated with positive qualities, such as “vasorelaxation, cardioprotection, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-Angiotensin II-induced signaling, and anti-fibrosis”, it is also the binding site of SARS-CoV-2, like SARS-CoV, because of the transmembrane protease serine 2 receptor. ACE2 is found in the heart, brain, vessels, kidneys, testes, intestines, and lungs. It is expressed abundantly in the last two. Permejo posited, “ACE2 downregulation leads to cardiac dysfunction because they’re being used up by COVID-19.” In the management of COVID-19 in patients with cardiac issues, he advised weighing drug potential against cardiovascular risk. He also emphasized the importance of regular diagnostics to monitor the patient’s condition and be alerted to a possible cardiac event. To view Permejo’s “COVID-19 and the Heart” in full, go to this link. The UP webinar series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” is held in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center. The series is scheduled every Friday from 12nn to 2pm, with the next webinar on July 3 focusing on “Rehabilitation for Critical Care Survivors of COVID19”. Dr. Celso F. Bate, physiatrist of The Medical City and VRP Medical Center, will be the guest speaker. Register here: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar11. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-prof-emeritus-pernia-talks-covid-19-and-the-economy-at-upaa-kapihan/ | UP Prof. Emeritus Pernia talks COVID-19 and the Economy at UPAA Kapihan – University of the Philippines | UP Prof. Emeritus Pernia talks COVID-19 and the Economy at UPAA Kapihan UP Prof. Emeritus Pernia talks COVID-19 and the Economy at UPAA Kapihan July 3, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion UP alumni and members of the UP community gather via Zoom for the UPAA Kapihan featuring UP Professor Emeritus and former NEDA Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia (top left corner). Replay of the Kapihan can be viewed here. An enriching discussion titled “COVID-19 and the Economy” on the intersection of human and economic health took place on June 16, 2020, as former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary and UP School of Economics Emeritus Professor Ernesto M. Pernia was the guest and resource speaker at the UP Alumni Association’s (UPAA) Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP program. [Watch the replay here] UP Professor Emeritus and former NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia speaking during the UPAA Kapihan via Zoom. The afternoon discussion, held over the online communications platform, Zoom, explored the Philippine government’s priorities in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as policies that promised to balance health preservation and the resuscitation of the economy. True to his promise to “advance propositions to provoke discourse”, Pernia identified key policy suggestions that he said would align with the short- and long-term goals of the country. Pernia’s talk centered on recommendations from the Anticipatory and Forward Planning (AFP) Technical Working Group of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Taskforce, chaired by NEDA. He said that such measures were important to renew the people’s trust in both the government and the private sector. Pernia said that while health should always come first, the economy should not be allowed to lag far behind. The first objective of the AFP Technical Working Group of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Taskforce, according to Pernia, is to restore the people’s confidence in the health sector, which ideally should culminate in solutions that enhance the sector further to deal with future threats. He was critical of the national health system’s response over the nearly three-month struggle against COVID-19, citing limitations that persist to the present in comprehensive “testing, tracing, and treating” (T3) measures. Pernia said that these limitations were, together with the country’s stringent lockdown measures, some of the factors that led to disturbing turns in key economic indicators, such as unemployment, manufacturing, and trade. The second objective, therefore, is to rebuild consumer and business confidence via a robust T3 program, as 87% of the public expressed “fear, worry, and anxiety” over the current situation. He said that reviving consumer confidence was of paramount importance, as consumption spending amounted to 70% of GDP. Weak consumer spending would keep the economy “in the doldrums”, as businesses and employment would fail to recover. Lastly, Pernia recommended policies and programs to help adapt to a new economic and social normal. He cited the importance of two bills to future progress on these fronts: the Philippine Economic Stimulus Act (PESA/ARISE, costing P1.3 trillion over 3 years); and, the Philippine Program for Recovery with Equity and Solidarity (PH PROGRESO, estimated at P846 billion). UPAA President Reynaldo C. Laserna welcomes the Kapihan participants. The Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP is a public service project of the UPAA that aims to serve as a forum for intelligent and constructive discussion of issues relevant to national development. Find out more by visiting: facebook.com/UPAA.Secretariat. |
https://up.edu.ph/plans-possibilities-and-progress-up-academics-moving-into-thenext-normal/ | Plans, Possibilities and Progress: UP academics moving into the “next normal” – University of the Philippines | Plans, Possibilities and Progress: UP academics moving into the “next normal” Plans, Possibilities and Progress: UP academics moving into the “next normal” July 2, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The University of the Philippines (UP) is coming to terms with the fact that we can no longer go back to the traditional modes of teaching and learning. However, this “next normal”is also opening up new prospects, platforms, and possibilities for teaching and learning, which UP is set to explore within the next two months. A memorandum released by the UP System Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA Memorandum No. 2020-68) dated June 19, 2020 states that even before COVID-19, UP was already planning how UP students can continue learning despite class suspensions due to natural hazards, disasters, or social and political eventualities. “Anticipating many more such suspensions in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world, the pre-COVID-19 UP System plan already entailed strategies to: 1) expedite the paradigm shift to lifelong learning; 2) accelerate changes in pedagogies and assessment that include the blending of face-to-face, virtual and experiential course work; and, 3) provide course packs at the start of every semester to facilitate independent learning as a value in itself, but most especially to make up for disruptions in the learning process, among others,” the memorandum stated. Challenging but exciting The COVID-19 pandemic that shut down the world merely catalyzed this overdue transformation of higher education in general and UP education in particular. The work during this unprecedented time is challenging but exciting, too, as opportunities open up for higher education institutions, including UP, to experiment with new and creative ways of delivering programs and courses, and to institutionalize innovations that enhance learning. Indeed, the “new reality” has revealed possibilities that were perhaps not as obvious before. Some examples the memorandum mentioned are the following: • Inviting eminent visiting professors who in the past have hesitated to accept UP’s invitation because they could not afford to be physically away for an extended period of time; • Inviting experts such as noted literary authors, artists, scientists, researchers, and practitioners to interact with students in virtual class sessions; • Using uploaded plays, art works, music, TVUP (http://tvup.ph/) panel discussions, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs); • Offering modular courses in sequence within a semester when feasible; • Incorporating available virtual reality applications in courses, while ensuring that students without online connections are able to access uploaded works and recorded sessions with experts asynchronously; and, • Designing common courses collaboratively within a unit or across the UP System, among other possible changes. For the next two months, UP faculty, administrators, students, and staffwill be working on “new ways of doing”, especially when it comes to: new modes of teaching and learning in the first semester of the new UP academic calendar, AY 2020-2021; preparing the physical and academic infrastructure for remote learning; preparing programs and courses for the possibility of blended learning; and, enhancing and modifying support for students’ academic instruction and well-being. Modes of teaching and learning The memorandum stresses that the safety of UP’s constituents is the University’s first priority when it comes to adopting remote learning and/or blending remote and face-to-face learning, if the public health situation allows it. Because of this, all courses in the first semester will be delivered remotely. Any exemption must be approved by the chancellor of the constituent unit (CU), subject to strict compliance with the guidelines set by the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and local government units, and in consideration of the situation of students in the class which a unit endorses for exemption. Remote teaching and learning covers both asynchronous or non-real time communication (e.g., email, Facebook Messenger, Viber groups) and synchronous or real-time communication (e.g., lectures, webinars and teleconferences via Zoom or Google Meet) between teachers and learners. To avoid confusing students, the memorandum has instructed CUs to adopt one or at most two uniform Learning Management Systems (e.g., UP’s UVLE and VLE, Canvas, Google Classroom, Edmodo, etc.). Academic calendar The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted adjustments to the academic calendars of higher education institutions (HEIs) around the world. UP, for its part, is retaining the semester and midyear system with some adjustments, subject to the final approval of the Board of Regents (BOR). One adjustment is the shortening of the first and second semesters to 14 weeks and the opening of the first semester on September 10, 2020, subject to student consultation. This shortening of the semesters was approved in principle by the BOR at its meeting on May 21, 2020. The memorandum notes that the reduction in the number of weeks in the semester will not affect the delivery of content, since lessons will be delivered asynchronously or synchronously, and remote modes of teaching do not limit the time students have to interact with the learning content, the teacher, and their classmates. For students without Internet connectivity, their independent learning will be supported by activity and assignment guides in the course packs, which will be delivered to them in USB flash drives or as printed material. Physical and academic infrastructure Physical infrastructure is required to support remote learning. UP is currently undertaking several initiatives to prepare its infrastructure, including: maintaining its institutional subscription to Zoom for faculty meetings, webinars, workshops, synchronous classes, student group work and interactions; discussing with telecommunication companies the procurement of gadgets, Internet connectivity, support for educational data packs, computer loans and subsidies for financially challenged students and faculty; launching fundraising and resource generation campaigns among UP alumni and private sector donors for computers and laptops for students; and, exploring the use of TV and radio as an alternative to the Internet for areas with poor signals or Internet connectivity. Initiatives for laying down the academic infrastructure for remote learning include: piloting an in-house developed Library Services Platform and Discovery Service to replace the existing Library System (iLib) that will feature a union catalog of print and electronic resources of all CU libraries and a centralized patron database; subscribing to databases and collections for all CUs; subscribing to Open Athens (remote access platform) for each CU; procuring a Learning Management System (LMS) to supplement the CUs’ LMS if necessary; and, making local and international online educational resources available, among others. Program and course preparations for remote learning UP academic units will be reviewing their curricula in light of the move to remote learning this coming academic year, noting the possibility of blended learning in the second semester. The review, which will be concluded by July 10, 2020, will determine the possible sequencing of courses to be offered in the first and second semesters of AY 2020-2021 and the proposed modified midyear. Some questions to be considered include: Which courses can be entirely delivered remotely and which of these can be offered in the first semester? Which courses should have a face-to-face component and can be delivered in a blended mode? Which courses cannot be delivered either remotely or in blended mode, and what protocol should be set to ensure students’ safety if they have to go to school for these courses? What is the reasonable student load in a remote learning mode? Can the academic unit offer more sections for the course? If not, can the course be offered in a large class with Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Teaching Fellows (TFs)? Following the review, academic units will then come up with course packs to be distributed to students. The course packs will have the following components: a course guide with detailed syllabus; learning resources such as readings, multimedia resources like video lectures, and other content resources; study and activity guides; and assignment guides. Student support In addition to enhancing existing student support programs, the University is instituting two new grants to support the academic instruction of students: Learning Assistance Grants to aid students in need of equipment and subsidy for connectivity service; and Peer Learning Groups and Networks, which are networks of student assistants to support students in remote learning contexts. Two more programs are designed to ensure the safety, health and dignity of students. One is the Student Wellness System and Networks, which is a network that provides information, referral systems and mental health services to students with additional needs, spanning UP campuses and linking the University with agencies that can support better health outcomes. The other is the Student Helpdesk and Guidance, which is a network of social workers and counselors who can provide academic, emotional, and legal support to students in special circumstances (e.g., domestic violence, working students, legal concerns). Dialogues with stakeholders The University held a three-part series of webinar-workshops for faculty members across the UP System on “Taking Stock and Gearing UP for AY 2020-2021” on June 8, June 15, and June 22. Special webinars for faculty on course redesign, design thinking, LMS training and other topics, as well as the retooling of UP administrative staff will be announced separately. UP also held dialogues with its faculty and students at the CU level from June 29 to July 2. Dialogues with the UP administrative staff, research, extension and professional staff (REPS), and concerned parents of incoming first-year students, will be announced soon. In sum, the OVPAA memorandum reminds the members of the UP community that, ultimately, all the changes the University is compelled to make within severe time constraints aim to ensure that UP students will continue “to thrive in their learning environment, engage in learning leveraging digital and information technology, learn with appropriate pedagogical practice best suited to their enrolled course, and create through various learning partnerships.” |
https://up.edu.ph/upri-launches-policy-sourcebook-on-covid-19/ | UPRI launches Policy Sourcebook on COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UPRI launches Policy Sourcebook on COVID-19 UPRI launches Policy Sourcebook on COVID-19 July 3, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta With the barrage of news, information, and social media posts coming from all sides, it can be a challenge for ordinary Filipinos to stay up-to-date with the national government’s efforts to fight COVID-19. In light of this, the University of the Philippines (UP) has come up with a way to keep track of the government’s latest policies and measures to defeat the viral pandemic in the country. The UP Resilience Institute’s (UPRI) Research and Creative Work team has developed a policy sourcebook of the government’s policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines: A Policy Sourcebook consists of two volumes. Volume I covers national issuances while Volume II, which will be released at a later date, will focus on local government policies. This policy sourcebook is an evolving work that will be updated monthly as part of UPRI’s contribution to the efforts of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team and in pursuit of UP’s mandate as a public service university. It is meant to help and inform the public, students, scholars, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the intersecting fields of public health, disaster risk management, and crisis governance by providing an accessible and comprehensive annotated list of COVID-related policies in one document. Read and download Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines: A Policy Sourcebook, Volume 1: National Government (as of 30 June 2020). For questions or clarifications related to the policy sourcebook, please send an email (upri.rcw@gmail.com) to Dr. Kristoffer B. Berse, Associate Professor and Director for Research and Creative Work, UP Resilience Institute. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-badass-hits-a-serve-for-ip-communities/ | UP BadAss hits a serve for IP communities – University of the Philippines | UP BadAss hits a serve for IP communities UP BadAss hits a serve for IP communities July 6, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion The UP BadAss and Abra Indigo Manila are selling facemasks created by the Itneg community to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on their community. Photo taken from UP BadAss page. Even with COVID-19 putting a strain on the country’s healthcare system and economy, experts have found that the world’s indigenous peoples have been disproportionately affected. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs recently cited that their relatively poor access to healthcare, higher rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and lack of access to essential services make indigenous communities especially vulnerable to the ravages of a global pandemic. As part of their mandate of social responsibility, the UP Badminton Association in Diliman (UP BadAss) has organized two projects to assist the indigenous communities, particularly the Itneg, of Namarabar, Peñarrubia, Abra to find a partial solution to these problems. Some of the designs being sold at the UP BadAss page made by the Itneg community. Visit https://facebook.com/UPBadAss to see more. Photo taken from UP BadAss page. Recently, the group partnered with slow-fashion brand, Abra Indigo Manila, to help raise funds for the community. The first was a donation drive in May 2020 to raise funds and provide relief packs for 160 families in Namarabar. This drive to cushion the social and economic effects of COVID-19 on the community was also done in partnership with UP Circuit and the UP Economics Society. More recently, the UP partnership of the UP BadAss and Abra Indigo Manila has been selling facemasks made by the Itneg community via their Facebook page. The face masks are made with neoprene and painted with natural dyes, patterned according to the designs of Itneg embroidery. According to the page, each mask carries a unique symbol embossed by the embroiderer that carries a piece of Itneg history and culture. Please pay via the following channels. Visit the UP Badass page to learn more. Photo taken from UP BadAss page. Buying a facemask from the UP BadAss Facebook page is quick and simple. You can do so by commenting ‘mine’ under the picture of the design one is interested in, sending a message containing your contact details to the page, and paying via the four indicated channels (BDO, GCash, Landbank, and BPI). You may send proof of your transaction to the email: upbadass@gmail.com For more details, and to see all the designs for yourself, please visit the UP BadAss Facebook page. View a similar story from our partners at UP Diliman: https://upd.edu.ph/up-badass-sells-face-masks-for-ips/. Visit the Abra Indigo Manila Facebook page at: https://facebook.com/AbraIndigoManila/. |
https://up.edu.ph/be-visible-be-available/ | ‘Be visible. Be available.’ – University of the Philippines | ‘Be visible. Be available.’ ‘Be visible. Be available.’ July 6, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Image from the Nursing Program of FMDS, UPOU Facebook page. Ma. Rita Villanueva-Tamse teaches in the UP Open University (UPOU) Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN) program and at the UP Manila College of Nursing, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She is a former chief of the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Division of Clinical Nursing Operations and a former deputy director for Nursing at the same hospital. She has almost 40 years of experience in nursing administration. She was one of three nurses who shared their COVID-19 experiences in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?”, an episode of UPOU’s Let’s Talk it Over online lecture series that was streamed live on June 11 on UPOU Networks. It was organized by the MAN program of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies. Screenshot of Ma. Rita Villanueva-Tamse in “Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?”. The replay of the webinar can be viewed here. So, what do nurses need from their leaders? That visibility and availability rank high up in that list is what Tamse revealed. They need to show their nurses that they are readily available to listen to concerns and give assistance. Establishing an open line of communication is crucial to letting frontline workers know they are valued and cared for by their institutions. Health care organizations being attuned to their needs, through consultation and participation allows these organizations to create operational strategies during a crisis that strike a balance between providing service and making sure their workers are not overwhelmed. Tamse explained how, for example, during a pandemic, responding to a disruption in regular health care services entails: looking at the necessary resources; innovative task shifting; restructuring services; making appropriate and rational staff assignments; and, surge planning. Decision-making must be fluid to adapt to a crisis. Knowing the physical, emotional, and mental health needs of their workers, professionally and personally,ensures that health services are delivered in the best way possible. She said how ironic it is that while 2020 marks the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, this year has also become very challenging for nurses because of COVID-19. Nurses, who already play a critical role in the healthcare system, have seen the magnification and increased gravity of their contribution to the management of a highly infectious new disease. As they tend to COVID-19 patients, they are in a position to orchestrate coordination for interdisciplinary care and are the first to deal with patient safety and mitigation of complications. Tamse said that it is the responsibility of nursing administrators and institutions to manage the knowledge and skills gap. She said, “Not all nurses are infectious care nurses.” In a crisis where it is all hands on deck, it is necessary to arm nurses with the proper knowledge and skills to allow them to perform their new tasks better. This requires not only training but “mix-matching” non-infectious care nurses with infectious care nurses who serve as mentors to the former. She emphasized how all health care workers, including utility personnel, should be considered in a well-crafted response to a crisis. The engagement of hospital employees in successfully managing COVID-19 should be encouraged by the institution through its leaders. Timely and consistent information is shared. Conflicts are managed efficiently. Workers are empowered to innovate and be creative. Support is clearly given with a positive attitude. Milestones should be celebrated and service is given meaningful recognition. Policy directions resulting from the COVID-19 crisis should “synthesize experience to come up with evidence-based practice”. Tamse added that principles on pandemic response must be harmonized, including human resource management. Protocols must be fine-tuned through research. Relevant agencies must collaborate to draft a pandemic preparedness and response plan that is appropriate and sensitive. All this are needed so as to create a Philippine-specific system of managing pandemics. Tamse, whose graduate degree focused on mental health and psychiatric nursing, addressed nurses by giving them the following advice: eat well and get enough sleep and rest; acknowledge, verbalize and share feelings of anxiety; and, be positive by using positive language. On patient care, she said that nurses should provide a calming presence because “the most frightening thing [for patients] in this pandemic is being alone . . . . If we are fearful, our patients are doubly fearful. If we are anxious, they are more seriously anxious.” She added that the tone of voice and choice of words were key to reassure patients that they are receiving the best care possible in this situation. By giving accurate information, nurses can also ease uncertainties felt by their patients. And if nurses and the hospitals themselves can find ways to enable their patients to virtually connect with their families, then it will make their patients feel more supported in their fight against COVID-19. Tamse, talking to nursing administrators this time, underscored the need to prioritize the prevention of burnout in nurses by providing psychosocial support mechanisms on top of physical well-being considerations. Some of the ways by which this can be accomplished include providing opportunities for communication through briefing and debriefing before and after shifts, or during their donning and doffing of personal protective equipment. Mandatory breaks should also be observed. A buddy or mentoring system can be put in place as a support strategy. “[Also], don’t prevent our nurses from expressing how they feel . . . . Encourage hopefulness, learning, flexibility, and adaptability.” In the workplace, caring for these caregivers ultimately rests upon the nurses themselves, their peers and colleagues, their nursing leaders, and the administrators of their institution. |
https://up.edu.ph/long-road-to-recovery-for-survivors-of-critical-covid-19-cases/ | Long road to recovery for survivors of critical COVID-19 cases – University of the Philippines | Long road to recovery for survivors of critical COVID-19 cases Long road to recovery for survivors of critical COVID-19 cases July 14, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Screenshot of “Rehabilitation for Critical Care Survivors of COVID-19” showing (clockwise from top left) Dr. Celso Bate and co-moderators, Dr. Raymond Sarmiento, director of the UP Manila National Telehealth Center, and Dr. Susan Mercado, member of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Board of Directors “We want our patients to be able to go back to the lives they had before being critically ill.” This is the end goal of physiatrists in providing rehabilitative care and treatment, as emphasized by Dr. Celso Bate of The Medical City and the Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center, in the eleventh episode of UP’s STOP COVID DEATHS webinar series on July 3. And that journey back is a long one. In “Rehabilitation for Critical Care Survivors of COVID-19”, Bate clarified that because the disease is new, rehabilitative care and treatment protocols have yet to be established; but most helpful are existing strategies used in patients with prolonged confinement in the intensive care unit (ICU) and/or who are afflicted with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Critical COVID-19 patients are sedated and immobilized for a long period of time. Their muscles weaken. Their joints get stiff and painful to move. They get pressure injuries. And they even develop the risk of getting deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. They have difficulty swallowing because of intubation. Bate said that in ARDS, patients are usually intubated for three to five days, “but COVID-19 patients are intubated and extubated multiple times and they are intubated for weeks!” “The things that are happening to COVID-19 patients and the care they require—we’ve never seen these things before: being on a ventilator for so long and so many procedures being done at the same time,” he revealed. Rehabilitation of critically ill patients should start as soon as possible, even while they are in the ICU. “They grow two to three percent weaker with each day. . . . This is the price they have to pay to survive but we have to do something to reduce these effects.” According to Bate, all guided by the intensivists looking after the patient, the goal of early mobilization in the ICU serves to increase muscle strength and decrease reliance on mechanical ventilation. Teaching critical care survivors how to go back to doing things that most people take for granted, like breathing normally, sitting, standing, eating, or even just being able to make simple hand and arm movements, is not as easy as it seems. “We usually give patients a year [to regain functional baselines],” he said, but stressed that patients must also be willing to rehabilitate themselves. “It is difficult, but it is the only way to regain strength.” Screenshot of Dr. Celso Bate’s slide in “Rehabilitation for Critical Care Survivors of COVID-19”, showing examples of simple exercises that may be done early in the rehabilitation of a critical care patient who is confined to his bed: clockwise from top left, diaphragmatic breathing, lifting of both arms, knee flexion, knee extension, dorsiflexion, and sitting. Apart from the toll critical illness takes on the body, it also wreaks havoc on the mind. Survivors experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. With COVID-19, the patients are mostly alone in their ICU rooms, which makes the situation more unbearable, although communication technology has been helping alleviate some of confinement’s negative psychosocial effects. Patients also experience delirium as well as cognition issues. “Imagine you are heavily sedated, you have all these tubes attached to you and you can’t move nor speak. Then people in strange suits come in. You can’t see their faces, they talk funny, and they do all these things to you that you don’t understand. It’s traumatizing.” Bate recalled one patient who thought that having his temperature taken with an infrared thermometer was someone playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette with him and that each time the “gun” did not fire was a big relief because he was still alive. While not all health care workers are psychology experts, “. . . we should always ask our patients about their concerns and give them explanations,” he said. Sometimes, the patients themselves ask to be referred to psychologists or psychiatrists, if their attending physicians have not already done so. It takes a village, as the saying goes, and Bate agreed. “All of us in health care need to work together for the patient.” Being free of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is just the first step toward recovery from COVID-19. And rehabilitation, which must begin in the ICU, continues on until critical care survivors have managed to return, as much as possible, to their functional and healthy selves. To see Bate’s full presentation, go to this link. The UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” is organized by the University of the Philippines in partnership with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center. The 13th installment of the webinar series, which will be held this Friday, July 17 at 12 n.n., will focus on ““Genetic Sequencing Research: Mutation of SARSCov2 (Implications for Clinical Management and Vaccine Development)”, with Dr. Cynthia P. Saloma, Executive Director of the UP Philippine Genome Center and professor of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at UP Diliman as resource speaker. Register here: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar13. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-to-tackle-the-challenges-of-staying-safe-while-serving-in-the-line-of-fire/ | UP webinar to tackle the challenges of staying safe while serving in the line of fire – University of the Philippines | UP webinar to tackle the challenges of staying safe while serving in the line of fire UP webinar to tackle the challenges of staying safe while serving in the line of fire July 7, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Anesthesiologists, doctors who provide perioperative care to COVID-19 patients, are among medical workers who serve at the frontlines in the battle against the viral pandemic. As such, they face health risks due to their exposure and close proximity to COVID-19-positive patients in enclosed spaces. How then can these medical frontliners keep themselves safe while taking care of their patients? This is the topic for the upcoming webinar on “COVID-19 Challenges for Anesthesiologists”, to be held on Friday, July 10, at 12nn. Guest speaker and resource person for this webinar is Dr. Grace Anne Herbosa, Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, UP College of Medicine and the Philippine General Hospital. The webinar is the 12th installment in the UP Webinar Series on “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates”, organized by the University of the Philippines in partnership with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center. Anesthesiologists perform a number of interventions for COVID-19 patients and patients with severe pneumonia, including tracheal intubation, non-invasive ventilation (NIV), high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), bronchial suctioning, bronchoscopy, and sputum induction. However, these interventions are considered aerosol-generating procedures, and it is well known that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is spread through droplet and aerosol transmission. Moreover, in emergency and elective surgical procedures, anesthesiologists often stand near the head of the patient to monitor them for problems in breathing and other vital signs. This puts anesthesiologists near the patient’s upper respiratory tract, directly in the line of fire for viral load transmission. Given these risks and challenges, what types of innovation in clinical practice are proven to keep anesthesiologists safe? This webinar will examine techniques, methods and strategies of anesthesiologists at the frontline. Register now for the “COVID-19 Challenges for Anesthesiologists” webinar: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar12. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-copes-helps-build-psychosocial-resilience-of-self-and-others/ | UP CoPES helps build psychosocial resilience of self and others – University of the Philippines | UP CoPES helps build psychosocial resilience of self and others UP CoPES helps build psychosocial resilience of self and others July 14, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion The UP CoPES was organized to better coordinate and harmonize the psychosocial aspect of UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd’s volunteer services. Image taken from UP CoPES official Facebook page. Times of crisis can inflict not only physical and economic, but also psychosocial harm. These psychosocial hazards take a toll on both individuals and families, compromising the safety and productivity of those involved. To respond to the need to provide members of the University and its partner communities with adequate psychosocial health during periods of crisis, the UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd recently launched the Committee on Psychosocial Emergency Services, or UP CoPES. The primary aim of the committee is to promote psychosocial well-being by providing volunteering opportunities to members of the UP community and its partners, especially during emergencies. The approach the program and its constituent university counterparts take is “strengths-based” and “resilience-based” This approach taps into and recognizes the inner strength and ingenuity of individuals and communities. With respect to the University, the project works to equip students, faculty, staff members, and alumni of UP with the knowledge and skills to offer psychosocial support to themselves, their families, their peers, and communities. A System of Support UP CoPES is the system-wide umbrella committee for various psychosocial support programs being implemented by Pahinungod in UP’s constituent universities. It has three working areas: kamalayan (awareness promotion); ugnayan (setting up referral mechanisms, partnerships, support); and, kasanayan (training volunteers who can, in turn, also train others). With the Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd celebrating its first year of reactivation under UP President Danilo Concepcion, as the official volunteer service program of the UP System, Pahinungòd Constituent Universities can now also collaborate through UP CoPES to coordinate and improve the psychosocial aspect of their volunteer and public service efforts. Through this body, UP’s CUs may combine their strengths to provide swift, robust solutions to emergencies, as well as to share best practices in training and public service. Team members from the UP Los Baños Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd team who did preliminary assessment work in Taal eruption-affected communities last January. Photo by UPLB Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Important precursors to UP CoPES were initiatives combining the expertise of different CUs to provide holistic public service in emergency situations. In the wake of the 2019 Mindanao Earthquakes, the Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd joined hands with the UP Resilience Institute to form the UP Pahinungòd Mindanao Humanitarian Effort (MHE). UP Mindanao Pahinungòd Director Michael Gatela served as overall coordinator for volunteers; while UPD Department of Psychology Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Ventura headed the Psychosocial Team, Dr. April Mendoza of the UP Manila College of Medicine headed the Medical team, and Dr. Johnrev Guilaran of the UP Visayas College of Arts and Science acted as field focal person. The team heads joined other volunteers from the above units, as well as UP Cebu, UPV’s Tacloban College, and the UP Philippine General Hospital to conduct psychosocial support to 300 families in 8 barangays. The overall humanitarian effort, as well as UP CoPES as a whole, was organized by UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd System Director Dr. Grace Aguiling-Dalisay. During the acute stage of the Taal Volcano eruption in January 2020, the UP Los Baños Pahinungod team partnered with other units from that CU to conduct rapid assessments of the psychosocial situations of children and families in selected evacuation centers. Projects like the abovementioned inspired the ultimate creation of UP CoPES that makes the Pahinungòd’s psychosocial efforts more sustainable and easily activated in a crisis. Psychosocial Health Amidst a Pandemic With the COVID-19 pandemic being the most widespread current threat to psychosocial health, UP CoPES has rolled out several public service efforts that allow volunteers from UP and its partner communities to reach out to those in need. More recent activities spearheaded by UP CoPES include creating and disseminating information on individuals and centers where people can seek free psychosocial and mental health support, as well as two batches of orientations and Psychological First Aid and Community Resilience Model training for volunteers. UP Diliman Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd’s psychosocial support program poster. Source: UP Diliman Facebook page Moreover, UP Diliman CoPES members, Dr. Jowima Ang-Reyes of the College of Social Work and Community Development and Dr. Michelle Ong of the UP College of Social Science’s Psychology Department, champion the delivery of online peer support, which the group hopes can be expanded to serve more locations and communities in the future. The project team was convened by UP Diliman Pahinungòd Director Dr. Joyce Caragay. Several other CUs have likewise implemented their own tailor-fitted psychosocial health solutions, with Pahinungòd partners like UPV’s Psycho-Social Support, UP Cebu’s Office of Student Affairs, UP Baguio’s Taskforce for Counseling and Psychosocial Support, UP Mindanao’s Mental Health Helpline, UP-PGH’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, and UPLB’s own Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd, all offering their own psychosocial assistance programs for community members and front liners. The efforts of UP CoPES not only stay true to the Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd’s mandate to provide service to the wider community and promote a spirit of caring volunteerism, but also complement existing mental health efforts by entities like UPD’s University Health Service and UPD PsycServ. Notably, the program’s volunteers can ease the burden on mental health specialists at the present time by providing the first layer of psychosocial support to those in need of assistance. Padagos, Pahinungòd! We would like to thank Ms. Diana Ruth Arcega, the focal person for UP System Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd, for being the primary resource person for this article. Learn more about UP CoPES at: https://facebook.com/UPCoPES/. Learn more about UPD Ugnayan ng Pahinungòd and their free psychosocial peer support service at: https://facebook.com/updpahinungod. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-covid-19-pandemic-response-team-tracks-ph-cities-road-to-recovery/ | UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team tracks PH cities’ road to recovery – University of the Philippines | UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team tracks PH cities’ road to recovery UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team tracks PH cities’ road to recovery July 23, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office How are cities in the Philippines faring in the fight against COVID-19? Where are they now on the road to recovery towards the goal of zero cases? The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team (UP PRT) has launched “CITY vs COVID”, a feature within the endcov.ph dashboard that provides information on how cities are recovering from COVID-19 over time, based on DOH and LGU data. Users can simply select their city to generate charts showing the latest number of cases, deaths, and recoveries, and information on their locality’s recovery rate, fatality rate, and current phase of community quarantine. Users can also find COVID-19 statistics of past dates by hovering their cursor on the bar aligned to the specific date they’re looking for. The “CITY vs COVID” chart is color-coded for ease of use. The number of active cases is shown in blue, the number of deceased in turquoise, and the number of recovered in pink. According to the web feature, “to quickly get a sense of how a city is doing, one way is to check out the pink bars. It indicates the number of infected people who have recovered over time relative to the total number of cases. At the end of the day, the goal is simple: to see the graph dominated by recoveries (read: pink bars) as much as possible.” Some cities, such as San Fernando City, La Union, are working hard to maintain their status of zero cases, while other cities like Cebu City require urgent attention due to the increasing number of transmissions. “CITY vs COVID” is a useful resource for the public to monitor the current situation and for LGUs to make informed decisions as they chart their path to recovery. The goal is for LGUs to see pink. “CITY vs COVID” is one of the many features and resources of endcov.ph that are available to the public. The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team remains committed in serving the people and in helping the nation in its fight against COVID-19. For questions or clarifications related to endcov.ph, please send an email (upri.covid19@up.edu.ph) to the UP PRT. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-takes-on-the-mental-and-emotional-impact-of-covid19/ | UP webinar takes on the mental and emotional impact of COVID-19 – University of the Philippines | UP webinar takes on the mental and emotional impact of COVID-19 UP webinar takes on the mental and emotional impact of COVID-19 July 22, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat not just to people’s physical health, but perhaps more insidiously, to their mental, emotional and psychological health as well, with uncertainty and fear of the unknown causing and exacerbating worry and stress. For those who are quarantined at home, it is not uncommon to experience restlessness, frustration, anger and desperation for not being able to do what one used to do, or engage in activities that provided meaning and pleasure in the past. On the other hand, patients who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 face loneliness and loss of hope. Being alone and having limited interaction with hospital staff and loved ones at a time when support is most needed takes faith and the ability to cope by using previous experiences, memories and skills for survival. The same goes for the families and loved ones of COVID-19 patients, whose worry, fear and sense of loss are magnified by the isolation forced upon the patients. What is the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and well-being? And how can we help one another cope with feelings of anxiety, fear and even anger? The 14th installment of the UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates”, which is scheduled on July 24, Friday, at 12 n.n., will delve into these issues. Titled “COVID-19, Mental Health and Mindfulness”, the webinar will focus on coping and resilience, particularly the use of mindfulness exercises that can be used by patients, and more importantly by health care workers who are overwhelmed by their circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Anselmo Tronco, chair of the University of the Philippines (UP) Philippine General Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, will be the resource speaker. The UP Webinar Series “STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates” is organized by UP in partnership with Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center. Register here: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar14 You may also watch the replay on TVUP‘s YouTube Channel. |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-shares-tutorials-for-creating-video-lectures/ | UPOU shares tutorials for creating video lectures – University of the Philippines | UPOU shares tutorials for creating video lectures UPOU shares tutorials for creating video lectures July 28, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The shift to remote learning because of COVID-19 brings the possibility of using video materials for teaching. Video lectures by teachers will be an important tool, especially in asynchronous learning, where lessons are discussed without the constraint of having all students together at the same place or at the same time. Whether one is a teacher or a resource person for a learning material, creating one’s own video lecture may be daunting for some who have not done it before and who worry that they need high-tech recording equipment to do it. This is why UP Open University (UPOU), through UPOU Networks, has put together three quick video tutorials for those who want to learn how to make better quality recorded lectures using smartphones. These may also help those who have already gone into producing do-it-yourself (DIY) video lectures, but seek to improve them. “Mobile Video Recording for Video Lectures: Settings, Stabilization, and Framing” discusses: the rule of thirds; how to keep the device steady using household items; and, the best resolution, aspect ratio, and frame rate settings, among others. “Mobile Video Recording for Video Lectures: Lighting and Set Design” teaches proper placement of source light as well as setting up an appropriate background. “Mobile Video Recording for Video Lectures: Audio Management” talks about ensuring clear audio by soundproofing the recording area and checking the capacity of the smartphone to receive audio. These videos are open educational resources that are part of the UPOU Networks “Technology for Teaching and Learning” playlist. Visit https://networks.upou.edu.ph/ to explore the various learning materials available. |
https://up.edu.ph/kaagapayup-project-to-bring-hope-to-financially-challenged-up-students/ | #KaagapayUP project to bring hope to financially challenged UP students – University of the Philippines | #KaagapayUP project to bring hope to financially challenged UP students #KaagapayUP project to bring hope to financially challenged UP students July 23, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion The word kaagapay is typically associated with being at one’s side. Its constituents, the affix, ka-, which indicates relation, and its root, agapay, or support, together connote mutual assistance, trust, care, and respect from individuals who desire that others become fully functional persons. With these qualities in mind, the University of the Philippines (UP) launched the Kaagapay sa Pagaaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan or #KaagapayUP project on July 21, 2020. The project’s primary aim is to help UP’s financially challenged students acquire the resources to engage in the remote and blended learning solutions instituted by the University in response to COVID-19. The launch was broadcast live over Zoom, and through the TVUP Youtube channel. UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia (at podium, left) and Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili (at podium, right) at Quezon Hall during the virtual launch of the Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. For many students of UP, finding a source and sense of support in these difficult times is a necessity. The pandemic has transformed the landscape of education in the country and the world. UP itself, via a Memorandum from the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs dated June 4, 2020, has adopted remote teaching and learning for academic year (AY) 2020-2021, with the possibility of blended remote and face-to-face learning in courses with discipline-specific skills (i.e. laboratory, studio, practicum, etc.), provided public health requirements are met. Unfortunately, not all of UP’s students can effortlessly adapt to these changes. In her message, UP Vice President Elena E. Pernia estimated that of its roughly 60,000 students, there are around 1,600 financially challenged students who do not have the resources to acquire computers and stable internet access. Furthermore, there are some 4,000 students from households categorized “vulnerable”, whose incomes cannot fully support these needs because of the pandemic. Screenshot from the official launch of the Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan fundraising campaign via Zoom. The replay may be viewed on TVUP’s YouTube channel. The #KaagapayUP program aims to raise funds to provide financially challenged students with their own laptop computers and internet connections that can help them access UP’s remote learning courses starting in AY 2020-2021. These courses will utilize asynchronous communication platforms, such as online message boards and instant messaging applications, as well as synchronous or ‘real-time’ platforms, such as UP’s Learning Management Systems, Zoom, Google Classroom, Edmodo, and others. As its name suggests, the Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral program encourages the global UP community to support its most financially challenged students. The project aims to create a culture of philanthropy on all levels, from the alumni to the student body, and to promote the practice of giving back and paying it forward. More importantly, the project was created to inspire confidence among UP’s own students with the thought of having someone on their side in times of need. This is poignantly symbolized by the project’s icon, two sunflowers growing side-by-side, representing not only mutual support, but hope. Screenshot of Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Rose Bautista’s message during the official launch of the Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan fundraising campaign via Zoom. The replay may be viewed on TVUP’s YouTube channel. UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Rose Bautista noted that the COVID-19 pandemic expedited UP’s remote and blended learning solutions, which were being developed the past few years to deal with disruptions from calamities or sociopolitical unrest. The #KaagapayUP project, therefore, would aid in the training of all of UP’s students by seeking to level the remote learning playing field for those who might otherwise struggle to adapt to an educational landscape that has changed overnight. Bautista noted that while “intelligence may be normally distributed, opportunities in this country are not,” which leads to many talented but financially disadvantaged students being admitted into UP. “We cannot allow the highly unequal structure of Philippine society to further disadvantage these students in the time of COVID,” she insisted, an inequality that is even more sharply manifested in the different capabilities of students in access to basic learning materials and devices. UP is, therefore, tapping into the generosity of its community and the public to help the nation’s future leaders through the #KaagapayUP project to “transcend the socioeconomic divide that constrains the fulfillment of their potential and allow them to thrive, engage, learn, and create even in times of adversity.” UP President Danilo L. Concepcion delivering his message to the UP Community. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. In their messages, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and UP Alumni Regent Reynaldo C. Laserna both lauded the aims of the project, while pledging their full support to the fulfillment of its mission. “Hindi po natin nais na itigil ang pagtuklas ng talino sa pamamagitan ng pag-aaral at pagsasaliksik. At kung may maiiwanan po, gagawa tayo ng paraan upang sila ay ating makasama. Ang maiwanan ang kahit isang iskolar ng bayan ay masakit po para sa atin. Kaya gagawa po tayo ng paraan sa abot ng ating kakayahan upang sila ay ating mai-angkas at mabitbit sa ating pag-usad [We do not want to cut short the discovery of intelligence through learning and research. And if anyone is in danger of being left behind, we will find a way to make sure they are with us. That even one of our iskolar ng bayan would be left behind is painful to me. That is why we will find ways, to the best of our abilities, to ensure that they are with us in our journey toward progress].” Laserna for his part stated that with the postponement of UP’s Annual Grand Alumni Homecoming, the 2020 Jubilarians together with the UP Alumni Association’s (UPAA) 180 chapters worldwide will instead channel their resources to support the #KaagapayUP project. The cost of supporting a typical UP student through four years of tertiary education is estimated to be P110,000 per student, with P30,000 being the cost of a laptop computer with suitable specifications, and P80,000 covering the cost of internet connectivity for four (4) years. Donation packages have been created and tailor fitted to support all or part of these amounts per student. UP Alumni Regent and President of the UP Alumni Association Reynaldo Laserna during his message. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO #KaagapayUP is the overall umbrella project for all system-wide efforts to support financially needy students to cope with the challenges of remote learning. Both payment options and UP’s range of donating partners have been expanded to assist as many students as possible. All entities from corporations/private institutions, alumni organizations and individual alumni, socio-civic groups, and current UP faculty, staff, and students can make a difference. Interested donors may make use of a range of payment portals to facilitate their donations. One may donate directly via cash or check through the UP System’s Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) trust account or to #KaagapayUP accounts handled by the UP Foundation. One may also utilize bank deposits, wire transfers, online bank transfers and remittances, credit/debit cards, and digital payment platforms, such as PayMaya, GCash, PayPal and DragonPay. For more information on how to donate and what option might be the best for you, please visit kaagapay.up.edu.ph. For assistance, contact the Kaagapay secretariat at 0916 723 1200 or kaagapay@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/covid-infection-and-inflammation-highlighted-in-ups-next-online-medical-grand-rounds-this-friday/ | COVID infection and inflammation highlighted in UP’s next online medical grand rounds this Friday – University of the Philippines | COVID infection and inflammation highlighted in UP’s next online medical grand rounds this Friday COVID infection and inflammation highlighted in UP’s next online medical grand rounds this Friday August 12, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Following the success of the last two online medical grand rounds, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center, will focus on a new COVID-positive patient’s case in the upcoming 17th installation in the “STOP COVID DEATHS: VIRTUAL GRAND ROUNDS” webinar series. Grand rounds are a tradition in medical education and inpatient care, wherein doctors, residents and medical students gather to discuss medical problems, research findings and the treatment of a particular patient. In the webinar set for August 14, Friday, at 12:00nn, Dr. Ralph Elvi Villalobos, a consultant at the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, UP College of Medicine (UPCM) and the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP PGH), will present the case of a patient whose COVID-19 infection has led to swelling in the leg. Infection and inflammation are both processes that come into play in COVID-19. Most patients will battle the infection over two weeks and only have a mild case of the disease. In some patients, however, inflammation may be severe, leading to cytokine storms and organ failure that are difficult to manage. Inflammation may injure the endothelial lining of blood vessels. It is associated with the blockage of blood vessels caused by emboli that can result in venous and arterial thrombosis or blood clots in the blood vessels, pulmonary embolism (PE) or blood clots in the lungs, and even strokes. Blood clots can be a serious feature of COVID-19 and medical teams should be prepared for cases with higher risks, such as a history of hypertension, obesity, or cancer in an elderly patient. This Friday’s online grand rounds on “COVID-19 Patient Develops Swollen Leg” will review the case of a senior patient with a previous history of hypertension and cancer who develops severe COVID and thromboembolism in the right iliac vein of the leg and extensive pulmonary embolism.Dr. Jubert Benedicto, Associate Professor of the UP College of Medicine and Head of the PGH CCU-Management Action Team, will be the discussant. Dr. Shelley Ann F. De la Vega, Director of the Institute of Aging, UP Manila National Institutes of Health, will be the reactor. The UP webinar series “STOP COVID DEATHS: VIRTUAL GRAND ROUNDS” is organized in cooperation with the UP CM and the UP PGH. The webinar series is scheduled every Friday from 12:00 n.n. to 2:00 p.m. Register now at: bit.ly/StopCOVIDDeathsWebinar17. |
https://up.edu.ph/uplb-graduates-ready-to-take-on-the-challenge-of-a-post-covid-world-regent-laurel/ | UPLB graduates ready to take on the challenge of a post-COVID world – Regent Laurel – University of the Philippines | UPLB graduates ready to take on the challenge of a post-COVID world – Regent Laurel UPLB graduates ready to take on the challenge of a post-COVID world – Regent Laurel September 8, 2020 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. “The year 2020 is the year that will forever be remembered as the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a daunting challenge to say the least. This is where the UP education comes into play.” So spoke UP Regent and UP Los Baños (UPLB) alumnus Francis C. Laurel, entrepreneur and member of the third generation of the esteemed Laurel clan, in his address to the UP Los Baños Class of 2020 who marched, figuratively, in UPLB’s first-ever virtual commencement exercises. The 48th UPLB Commencement Exercises was held online on August 15, livestreamed via the UPLB YouTube channel. UP Regent Francis Laurel sharing his pointers for success with the new UPLB graduates. Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. Regent Laurel went on to give the graduates five pointers on how they can succeed out in the real world. The first is to stay positive all the time, to remain optimistic and focused, to capture the moment, and to be committed. The second is to think out of the box. “This pandemic has brought a myriad of opportunities never thought of before. As UP graduates, you are best prepared to undertake this challenge,” said Regent Laurel, stressing that for UP graduates to succeed, they will need the “extra edge” of innovation and creativity. The third is to always uphold integrity and honesty, to not lose sight of the forest for the trees, and “in whatever you do, to plan well and execute well”. Regent Laurel’s fourth tip is to work extremely hard, as the only way the new graduates can repay the sacrifices their parents made to help them finish a UP education is to have a successful career. Finally, “embrace the challenges and crises of your life”, tempering optimism with courage at all times. “Graduating from the UPLB is a milestone,” Regent Laurel finished. “Be proud of it. And as you move on, always remember your roots. Bear in mind you are a part of the great tradition called the Los Baños spirit. It is as old as UP. It is a spirit truly unique to our beloved UPLB.” The members of UPLB Class of 2020 shift their sablay and swear their loyalty to their Alma Mater as new UP alumni. Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. The UPLB became the third UP constituent unit to hold its first ever virtual commencement exercises, during which the UPLB Class of 2020 officially became alumni of the University and the first batch to graduate in the time of pandemic. Of the 1,630 members of UPLB Class of 2020, nine graduated magna cum laude and 72 graduated cum laude. Class valedictorian Shantel Anne Nicole E. Chavez addressing her fellow graduates. Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. Shantel Anne Nicole E. Chavez, BS Agricultural Economics, magna cum laude, was this year’s class valedictorian. In her message to her fellow UP graduates, she exhorted her fellow graduates to remember that “each of us has a story worth sharing” and to “let your stories be heard and to spark hope in our nation during these trying times. Let your stories inspire other UP students who are still fighting for their eventual graduation. Let your stories help in building a dream of a 10-year-old elementary student in your community. Let your stories encourage incoming and current college students to broaden the purpose of their professional dreams from just earning a decent income for their families to also serving our nation.” UPLB Chancellor Fernando Sanchez presenting the graduates. Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. UPLB Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez congratulated the new graduates for finishing their studies while facing the unprecedented challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought. He also addressed their worries about the future, especially as the world grapples with the largest health crisis of modern times. “These times demand more from you, from all of us. In this pandemic, the work to find sustainable solutions for climate change, enviornmental management, the development of affordable and clean energy, food and nutrition security and safety, and promoting inclusive and just social policies does not and should never stop,” Chancellor Sanchez urged the graduates. “These are fields that you can take part in and contribute to. The crisis will require greater creativity, greater courage, flexibility and resilience. But have faith that the knowledge, dedication and strength of will that you have honed these past years as UPLB student, will serve you well.” UP President Danilo L. Concepcion addressing the UPLB Class of 2020. Screenshot from the replay on UPLB’s YouTube channel. On his part, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion also emphasized that while the graduates venture forth into a world of unprecedented crisis, it is also a world of unprecedented opportunity to find new ways to serve the people. “Ating tandaan ang panahon ng krisis ay hindi lamang isang masamang panaginip. Ito rin ay isang mabuting pagkakataon upang tayo ay lalong magpunyagi, magpakahusay, at makapaglingkod sa bayan. Isa-buhay natin ang diwa ng UP: ang pagkakaisa, ang paglilingkod ng buong husay at dangal. Patunayan natin na walang hangganan ang pag-aambag ng ating unibersidad at ng kanyang mga alumni sa paghahanap at paglalapat ng mag epektibong alternatibong at solusyon sa anuma ng suliranin [Let us remember that the time of crisis is not just a bad dream, but a good opportunity for us to further commit to honor, excellence and service to the country. Let us live up to the spirit of UP: the unity, the honor and excellence in service. Let us show that there are no limits to what our University and its alumni can offer in terms of generating effective alternatives and solutions to any problem],” UP President Concepcion said. |
https://up.edu.ph/upou-kaagapay-launched/ | UPOU-Kaagapay+ launched – University of the Philippines | UPOU-Kaagapay+ launched UPOU-Kaagapay+ launched September 10, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Screenshot of the UPOU website. In consonance with the UP System’s Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan Fundraising and Resource Generation Campaign (Kaagapay UP), UP Open University (UPOU) launched its own UPOU-Kaagapay+ program on September 1. Kaagapay UP seeks to provide more than 5,600 students with their remote learning needs, such as computers or laptops and internet connectivity. Of these students, around 1,600 have no financial capacity at all to acquire these technologies, and more than 4,000 are no longer able to sustain their resources because the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced their household income. The University has estimated the cost of this initiative at P80 million. While UPOU leads in open and distance e-learning and its classes are fully online, not all of its students are equipped with the necessary technologies to continue their education at home. Some rely on internet shops, family members, or friends for computers and connectivity. Others need to physically find locations with strong and stable internet connections. And because UPOU students are not in a traditional university setup like their peers from other UP constituent universities, they have different and unique issues. This is why UPOU-Kaagapay+ was conceived. It builds upon Kaagapay UP’s efforts to include: student loans; income generating projects; academic support via online tutorial courses and bridge courses; technological support using apps that assist in study skills, note-taking, organizational skills, etc.; psychosocial support through counseling, access to free online support resources, helpdesk, referral system, among others; and, peer support and virtual interactions through spaces like virtual hangouts. UPOU-Kaagapay+ details may be requested through inquiries@upou.edu.ph. For those who wish to provide financial support directly to UPOU students through UPOU-Kaagapay+, donations may be deposited to the UP Open University Foundation, Inc.’s account at the Bank of the Philippine Islands (Los Baños, Laguna branch) with account number 0911-0656-14. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-offers-educational-materials-to-the-public/ | UP offers educational materials to the public – University of the Philippines | UP offers educational materials to the public UP offers educational materials to the public August 17, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Photo from the screenshot of UP Diliman’s “109th Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos”. The University of the Philippines serves as the country’s premier community of scholars, experts, academics and researchers, and a rich reservoir of knowledge, information, cutting-edge research, innovations and technologies. In accordance with its mandate as the country’s national university, tasked with taking the lead in the country’s national development as a teaching, graduate, research and public service university, UP makes it a point to open up its repository of knowledge and expertise to all sectors and members of the general public, and make its resources available to all who seek to learn, to do research and to sincerely serve the country and its people. And in this extraordinarily challenging time, as the world faces down the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented socioeconomic hardships that go with it, as individual lives, communities and societies are shaken to the core by the resulting upheavals, UP as a higher education institution and as a community is even more cognizant of its role in educating our people, in letting science lead the way out of this public health crisis, and in informing policy- and decision-making at all levels with the best knowledge and expertise we can offer. Here are only a few of the resources UP is offering to members of its community since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis this year. These include resources that are directly related to concerns regarding the COVID-19, such as symptoms, diagnoses and data on case numbers, as well as resources to help individuals and communities cope with the changes brought on by the pandemic. Almost all of these can be accessed by anyone with an Internet connection. UP Mindanao’s COVID-19 Insights. COVID-19 Outbreak and Case Information Endcov.ph The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team hosts and maintains endcov.ph, a web portal that provides the public with vital information and tools in the fight against COVID-19. The UP PRT has contributed new resources to the dashboard including features that show Case Projections, the State of Transmissions in NCR based on LGU data, Municipal/City Density Map based on current active cases, and a Policy Sourcebook on COVID-19. UP Mindanao’s COVID-19 Insights The UP Mindanao COVID-19 Modeling Team created and maintains COVID-19 Insights, a web-based platform that tracks COVID-19 cases in the Davao Region for the information of local government officials, policymakers, researchers, health professionals, and members of the public. 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. UP Cebu’s CoVcheck The FireCheck Project team of UP Cebu has developed CoVcheck, a web-based application that allows the local government to collect data from its constituents about cases or potential cases of infection. By doing so, the concerned agencies as soon as necessary. On top of that, with the collected data, the local government can plan and execute localized, ad hoc measures to control or contain transmission or support the affected communities. Physical and Psychosocial Health Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH Bayanihan Na! Operations Center Hotline Number 155-200 Manned by 60-70 student volunteers, the UP-PGH Bayanihan Na! Operations Center is equipped with Hotline Number 155-200 that aims to answer queries related to COVID-19 from both members of the UP Community and the general public. UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Committee on Psychosocial Emergency Services (UP CoPES) The UP CoPES was launched to promote psychosocial well-being by providing volunteering opportunities to members of the UP community and its partners, especially during emergencies. With respect to the University, the project works to equip students, faculty, staff members, and alumni of UP with the knowledge and skills to offer psychosocial support to themselves, their families, their peers, and communities. UP Diliman Health Service uphs.appointlet.com The UP Diliman Health Service (UPHS) is providing telemedicine outpatient consultations to all UP-mandated clientele and residents. A new service aims to offer consultations in the following specializations: ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynecology, ear, nose and throat, surgery and dermatology. Appointments may be made with any of the UPHS family physicians via uphs.appointlet.com. If online services are not available, appointments may be made by calling 8981-8500 local 2702. All telemedicine consultations are by appointment basis only. Physicians will be corresponding with patients through voice call, Viber, or Google Meet platforms once an appointment schedule has been set and confirmed. For other inquiries, please contact local 2702 or email uhs.updiliman@up.edu.ph. UP Diliman Psychosocial Services (UPD PsycServ) The UP Diliman Psychosocial Services addresses urgent and pressing mental health and psychosocial wellbeing needs of the UPD community. UPD PsycServ provides the following services: Individual Therapy Sessions, Relapse Prevention Group Therapy Sessions, Suicide Prevention and Postvention Programs, Training Workshops, and Personal Wellbeing Workshops. When Luzon was placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine, UPD PsycServ expanded its services to accommodate Filipinos who have been affected and/or disturbed by the COVID-19 pandemic. UPLB Office of Counseling and Guidance “OCG Cares’ Kumustahan” To help UPLB students with their psychosocial needs despite the ECQ, the Office of Counseling and Guidance (OCG) of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) implemented an online means of consultation through its program “OCG Cares’ Kumustahan.” Through this program, students may get psychosocial support from a Guidance Services Specialist (GSS). The program is available for UPLB students from Mondays to Saturdays. UP Visayas Disaster Command Center Psychosocial Cluster The UP Visayas Disaster Command Center Psychosocial Cluster can be reached via email at upv.psychosocial.sup@gmail.com, or through the following mobile numbers: (Globe) 0926 746 5671, 0917 486 1042; (Smart) 0999 223 6498, 0908 131 4461, 0998 982 7383; and (Sun) 0922 869 1097. UP College of Education’s Resources for Remote Learning. University Library Services and Other Educational Resources UP Los Baños University Library universitylibrary.uplb@up.edu.ph The UPLB University Library (UL) has intensified its online services by building its e-resources collection and putting in place online mechanisms. Through its website, one could chat with ELVA, or the Electronic Library Virtual Assistant, for inquiries and assistance. In performing basic and initial research, one may opt to do this through the EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) that uses typical search engine-like functionality as it crawls to various databases. UL also extends its services to faculty members working to digitize course readings, and continues to offer its regular Information Literacy Program (ILP) and Library Instruction Services (LIS) on specific courses, which are provided online on a scheduled and per appointment basis. UP Manila University Library Free Resources on COVID-19 The UP Manila Library has a dedicated page that lists the free resources on COVID-19, including national and international portals and databases, academic, medical and scientific journals, and resources from UP itself such as the COVID-19 Dictionary for Children. The site is updated regularly. The UP Diliman Main Library’s Electronic Resources The UP Diliman Main Library continues to provide university library services online. Its iLib Online catalog allows people to search for books, eBooks, and theses. EZproxy gives access to online databases and eBooks. The Index to Philippine Newspapers is a resource for local newspaper articles, while the Index to Philippine Periodicals allows for searches for local magazine and journal articles. The Digital Archives provides access to UP publications and electronic theses. Finally, the Open Access Repository gives access to local digital resources such as rare periodicals. The UPD Library also provides webinars on information literacy in the new normal for UP faculty in its “Rediscovering Your Library in the New Normal Information Literacy Webinar” series. UP Diliman College of Education Resources for Remote Learning The UP Diliman College of Education is curating and making available resources for remote learning to assist educators shifting from traditional classroom instruction to blended learning. These online resources comprise materials from: leading institutions of higher learning such as the University of Denver, University of Zurich, Ryerson University, and University of Limpopo, among others; international institutions such as UNICEF, Smithsonian, World Bank and UNESCO; and local resources produced by C&E Publishing Inc., the Department of Education, UP Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Unilab Foundation (Covid Comics), UP Los Baños Department of Human and Family Development Studies and materials produced by the College itself. The official YouTube channels of the various UP constituent units also offer free educational videos featuring talks, conferences and interviews of faculty and experts. • UP Baguio Systems and Network Office • University of the Philippines Mindanao • UPLB Official • University of the Philippines Diliman • UP Manila Channel • UP Visayas Information and Publication Office In addition to these resources, two UP institutions, the UP Open University (UPOU) and TVUP, are noteworthy in their initiative and drive to offer UP’s knowledge resources and expertise to both the members of the UP Community and the general public for free. The UP Open University’s resources on remote learning, teaching and working. The UP Open University The UPOU, which pioneered remote, distance and online learning in higher education in the country, has taken the lead in training, educating and guiding various sectors of society through the “new normal” as the COVID-19 pandemic forces almost every aspect of daily life, including education, to go online. The UPOU serves as a venue for teachers and educators to share best practices and research findings, and for students to gain supplementary knowledge in needed subjects, and for parents to receive guidance in helping their children adjust to open and remote teaching and learning. Its resources on remote learning, teaching and working are available for free to the public on its website. These resources include free online courses and educational videos aimed to assist UP faculty, staff and the entire Philippine academic community in shifting/migrating to an online mode of teaching and learning to cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the UPOU Networks serves as an online repository of all UPOU-produced multimedia resources, including open educational resources (OERs), publications, web-streamed lectures/presentations/seminars/university events, radio, and podcasts. The UPOU MODeL is the official platform of the UPOU massive open online courses (MOOCs), which provides learners with a secure and integrated system to create personalized learning through MOOCs, which are online courses open to the public for free. MOOCs target a number of learners all over the world to share and learn from other learners. The UPOU also offers a free online course on “Quick Guide on How to Convert your Classes Online.” The Open UP Connect Blog, on the other hand, is the official blog site of UPOU. More video lectures on various subject matters are also available for free on the UPOU YouTube channel, which at present has racked up a total of over 438,000 views since 2013, with its educational videos garnering up to tens of thousands of views. For a more in-depth list of UPOU’s educational offerings and resources, please see attached PDF list. The TVUP website. TVUP TVUP, UP’s Internet television network, on the other hand, continues to deliver free content for information and educational purposes. TVUP participates in generating open educational resources (OERs) to be made public by producing its own materials and collecting other content from existing sources, and sharing all these freely with all state universities and colleges, private and public higher training institutions, other training institutions, and the general public. TVUP is a testament to the University of the Philippines’ character as the national university—a teaching, research, public service, and global/regional university—shared freely with all state universities and colleges, private and public higher training institutions, other training institutions, and the general public. Just some of TVUP’s programming include weekly and daily educational videos on Filipino cultural heritage; documentaries; financial matters and social entrepreneurship; talks on gender, health and human rights issues; short films; latest news on scientific innovations, disaster risk reduction and management, and other environmental issues; and many more. In fact, the TVUP YouTube channel has had over 600,000 views since 2016 with its most popular educational videos garnering tens of thousands of views. Access TVUP here: Website: http://www.TVUP.ph/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/TVUPph Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TVUP.ph Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TVUPph |
https://up.edu.ph/briefer-on-how-an-epidemic-happens-and-what-is-an-epidemic-wave/ | Briefer on How an Epidemic Happens and What is an Epidemic Wave – University of the Philippines | Briefer on How an Epidemic Happens and What is an Epidemic Wave Briefer on How an Epidemic Happens and What is an Epidemic Wave May 22, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Briefer on How an Epidemic Happens and What is an Epidemic Wave Mary Grace Dacuma, Ph.D.* University of the Philippines, Los Baños The COVID-19 epidemic in the Philippines has most likely started with an imported case from an infected person or persons who entered the Philippines. This infected person or persons with the virus is/are the index case(s) that spread the virus to others locally. The index case(s), especially those that did not cause local transmission, does not form part of the epidemic wave. When the virus is transmitted locally to other people, there is an incubation period. For COVID-19, the incubation period (meaning the virus infecting the new host but without any symptoms/clinical signs yet) can be on average 5.2 days up to 14 days. That is why you see a flat line after the introduction of the index case (see Figure). After the incubation period, newly infected hosts develop symptoms and clinical signs – that is why they seek medical attention. In addition, because of the threat of the pandemic, our country increased its vigilance and capacity to screen more people. Hence, you can see the rapid spread and increase of cases (see Figure). The ease of movement of people by plane, land transportation, or boat made it very easy to spread the virus across the Philippines. Hence, we have an epidemic (meaning it has spread all over to many provinces and infecting thousands of people). We will know that we have reached the peak of the curve when the net increase in the number of active cases is starting to decline (because of lockdowns, country-wide vigilance, etc.). Eventually, there will be reduction in number of cases (where the number of infected people recovering will be higher than those becoming infected). Then there will be a point where there are no more cases. That’s when we know the epidemic has stopped. That curve from the rapid rise of local cases to reaching the peak to reduction in number of cases to the extinction of an epidemic is one epidemic wave. I did not include the index cases that started the epidemic in the “wave”. They acquired infection elsewhere out of the country. Note: The term epidemic instead of Pandemic was used because the COVID-19 infection is spreading locally. It is a pandemic because it is now in 213 countries and territories infecting millions of people. This is just a simplified curve or wave for an epidemic. It can be more complex when we plot actual data. *The author is a member of the UP Covid 19 Pandemic Response Team and the UPLB Kontra Covid19. She is a Molecular Epidemiologist and Ph.D. graduate from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Paliwanag Kung Paano Nagaganap ang Isang Epidemya at Ano ang Ibig Sabihin ng Epidemic Wave Mary Grace Dacuma, Ph.D. University of the Philippines, Los Baños (salin sa Filipino ng orihinal na Ingles) Ipinagpapalagay na nagsimula ang epidemyang COVID-19 sa Pilipinas nang magkaroon ng imported na kaso mula sa isang tao o mga taong may impeksiyon na pumasok sa Pilipinas. Ang tao o mga taong may virus na ito ay ang pinakaunang natukoy na kaso ng nakahahawang sakit (index case) na nagkalat ng virus sa iba dito sa bansa. Hindi kabilang ang (mga) index case, lalo na yaong hindi naman naging dahilan ng lokal na transmisyon, sa bugso ng epidemya (epidemic wave). Kapag nagkaroon ng lokal na transmisyon ng virus sa ibang tao, may panahon ng ingkubasyon (ibig sabihin nito na nahawa na ng virus ang isang tao ngunit wala pang anumang sintomas o klinikal na mga senyales) na karaniwang 5.2 araw hanggang 14 na araw lumalabas. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit may patag na linya pagkaraang magkaroon ng index case (tingnan ang Pigura). Pagkaraan ng panahon ng ingkubasyon, unti-untinang nagkakaroon ng sintomas at klinikal na mga senyales ang mga taong nahawahan–kaya sila humingi ng atensiyong medikal. Dagdag dito, dahil sa banta ng pandemya, mas pinaigting ng bansa ang pag-iingat at dinagdagan ang kapasidad sa screening ng mas maraming tao. Kaya, makikita ninyo ang mabilis na paglaganap at pagdami ng mga kaso (tingnan ang Pigura). Ang kaluwagan sa pagbiyahe sa eroplano, mga transportasyong panlupa, o sa bangka at barko ang higit na nagpabilis sa paglaganap ng virus sa Pilipinas. Kaya, nagkaroon tayo ng epidemya (ibig sabihin, kumalat na ito pati sa maraming probinsiya at nakapanghawa ng libo-libong mga tao.) Malalaman natin kung narating na natin ang pinakarurok ng kurba kapag ang kabuoang pagtaas ng bilang ng aktibong kaso ay nagsisimula nang bumaba (dahil sa mga lockdown, pinaigting na pag-iingat sa buong bansa, at iba pa). Sa huli, magkakaroon ng pagbaba sa bilang ng mga kaso (mangyayari ito kapag mas marami ang bilang ng gumagaling kaysa mga nahahawahan). At pagkaraan ay may puntong wala nang maitatalang anumang kaso. Doon natin malalaman na napigil na ang epidemya. Yaong kurba mula sa mabilis na pagtaas ng bilang ng lokal na mga kaso hanggang marating ang pinakarurok hanggang sa pagbawas ng bilang ng mga kaso hanggang sa lubusang pagkasugpong isang epidemya ay ang tinutukoy na isang bugso ng epidemya (epidemic wave). Hindi ko isinama ang mga index case na nagsimula ng epidemya sa “bugso.” Nakuha nila ang impeksiyon sa ibang lugar sa labas ng bansa. Tala: Ginamit ang terminong epidemya sa halip na pandemya sa dahilang ang impeksiyong COVID-19 ay kumalat nang lokal sa bansa. Pandemya ito ngayon sa 213 mga bansa at mga teritoryo at nanghawa ng milyong-milyong tao. Pinasimpleng kurba o bugso lamang ito ng isang epidemya. Maaaring magkaroon ng higit na kabuoan kapag ginamit natin ang aktuwal na datos. Ang awtor ay kasapi ng UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team at ng UPLB Kontra Covid19. Isa siyang Molecular Epidemologist at nagtapos ng PhD mula sa London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. |
https://up.edu.ph/modified-community-quarantine-public-health-framework-in-reponse-to-covid-19-for-iloilo-and-western-visayas-after-april-30-data-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Modified Community Quarantine Public Health Framework In Reponse To Covid-19 For Iloilo And Western Visayas After April 30: Data Analysis And Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Modified Community Quarantine Public Health Framework In Reponse To Covid-19 For Iloilo And Western Visayas After April 30: Data Analysis And Recommendations Modified Community Quarantine Public Health Framework In Reponse To Covid-19 For Iloilo And Western Visayas After April 30: Data Analysis And Recommendations April 28, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office MODIFIED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE PUBLIC HEALTH FRAMEWORK IN REPONSE TO COVID-19 FOR ILOILO AND WESTERN VISAYAS AFTER APRIL 30: DATA ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS* By Helena Marie Lagon Alvior, MD, Mary Camille Samson, RMT, and Philip Ian Padilla, MD, PhD Download full text here. |
https://up.edu.ph/surviving-the-lockdown-and-beyond/ | Surviving the Lockdown and Beyond – University of the Philippines | Surviving the Lockdown and Beyond Surviving the Lockdown and Beyond April 27, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Discussion Paper 2020-04: “Surviving the Lockdown and Beyond” Toby C. Monsod, Orville Jose C. Solon, Maria Socorro Gochoco-Bautista, Emmanuel S. de Dios, Joseph J. Capuno, Ma. Joy V. Abrenica, Agustin L. Arcenas, Ma. Christina Epetia, Laarni C. Escresa, Karl Jandoc, Aleli D. Kraft, Cielo Magno, Renato E. Reside Jr. Download full text here. |
https://up.edu.ph/a-sectoral-view-of-lifting-the-lockdown-and-the-use-of-sample-based-random-testing/ | A Sectoral View of Lifting the Lockdown and the Use of Sample-based Random Testing – University of the Philippines | A Sectoral View of Lifting the Lockdown and the Use of Sample-based Random Testing A Sectoral View of Lifting the Lockdown and the Use of Sample-based Random Testing April 27, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Discussion Paper 2020-06: “A Sectoral View of Lifting the Lockdown and the Use of Sample-based Random Testing” Orville Jose C. Solon, Toby C. Monsod, Maria Socorro Gochoco-Bautista, Emmanuel S. de Dios, Joseph J. Capuno, Renato E. Reside Jr., Ma. Joy V. Abrenica, Agustin L. Arcenas, Sarah Lynne Daway-Ducanes, Ma. Christina Epetia, Laarni C. Escresa, Karl Jandoc, Cielo Magno, Carlo Irwin A. Panelo Download full text here. |
https://up.edu.ph/davao-city-should-consider-extending-community-quarantine-beyond-april-19-and-conductmore-tests-for-covid-19-up-mindanao-researchers/ | Davao City should consider extending community quarantine beyond April 19 and conduct more tests for COVID-19—UP Mindanao Researchers – University of the Philippines | Davao City should consider extending community quarantine beyond April 19 and conduct more tests for COVID-19—UP Mindanao Researchers Davao City should consider extending community quarantine beyond April 19 and conduct more tests for COVID-19—UP Mindanao Researchers April 16, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office From left to right: (1) Fit of model to recorded cumulative confirmed data, from 15 March to 29 March 2020. New data points (from 30 March to 4 April 2020) are embedded to show model precision. (2-6) In other panels, projected population size of each subpopulation, in logarithmic scale, are derived by solving the model equations numerically to show different testing scenarios. SOURCE: Mata et al. (2020a) A recent study by the Interdisciplinary Applied Modeling (IAM) laboratory of the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao recommends that “the local government should consider extending the community quarantine” beyond the April 19 end date of the community quarantine in Davao City. The IAM lab is part of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team – Bioinformatics and Modeling Group, which is mainly composed of mathematicians across the different UP campuses. The team headed by Dr. May Anne Mata, an associate professor in applied mathematics specializing in mathematical biology, simulated a model to predict the effect of lifting the community quarantine on April 19 and July 1 based on parameter estimates obtained by fitting an epidemiological model to the cumulative confirmed cases in the Davao Regionfrom March 15 to April 4. The model has five population categories, namely, Susceptible (at risk to contract the disease), Exposed (infected but not infectious), Asymptomatic Infectious (without symptoms but infectious), Confirmed Cases (assumed isolated and will not infect the susceptible), and Unreported Infectious (includes only those with symptoms). “When CQ [community quarantine] is lifted on April 19, the infected population will continue to persist . . . For instance, we see that the exposed population is stable from May to July after it peaks during the last week of March,” the study finds. “However, if we maintain CQ at the status quo’s rates of transmission and confirmation, we observe a decreasing trend in the number of exposed individuals around mid-May.” Dr. Mata, however, cautions that the model estimates are dependent on various assumptions and only show a possible, more likely scenario. Hence, predicting the appropriate lifting dateis difficult and can only be accurately obtained by increasing the number of observations and updating parameter estimates. “Lifting the quarantine prematurely is very risky. To be safe, perhaps we can extend the community quarantine for 14 days. If we get 0 new cases and 0 new PUIs [persons under investigation] within that period, then we can lift the community quarantine,” Dr. Mata suggests. The next phase of the study will fit the model on data within the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from April 4 to 19, covered by EO no. 23A series 2020, to see if the strategy is effective. Extending the community quarantine, however, has an economic tradeoff, one that is difficult to model at this time. “We just don’t have data on logistics like total budget of Davao City government for COVID-19 response, breakdown per barangay, cost of goods distribution, budget per household, just to name a few, to do a model on this. Also, this will require a different modeling strategy.” From left to right: (1) Fit of model to recorded cumulative confirmed data, from 15 March to 29 March 2020. New data points (from 30 March to 4 April 2020) are embedded to show model precision. (2-4) In other panels, projected population size of each subpopulation, in logarithmic scale, are derived by solving the model equations numerically to show different testing scenarios. Note that the untested infectious population is the sum of asymptomatic infectious and unreported symptomatic infectious populations. SOURCE: Mata et al. (2020b) Using the same data, another study by the team shows the importance of testing persons under monitoring (PUMs) and persons under investigation (PUIs). “We recommend that the government should consider testing more PUMs and/or PUIs in the region for early detection of infected population so that these individuals will be isolated immediately from the susceptible pool,” the study states. This point is particularly important for asymptomatic individuals who may show no signs of disease but may freely and unknowingly spread the disease to the population. In another study, researcher Zython Paul Lachica and other members of the IAM lab team collated available information from COVID-19 positive cases from the Department of Health within a 40-day observation period to assess the risk factors that increase a patient’s hazard rate. The study yielded the following preliminary findings: “Male COVID-19 positive patients are estimated to face a hazard rate of 12.79 times the hazard faced by female patients. Coughing patients face a hazard that is 28.35 times the hazard of those who have no cough. Furthermore, a patient with pre-existing condition”—such as hypertension, kidney problem, and/or diabetes—“may have a hazard rate of 2,838 times the hazard rate of patient without any preexisting conditions. On the other hand, patients who are 55 to 64 years old and 65 to 74 years old face hazard rates that are less than patients who are 75 years and older.”It should be noted that these results are based on preliminary data, and the hazard estimates will be fine-tuned once more data becomes available. Based on these findings, the study recommends prioritizing for testing patients who are 75 years and older and those with preexisting medical conditions once they experience coughing, persons under monitoring who might be asymptomatic patients, as well as those with high exposure to the COVID-19 positive patients such as health workers. Estimated survival curves of COVID-19 positive patients in terms of test result duration. SOURCE: Lachica et al. (2020) Setting up more testing centers in the different regionsis vital to contain COVID-19 cases asthe study shows that “having test results within 1 to 3 days after the onset of symptoms reduces hazard rates to almost 0%.” Survival rates decrease dramatically as the number of days before getting the test results increase. The IAM lab was initiated by researchers from UP Mindanao’s Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science to help the government in making science-based decisions. The three studies by the lab were already sentfor review to the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team and are freely shared to local decision makers as input for strategies. Since last March, UP Mindanao through the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao has entered into talks with the Department of Health XI, Davao del Norte LGUs, and the private sector to establish a COVID-19 testing laboratory that will be attached to the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in order to supplement the testing capacity of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in the Davao Region. SOURCES Mata MAE, Lachica ZPT, Ligue KDB, Almocera AES, Evangelio SA. 2020a. Shall the community quarantine be lifted soon in Davao City? A reflection based on model estimates from early cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases in Davao Region, Philippines. Link: https://bit.ly/3b8rQU2 Mata MAE, Lachica ZPT, Ligue KDB. 2020b. Testing PUMs and PUIs: What can it do about the spread of COVID-19 infected population in Davao Region, Southern Philippines? Link: https://bit.ly/2RzUiX7 Lachica ZPT, Mata MAE, Kobayashi VB, Alviola IV PA. 2020. Learnings from Survival Analysis of Early COVID-19 Positive Cases in the Philippines. Link: https://bit.ly/2JZlx9D For more information about the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team: https://www.up.edu.ph/covid-19-updates/#pandemic Download the PDF version here. CONTACTS Michael Noel R. Bonghanoy Rene A. Estremera Chair, University Information Committee Public Relations Officer mrbonghanoy@up.edu.ph pro.upmindanao@up.edu.ph |
https://up.edu.ph/post-ecq-job-risks-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Post-ECQ Job Risks: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Post-ECQ Job Risks: Analysis and Recommendations Post-ECQ Job Risks: Analysis and Recommendations May 22, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team Problem Situation On 12 May 2020, the IATF announced the relaxing of community quarantine protocols as we transition from Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to Modified ECQ (MECQ), General Community Quarantine (GCQ), and Modified GCQ (MGCQ) starting on 16 May. Under the new schemes, the list of economic activities to be allowed are expanded at varying levels of capacity and subject to minimum health standards. To inform the phasing-in of different sectors and jobs, we present here findings from our risk assessment of various job types.[1] Our analysis showed that: • As economic activities are opened up, proper phasing in of different sectors and jobs should consider both economic contributions and the health risks involved, with health as the top priority. Understanding disease-related risks associated with different jobs and sectors can help guide management of the COVID-19 pandemic. • About half of Philippine jobs are categorized as high contributors to the economy for the next 18 months but are high-risk spreaders. • Half of the jobs are exposed to moderate risk to disease, while 38% are at high risk. • Manageable interventions like increasing PPE and hygiene practices and/or effectivity, and switching to work from home arrangements can lessen jobs at moderate to high risk by at least 21%. We also propose simple decision support tools that can be used as guides for the reopening of workplaces. Potential COVID-19 Spreaders by Job Type The previous ECQ practically suspended on-site work for all job types, except for our so-called healthcare- and non-healthcare frontliners. This has serious economic implications especially since 816 out of 987 job types (82%) in the Philippines have high importance to sustain the economy in the next 18 months (Figure 1)[2]. Our main challenge then is that the majority of these jobs (65%) have high potential to spread the COVID-19 disease as they require close or regular interaction with people. This includes health workers (Category E) who make up 13.8% of jobs. Aside from those in the healthcare industry, most of the jobs that are both highly important and high-risk spreaders at the same time (Category D) are in the food, agriculture, manufacturing, and service sectors. These sectors are highly interdependent with others, and effects on one sector can have long-lasting effects on another. Outside of healthcare workers, we need to carefully reconsider the costs and benefits of reactivating activities related to this group, and ensure that strict public health measures are followed. We also need to look into the case of jobs that are relatively not as critical in sustaining the economy for the next 18 months but are high risk disease spreaders. These comprise 16.4% of jobs (Category C), mostly in the education and recreation sectors. These jobs are relatively less interdependent on others. For this sector, a clear intervention would be to explore other modes of job delivery to minimize social interaction, without necessarily completely discontinuing operations, such as through continued work from home and other alternative working arrangements. This way, the potential for spreading the disease through these jobs becomes low. About one-fifth of jobs (17.7%) are of great importance to sustaining the economy for the next 18 months and are low risk disease spreaders (Category B). Most of these are in the financial, banking and BPO companies. These also are highly interdependent and have long-lasting effects on other sectors. Only less than one percent (0.9%) of jobs are considered part of Category A which contribute less to sustaining the economy for the next 18 months and are low risk disease spreaders. Minimum public health measures should be observed in these two groups (Categories A and B). COVID-19 Risk to Various Workers To understand the potential impact of reopening certain economic activities, we analyzed the potential risk of becoming sick and spreading the disease through various jobs in particular sectors and occupations. The risk scores were calculated using their potential exposure to the disease and physical proximity to others. The level of exposure to disease of the different job sectors were based on the number of people they encounter and how long they work, while physical proximity is estimated based on how crowded their workplace is. The risk score also takes into account workers’ protection level, such as use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and hygiene practices.[3] Assuming a 30% level of workplace protection, our analysis revealed that half of the jobs are exposed to moderate risk to disease, while 38% are at high risk. Aside from health and social workers, high risk industries include workers involved in water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities; education; accommodation and food service activities; transportation and storage; arts, entertainment and recreation; and other service activities. Not surprisingly, by occupational group, high risk was found among service and sales workers, professionals, but mostly due to health care professionals, and technicians and associate professionals. Breaking these down into sub-major groups, the ones most at risk include the armed forces, personal care workers, and protective services workers. Job Risk by Income Level Our analysis further showed that there is no correlation between average monthly salary and risk level. Majority of the jobs have average monthly incomes of around 20,000 to 60,000 pesos, with varying risk scores ranging from low (0.08) to high (4.55). A few high-salary jobs (more than 80,000 pesos) were estimated to have low or moderate risk scores. These include high-ranking army officers, judges, chief executives, and managers (Figure 2). In any case, while the level of risk is not particularly related to the level of job salary, COVID-19 may have disproportionate impacts as those in the lower income bracket would have a much harder time to cover hospitalization expenses or recover lost income due to suspension of work. We also note that the data we have for the analysis do not account for jobs in the informal sector. Job Risk by Regions The impact of the pandemic varies across regions, with the National Capital Region, CALABARZON and Central Visayas the hardest hit in terms of incidence and prevalence of the disease. Cognizant of this, the IATF released risk-based guidelines in deciding whether regions, provinces or highly urbanized cities should be under ECQ, MECQ, GCQ or MGCQ.[4] To shed light on which sectors can be activated while minimizing risk at the same time, we conducted Binary Integer Goal Programming at the regional level. Our model showed that for regions to produce at least 60% of the Gross Regional Domestic Product, 22.7 million workers can go to work with the average computed risk score of 0.58 +/- 0.77. These workers belong to several sectors, namely, agriculture, hunting and forestry; fishing and aquaculture; manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities; wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; information and communication; financial and insurance activities; real estate activities; public administration and defense; compulsory social security; and human health and social work activities. Additionally, for this to happen, the Education and Other Services sectors may not need to resume activity under GCQ in all regions. Effect of Interventions on Job Risks Protection level plays a key role in the risk level. Decreasing the protection level increases the risk of each job for each industrial sector, occupational group, and UPSE classification. Without any protection, almost two-thirds (63%) of UPSE Category D jobs and one-third (33%) of UPSE Category B jobs will be at high risk of getting infected. Under increased protection level (45%), which assumes perfect use of face masks and strict hand hygiene, 74 out of 505 (15%) UPSE Category D and 11 out of 175 (6%) UPSE Category B jobs are at high risk. Job risks due to disease spread can be managed through various measures like the use of PPEs, hygienic practices and work from home arrangements to lessen contact. Job risks are lowered when protection levels were increased by 1) general increase in protection levels by 15% assuming increased or more effective use of PPEs; 2) 99% protection level for jobs that can shift to work from home; and, 3) 80% protection levels for certain health workers again assuming increased or more effective use of PPEs. Moderate and high-risk jobs lessened by 8% and 14%, respectively. Low risk jobs increased by 21%. There is ample room for intervention from the work from home setup since currently, around 90% or 887 jobs are normally not work from home, and most of these are moderate and high infection risk jobs. Decision Support Tools to Guide Workplace Reopening Out of the 987 jobs we have identified in our analysis, only 100 (10.13%) can be done through a work from home arrangement. The proportion is even smaller for jobs that pay Php18,200 or less per month, where only 28 of 488 jobs (5.74%) can be performed remotely. In light of the foregoing, the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team has developed simple decision support tools that both public and private organizations can use as we transition to modified community quarantine. Figure 3 below shows a decision tree that institutions can refer to in quickly assessing their readiness to resume operations. It takes into account the basic health requirements of the IATF and DOH. Figure 3. Decision tree to guide workplace reopening | Source: Adopted with modifications from CDC to reflect IATF guidelines Another tool that government agencies, companies, or even individuals may find useful in assessing relative risks and interventions is our Job Risk Profiling Tool developed up by the UPLB Biomathematics Team. It provides more information on the analysis presented here, and comes with calculators that can be used to search for specific job risk profiles and specify different configurations of encounters, work shift duration, workplace crowd density, and level of protection. This open calculator can be used to look at potential scenarios of intervention in specific workplace situations. Endnotes [1] Jobs based on the National Center for O*NET Development (Center) (https://www.onetcenter.org/overview.html) which has data on exposure and physical proximity per job. [2] Adopted with modifications from the UP School of Economics (UPSE) classification. [3] Methods based on the paper by Dy, L., & Rabajante, J. (2020) A COVID-19 Infection Risk Model for Frontline Health Care Workers. doi: 10.1101/2020.03.27.20045336 were used to derive exposure to disease, physical proximity data and the list of job titles from the National Center for O*NET Development. Work Context: Physical Proximity. O*NET OnLine. (Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/result/4.C.2.a.3), and National Center for O*NET Development. Work Context: Exposed to Disease or Infections. O*NET OnLine. (Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/result/4.C.2.c.1.b?a=1). Risk scores and assessment were calculated using the risk model similar to Gamio, L. (2020). The Workers Who Face the Greatest Coronavirus Risk (Retrieved 17 April 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/15/business/economy/coronavirus-worker-risk.html) [4] See https://www.covid19.gov.ph/issuances For questions or clarifications related to the technical or other aspects of this policy note, please send an email to upri.covid19＠up.edu.ph. Scientific reports related to this statement will be posted in the endcov.ph site. |
https://up.edu.ph/prevailing-data-issues-in-the-time-of-covid-19-and-the-need-for-open-data/ | Prevailing Data Issues in the Time of COVID-19 and the Need for Open Data – University of the Philippines | Prevailing Data Issues in the Time of COVID-19 and the Need for Open Data Prevailing Data Issues in the Time of COVID-19 and the Need for Open Data May 12, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team POLICY NOTE NO. 6 / 08 May 2020 Introduction Our previous policy notes already highlighted some epidemiological metrics vital for monitoring the state of the country in its fight against COVID-19. These metrics provide context, give insight, and serve as a guide to help stakeholders take control of the disease and monitor our own progress. As we have repeatedly pointed out since Day 1, any analysis is only as good as the data that we have. Relevant, and accurate data about COVID-19 and the resources the country has in the fight is important. The speed and timeliness of how such is released is equally critical. We do recognize the difficulties in the collection of detailed and timely records of COVID-19 data on a nationwide scale. However, no matter how difficult, these problems need to be addressed at the soonest possible time and should be of top priority. Here, we discuss prevailing data issues we have observed, and our recommendation for open data moving forward. Data Sharing Practices Collecting COVID-19 data has not been easy. Since the country finally accepted the presence of community transmission around the first week of March 2020, government’s data reporting protocols have changed far too often (Table 1). There was initially no standard time of the day for when DOH posted the official daily numbers. There was even a brief period when DOH stopped releasing updates, leaving people using the data in the dark. Fortunately, the DOH has been open to feedback, and this has been reflected in the improvement in reporting. There is now a centralized resource for modelers to use as a common reference. There is also regularity and predictability on when reports are given, and this is commendable given that transparency and timeliness are key to managing any crisis situation, especially a pandemic. However, there is still room for improving the quality of the data, and the process of collecting information for DOH’s data drop in the tracker. It is important to make sure that correct data is captured as swiftly as possible to minimize uploading of erroneous and anomalous, if not missing, data. Data Accuracy and Integrity The availability of accurate and relevant data is a basic requirement in managing any situation that requires urgent and targeted response. Almost three months since we had our first confirmed case in the person of a Chinese national on 30 January, we have yet to reconcile differences in numbers between DOH and LGU sources. For example, on 03 May 2020, DOH reported 7 deaths (28 recoveries) in Laguna, which was 22 deaths (65 recoveries) lesser than the provincial government’s official count. Accuracy, however, goes beyond correctness in reporting aggregate numbers. Recent data drops by DOH revealed a number of alarming patient-level inconsistencies, if not gross errors. A quick comparison of the April 24 and April 25 data drops showed that forty-five (45) cases have changed sex from male to female or vice-versa; while 75 others had the data on age modified. This is on top of the 516 cases where the residence data was reclassified to another city, if not a completely imaginary city (i.e. a barangay or district) like what happened in the City of Manila (Table 2). Related to the problem of accurate residential reporting is the handling of certain variables in the DOH data drop. For example, RegionRes is a variable for the region of residence and is coded in text such as “NCR”, “Region III: Central Luzon”, and so on. RegionPSGC is the region code based on the Philippine Standard Geographic Code [PSGC], compiled by the Philippine Statistics Authority, based on their mandate to prescribe “uniform standards and classification systems in the generation of government statistics to ensure harmonization and comparability of statistics in the country and at the international level” (PSA 2020). The DOH data drop introduced this variable last April 26, 2020 for regional, provincial, and city/municipal classification. Each region has a unique code in the PSGC; however, as seen in the table below, inconsistencies in the coding of the PSGC for cases within regions have been problematic. It is noted that the DOH Tracker uses the RegionRes variable for statistics, not the Region PSGC (Table 3). * Total does not necessarily agree with the 10,004 cases reported in May 6, 2020 as regions with full-matching PSGC codes have been disregarded. There are other troubling anomalies in recent data drops of DOH. For example, 18 cases no longer have data on residence in the April 25 update. On the same date, the recovery dates of two cases were either missing or changed. One patient who reportedly died on April 24 is no longer dead the following day. The DOH data drop is also inconsistent with its use of date formats, which makes it difficult for automated systems of extracting and updating data from case information. It has made the work of data analysis difficult because of these sudden changes (Table 4). These lapses may seem small relative to the total size of data contained in the daily updates, but they have significant implications on the reliability of our scientific analyses on COVID-19. Patient case data is the keystone for effective and insightful metrics and analysis. The integrity of the data drops is particularly important given that no less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself has said many times that the government’s decision on managing COVID-19 will be based on science. We fully support President Duterte on this call for science-based decisions, hence this statement. Transparency and Accountability We acknowledge the importance of data privacy as provided for in our existing laws such as the Data Privacy of 2012 (RA 10173) and the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act of 2018 (RA 11332), among others. However, there are important data that can already be anonymized and made available to serve public interest. For example, identifiers, such as employment information or specific addresses may be removed, but variables such as onset of symptoms, exposure history, co-morbidities, and whether they were medical front-liners or not are key inputs for modelers and statisticians to map the progress of our fight against COVID-19. We are also aware that the DOH is already sharing government data with selected groups from the private sector. These organizations are bound by Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), as required by law. However, while it may be legally right, it does not serve public interest in this time of great need for accurate and timely information. For example, DOH restricts the analytics involved with patient statistics, even for some aggregates, which have implications on understanding IATF’s recommendations for placing some provinces under ECQ. The COVID-19 pandemic requires a science-based approach, and science cannot exist in a vacuum. Any scientific output would benefit from cross-validation from peers, and if findings do not converge, we might be standing on shaky grounds. Such scientific rigor can only happen in an environment where data, especially government data, is made available to all relevant stakeholders. Entrusting government data to select private entities is inimical to public interest. Call for Open Data and Scientific Cooperation We understand that some data can only be shared internally (i.e. within the government) and are not fully open to the public. In this regard, we call on other agencies, to share relevant data that can help capable institutions make scientific assessments for discussions on the evolving crisis to come up with better peer-reviewed science. Regardless of technology, it is important that the reporting system be standardized and regularized, integrated into the existing data tracker as much as possible, and made open to the public. We also call on private institutions to contribute to the COVID-19 related data already shared in the COVID-tracker Data Drop. We believe there are private corporations who possess data that can benefit all researchers cooperating in this fight. Making all data sources open, while also being mindful of the same data privacy protocols that DOH is following, can further empower both official and unofficial stakeholders (i.e., commissioned and independent scientists and researchers, local governments officials, IATF/NTF decision-makers) in the battle ahead. This is important not only to inform our plans, but also to tell us how we are doing in the fight against COVID-19. This is particularly so in light of recent announcements by DOH and its private partners that we have already flattened the curve. Without access to full government data entrusted to select private sector groups, the task for an independent corroboration—the hallmark of any scientific undertaking—becomes impossible, to the detriment of public welfare and interest. This call for open data is in line with the UNESCO call for open science and reinforced scientific cooperation. According to UNESCO, it is imperative now more than ever to strengthen/build international inter-continental and national scientific cooperation between scientists, decision/policy makers, private practitioners, industries and health professionals and civil society for a multi-dimensional approach to tackling the pandemic. This calls for open access to scientific knowledge and know-how, data sharing and evidence-based policy and decision-making. Nowhere is the need for Open Data as clearly manifested than in the current COVID-19 crisis. In preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the impacts of health hazards or any natural hazard for that matter, data must be used to generate knowledge. If we keep our information in silos, our collective efforts and perspective of the situation narrows and so do our chances to maintain and preserve public health and security. Ultimately, because the battles ahead will no longer be just about health, this call for more open data sharing is a call to other sectors as well. We need to resolve our data issues posthaste to secure public trust in the plans, decisions, and pronouncements of the government and its private partners. For questions or clarifications related to the technical or other aspects of this policy note, please send an email to upri.covid19＠up.edu.ph. Scientific reports related to this statement will be posted in the endcov.ph site. Download a copy of the Policy Note No. 6 here. |
https://up.edu.ph/social-interactions-and-post-ecq-school-opening-and-mobility-of-older-people-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Social Interactions and Post-ECQ School Opening and Mobility of Older People: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Social Interactions and Post-ECQ School Opening and Mobility of Older People: Analysis and Recommendations Social Interactions and Post-ECQ School Opening and Mobility of Older People: Analysis and Recommendations May 7, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team POLICY NOTE NO. 5 / 05 May 2020 Problem Situation The novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) feeds on social interaction. It spreads from one person to another through droplets that may remain contagious for hours or days, depending on the setting of transmission. This is why the government’s core response to the evolving pandemic is anchored on social distancing and community quarantine. The idea is simple enough: limit people’s social and physical interactions to slow down, if not eliminate, COVID-19 spread, and at the same time, protect vulnerable groups. Following the government decision to extend the ECQ in selected areas and identify GCQ areas with attendant regulations, how can we ease up restrictions on people’s mobility while minimizing risk? Particularly, how do we respond to the needs of two sectors on both ends of the population spectrum, namely, children and older people? It must be noted that the State is obligated to provide continued learning for the former, and ensure fundamental rights and freedoms of the latter at all times. To shed light on the matter, the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team looked into the country-wide total age-group interactions per day and its implications on school opening and the mobility of older people. The results from our models complement existing knowledge on the probability of outbreak for cities and municipalities of the country (read Policy Note No. 2) and the situation in nearby cities and municipalities (i.e. transport links; border control policies) to help the IATF and LGUs make science-based decisions. Overall, when combined with knowledge on identified areas with a chance of outbreak, testing and isolation capacity, provincial health care capacity, quarantine policy, and capability to detect without delay COVID-19 symptomatics and asymptomatics, the analysis and recommendations we made here can be used for government strategy as we transition from ECQ to GCQ. Age-Group Interactions The Philippines has a generally young population. In light of this, we simulated how children and teenagers interact with older adults who are 65 years old and above, cognizant of the reality that older Filipinos usually live with their children and grandchildren under one roof. Our models show that 56% of interaction with all age groups are amongst the 0-20 years of age, compared to only 1% among those aged 65 and over. Moreover, 49% of the interaction of seniors 65 years and above happens with the age group of 0-20 (Figure 1). This essentially means two things: 1) social interaction is highest among the young; and 2) the same group accounts for the greatest amount of interaction with older people. Relaxing restrictions on physical interactions of children does not bode well if matched with empirical data from DOH. As of 1 May 2020, more than 97% of those who tested positive for COVID-19 among those aged 5-20 years old are asymptomatic, have mild symptoms or have recovered indicating that this age group may be more resilient to COVID-19 compared to older groups (Figure 2). The number of deaths from COVID-19 generally increases with age, rising noticeably starting at age 50-54 and steadily increasing rather steeply thereafter. In all, 70% of the total deaths are from cases age 60 and over. Putting together what we know about interactions by age group, the relative resilience of the young and the likelihood of severe disease among the old, the conclusion is that the young aged 0-20 who have the most interactions with all age groups, and especially with the old, have a high likelihood of bringing home the infection from school and from their other social contacts, being mostly asymptomatic or only showing mild symptoms, to the more vulnerable members of their households. Figure 1. Results of interaction models on age interaction amongst all age groups and interaction with age group 65 years and above (https://psa.gov.ph; https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005697). Figure 2. COVID-19 data per age group for mild, recovered, asymptomatic, severe and critical cases included the deceased. Implications on School Opening To estimate the effects of school opening, we tested different scenarios for the National Capital Region (NCR). Assuming 90% of businesses open on 15 May, higher education institutions (HEIs) physically open on 15 August, and elementary and secondary schools physically open on 1 September, all in 2020, the following were modeled: 1) All schools physically open; 2) 50% HEIs, elementary and high schools physically open; 3) all schools physically open and there is increased detection of COVID-19 cases with about 30,000 tests per day; 4) 50% HEIs physically open but all elementary and high schools closed; and 5) all schools at all levels physically closed (Figure 3). Figure 3. Mean result of simulations for different scenarios of physical school opening in NCR using default protection level of 10%; 10k tests per day and effective surveillance to find 30-50% of the infected individuals; prevalence in the environment and nearby communities of 1/10,000; and assumption that individuals with mild and asymptotic condition are 20-50% less infectious than symptomatic cases (https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/04/09/science.abb6936). The models reveal that with the current testing detection rate and the scenario with 10,000 tests per day, physically opening all schools in NCR may increase the transmission of COVID-19 to R values greater than 1 (gray, blue and yellow curves, respectively). On the other hand, continued physical closure of all schools up to the end of the year, considering the model assumptions, may continue to lower the R value to near, but not necessarily equal to zero values by the end of 2020 (orange curve). The two other scenarios show varying rates of decline in R value, but all close to or below 1. As we have explained in Policy Note No. 2, the ultimate goal of the government is to bring the reproduction number Rt value to less than 1 or closest to 0 until a vaccine is discovered. Implications on Mobility of Older People The transmission potential of senior citizens, defined as age 60 and above, was analyzed and compared with people of age below 60 using the time-varying reproduction number or Rt. With respect to the transmission potential, older adults were relatively less transmissive of the disease within their group than the younger individuals. However, senior citizens had been highly transmissive before the March 15 enhanced community quarantine with Rt greater than 1. During the quarantine period, older persons were less transmissive to other `younger counterparts (Figure 4). Figure 4. COVID-19 infection, death, and reproductive number for older adults and younger population (as of 30 April 2020). The computation assumed that younger individuals, as imported cases, transmit the disease to the senior citizens for the Rt of age 60 and up, and vice-versa for Rt of age less than 60. The reproduction number for senior citizens would describe their transmission potential within their group after subtracting the effect of transmission from the younger group, while the Rt for age less than 60 would be vice-versa. Figure 4 above also shows that as of 30 April 2020, older people account for about three-fourths of total COVID-19 fatalities. However, there is also evidence that it is not just advanced age per se that is associated with the higher risk of dying from COVID-19 but also the presence of comorbidities such as hypertension, heart disease, chronic respiratory illness, and other diseases that compromise the immune system. Since older people are more likely to have these comorbidities, they have the highest case fatality rates of all ages. The Philippine data shows that comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma, raises COVID-19 total mortality by as much as 30%. The increase in mortality is evident at all ages. Children (age 0 to 19) with co-morbidities are also very vulnerable to dying from COVID-19 (Figure 5). The mortality rates mentioned here refer to the probability of dying once infected with COVID-19. COVID-19 mortality rates are compared to the Philippine-specific WHO 2016 (from government data), SSS 2012 (mostly from employees of private companies) and Philippine Intercompany Mortality Table 2017 (PICT; from insured population) mortality rates to provide an idea on how much COVID-19 raises regular mortality. Figure 5. COVID-19 mortality with and without co-morbidities by age-group The New Normal beyond the ECQ Results from our models support the plan of the government to carefully study the reopening of schools. Now, more than ever, we need to adapt to a new normal of delivering learning with limited physical interaction. The right to education should not stop simply because schools are closed. Schools under ECQ must remain closed, while areas under GCQ should consider a flexible schedule that limits physical interaction of children. School activities that entail a gathering of crowds must be postponed. To ensure continuity, various forms of distance learning must be explored, and in areas where such is not possible, low-cost technologies (e.g. IoT-based systems) can be put in place to facilitate connectivity. The foregoing analysis also lends support to the IATF’s Resolution No. 30, which takes into account the issue of co-morbidity and specific vulnerabilities in the enforcement of the stay-at-home rule. Under the new guidelines, pregnant women, those who have co-morbidities and senior citizens are required to stay at home. Cognizant of the heterogeneity of the senior citizen population, exemptions to the stay at home order has been made for older people who need to go out “[to obtain] essential goods and services or [to] work in permitted industries and offices,” including those who are living alone. This sends the message that senior citizens should limit their mobility and do their part to help contain the spread of COVID-19. The IATF needs to issue clear operational guidelines as to how these stay at home orders are to be implemented on the ground. The outcome of the analysis is only as good as the quality of available data. For questions or clarifications related to the technical or other aspects of this policy note, please send an email to upri.covid19＠up.edu.ph. Scientific reports related to this statement will be posted in the endcov.ph site. Download a copy of the Policy Note No. 5 here. |
https://up.edu.ph/preparing-for-a-post-ecq-scenario-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Preparing for a Post-ECQ Scenario: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Preparing for a Post-ECQ Scenario: Analysis and Recommendations Preparing for a Post-ECQ Scenario: Analysis and Recommendations April 7, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team Since Day One, the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team has done simulations on the spread of SARS-COV-2 in the country. Our bioinformatics group—composed mostly of mathematicians from different UP campuses—estimate a peak by end of April to June with approximately 140,000 to 550,000 people infected in Metro Manila. A significant proportion of this estimate will not be detected unless they are tested. Hence, these estimates can guide testing capacity requirements for the succeeding months. Hospital bed capacity requirements among other healthcare metrics, can also be reasonably projected based on the proportion of severe cases (5%). Epidemic duration estimates can help decision-makers make informed decisions and craft appropriate strategies to calibrate interventions over the short- to long-term. To this end, we are publicly releasing the results of our projections, with the hope that this can guide government action (Table 1). Other groups have conducted their own simulations using different parameters and assumptions, which reveal much higher numbers of infected persons ranging from 1.5 to 4 million for Metro Manila and 23-29 million for the whole country. Table 1. COVID-19 Epidemic models from UP and other modeling groups Figure 1. Scenario analysis for post-ECQ measures relative to healthcare capacity (Source: UP and Ayala Analytics group) Our simulations also show that non-medical interventions included in the extended community quarantine such as work and school shutdown, requirement of face masks (even homemade masks with filter), washing of hands, and social distancing, can reduce the spread of the virus and flatten the curve for our healthcare system to cope with cases on infected individuals (Figure 2). Community quarantine buys us time to beef up our healthcare system’s capacity, while limiting the reach of the disease. Thus, a modified, location-specific quarantine scenario can be explored in light of public healthcare realities on the ground (e.g. number of ventilators, hospital beds) and possibly different peak periods across LGUs throughout the country. Simulations can be improved further with more detailed information gathered using online survey forms where each LGU can input data at barangay level on a daily basis (Figure 2a). Hospital information on the number of people tested, recovered and other critical data for modeling should also be collected without delay to improve the analysis of the situation and expose areas where local community quarantine can be implemented (Figure 2b). Contact tracing should also be implemented with the aid of technologies that can do rapid collection of data. Such information system should be implemented now. UP and its partners have built this kind of system using its infrastructure and is ready for deployment. Figure 2a (left) Metro Manila cities hotspots of cases for COVID-19 Figure 2b (right) Hotspots of cases in Quezon City defined at the barangay level The general welfare of the public is of utmost consideration to us. Filipinos living below the poverty line and those who cannot work under the current circumstances require adequate support to minimize economic hardship. Government should continue to pursue these actions for the country. We also urge the government to get detailed real-time information for improved science-based decisions to address our current crisis. COVID-19 is not an invisible enemy. It leaves behind traces of itself, which we can use to get ahead of the curve and stop it in its tracks. But to get there, 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. Download the report here. View the infographics here. |
https://up.edu.ph/yani-the-endcovbot-learns-lgbt-slang/ | Yani, the EndCovBot, learns LGBT slang – University of the Philippines | Yani, the EndCovBot, learns LGBT slang Yani, the EndCovBot, learns LGBT slang May 26, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Yani, the EndCovBot, learns LGBT slang. You can talk to Yani through Facebook messenger: m.me/YaniEndCovBot LGBT slang or the Beki language option is now available when you converse with Yani! If you’re looking for COVID-19 statistics, the nearest hospitals, links to therapy and counseling, or information on policies, you can talk to Yani through Facebook messenger: m.me/YaniEndCovBot Yani, the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team’s chatbot designed to talk to humans and answer questions related to COVID-19, is also in the process of “learning” different Philippine languages to be able to reach and converse with more Filipinos in an open and engaging way. Aside from creating a multilingual AI chatbot, the UP Team has also produced social media flashcards in various Philippine languages, such as Filipino, Aklanon, Bahasa Sug, Bikol Sentral, Cebuano, Chavacano de Zamboanga, Hiligaynon, Ilokano, Itawis, Kapampangan, Meranaw, Waray Leyte, and Waray Samar. Access these information materials via the UP Resilience Institute’s Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-resilience-institute-introduces-covid-chatbot/ | UP Resilience Institute introduces COVID chatbot – University of the Philippines | UP Resilience Institute introduces COVID chatbot UP Resilience Institute introduces COVID chatbot April 8, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Meet Yani, the newest AI member of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team! Yani, short for baYANIhan and named in honor of our heroes in the fight against COVID-19, is ready to help you find the information you need. If you’re looking for the nearest hospitals, psychosocial support, or policy information, Yani has got you covered: m.me/YaniEndCovBot Yani is ready to chat every time you visit https://endcov.ph/ and can converse both in English and Filipino (dapat!) Related: UP launches web portal, map for COVID-19 responders |
https://up.edu.ph/modified-community-quarantine-beyond-april-30-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Modified Community Quarantine beyond April 30: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Modified Community Quarantine beyond April 30: Analysis and Recommendations Modified Community Quarantine beyond April 30: Analysis and Recommendations April 13, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team Problem Situation The extension of the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) raises the question on how effective the ECQ has been to contain the spread of COVID-19. If it is, how should it be implemented after April 30 without unnecessarily paralyzing local economies over a long period of time? It is important to tackle this question at this time because LGUs rely upon national directives for policy and decision-making. Crafting of guidelines for an extended ECQ requires foresight, one that is informed by scientific data on estimates of the effectiveness of pandemic control strategies. It requires key metrics that are primarily epidemiological in nature and must be infused with as many scientific points of view as possible. Here, we show the effect of differences in population density of communities in the analysis of the transmission of COVID-19 to help national and local officials make informed decisions whether to extend, lift, or relax community quarantine. Is the Luzon-wide ECQ effective? Time-series analysis shows it now takes a little longer for the number of confirmed cases to double in number. What took 3 days for the total number of cases to double now takes about 6 days to happen (Figure 1). Based on these trends, one can estimate about 9,000 to 44,000* possible cases reported by the end of April 2020. In general, this indicates the relative success of the ECQ–along with other interventions–in containing the spread of the virus. However, we must not simply rely on the number of cases as a means to project courses of actions. Figure 1. Simple time-series analysis showing typical trends in the DOH reported positive cases (latest data: 10 April 2020). The current trend shows that the number of reported cases doubles about T2 = 6 days, while there has been a linear trend for the past 10 days (since 01 April). The color bar represents the data range used to estimate the linear projection. Note: Represents confirmed cases and does not include undetected, asymptomatic and mild cases. Another metric that can be used to test effectiveness of the ECQ is the case fatality rate. Based on best available data as of 10 April 2020, we report an estimated case fatality rate of 5.38% and a reproduction number of 0.6398, which means that the ECQ has been effective (Figure 2). The goal is to keep bringing the reproductive number down to lower than 1 through continued medical and non-medical interventions. Quantifying the effectiveness of the ECQ, however, is highly dependent on efforts in discovering new cases. Specifically, there are situations in which countries were able to bring their reproduction numbers down close to 1, but later testing pulled the number up, such as the case of Singapore. In the case of Korea, consistent increased testing coupled with contact tracing facilitated the detection and management of the epidemic, lowering the reproduction number of COVID-19. Figure 2. Time-Dependent Reproduction Number Rt of the Philippines, Singapore, and South Korea, with 95% Confidence Intervals for March 9 to April 10, 2020 Proposal on how to implement community quarantine after April 30 Successful as it may seem, an ECQ covering a wide area may not be sustainable over the long run. Prolonged restriction on the movement of goods and services over a large area (i.e. region-wide) can unnecessarily paralyze local economies. In light of this reality, our best recourse after April 30 is to implement graduated activation of ECQ depending on the level of risk in certain areas at a given time. Under this set-up, provinces (or even lower-level LGUs) may be put under ECQ depending on how close or far they are to an estimated outbreak threshold. This suggestion is made based on our analysis on the trajectory of spread and the severity of its impacts across LGUs, which varies depending on the onset of local transmission, population density, and age-group distribution. To aid decision-making on this matter, our team continued to explore epidemiological approaches in disease mapping at the provincial level using population density as proxy measure of “outbreak spread potential” (Figure 3). By getting the ratio of the number of cases against the estimated outbreak threshold, we can determine which level of community quarantine to implement (Table 1). For instance, a province whose number of cases is at least equal to the estimated outbreak threshold should implement ECQ measures. On the other hand, a province whose number of cases is less than 75% of the estimated outbreak threshold may not declare a community quarantine at all, but only need to sustain information campaign efforts, general physical distancing, testing and contact tracing, home quarantine for probable cases, and hospitalization for patients needing care and treatment. Figure 3. Example map showing the probability of cases/outbreak threshold (with reproductive number of 2) of the Philippines computed per province from best available data as of 9 April 2020. Map layout by Feye Andal of UPRI Youth Mappers. Table 1.Example of a Decision Matrix for Graduated Community Quarantine Implementation Data considerations to improve decision-making The approach presented here depends entirely on the quality of official reports, testing accuracy, monitoring, and faithful accounts of fatalities, among others. There have been reports of discrepancies between the official fatality count and those reported from the ground and must be addressed to ensure quality and timeliness of data used in any analysis. Furthermore, model estimates would improve much if nationwide barangay-level COVID-19 related data are available daily. We recommend the employment of an automated LGU data collecting system. One of the possible applications to be used for this purpose has already been developed by our team and is ready for use by LGUs through the endcov.ph dashboard. By getting near real-time data, it becomes easier to project the rate of spread and identify locations of hotspots and outbreaks on a daily basis The findings and suggestions outlined here are proposed to help the country’s efforts to curb the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Soon we will have to decide when to restart economic activities, and these localized metrics, which can be done up to barangay level may aid policy decisions on the preservation of both lives and livelihoods. For questions or clarifications related to the technical or other aspects of this Policy Note, please send an email to: upri.covid19@up.edu.ph. Download this report here. |
https://up.edu.ph/estimating-local-healthcare-capacity-to-deal-with-covid-19-case-surge-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Estimating Local Healthcare Capacity to Deal with COVID-19 Case Surge: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Estimating Local Healthcare Capacity to Deal with COVID-19 Case Surge: Analysis and Recommendations Estimating Local Healthcare Capacity to Deal with COVID-19 Case Surge: Analysis and Recommendations April 20, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team The Challenge: Estimated Severe and Critical Cases at Peak The rising number of cases of COVID-19 infections on a daily basis is a serious concern as there are limits to hospital care capacity for patients with serious symptoms (e.g. difficulty in breathing). Should the number of infected people rapidly rise, there may come a time when the hospital care resources will be overwhelmed. The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, in its latest model run, estimates the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to reach 9,000 to 44,000 by the end of April 2020. As of April 16 DOH reports a total of 5,660 confirmed cases. Majority (around 81%) of Filipinos who contract COVID-19 will exhibit uncomplicated or mild illness. These patients do not require hospitalization, but isolation is necessary in order to prevent viral transmission. Approximately 14% will develop severe illness requiring oxygen therapy, while the remaining 5% will require intensive care unit (ICU) treatment. Estimates on the number of Filipino COVID-19 patients who will require hospitalization is shown in Table 1. In a scenario at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, where a COVID-positive person can infect two others (R0=2), our simulations show that about 51,933 Filipinos will need hospitalization, approximately 13,194 of whom will need ICU treatment. Outside of Metro Manila, the biggest bulk of severe and critical patients would come from Regions III (Central Luzon), IV-A (CALABARZON), VI (Western Visayas), and VII (Central Visayas). Can Local Healthcare Systems Absorb the Surge? There are 456 hospitals in the country classified either as Level 2 or 3. Altogether, excluding those classified as specialty hospitals, these hospitals combined will have a total bed capacity of 67,119. Approximately 41% of these beds are in government-owned hospitals while the remaining 59% are in private hospitals. Figure 1 shows the proportion of hospital beds according to ownership. In this analysis, it is assumed that 80% of these beds would be used for treating people with other illnesses. In 2012, the average bed occupancy rate among Level 3 hospitals in Metro Manila was 77.2%. DOH-retained hospitals across the nation had an average bed occupancy rate of 105% in 2013. For the treatment of critical cases, there are a total of 2,335 critical care beds in 450 intensive care units in the Philippines. This corresponds to 3.1% of the total approved bed capacity of Level 2 and 3 hospitals in the country. We estimate, based on our projections (Figure 2) and assuming a scenario with a reproductive rate (R0) of 2, that three provinces adjacent to NCR, namely, Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal, may face a serious shortage of hospital beds for handling severe and critical cases. COVID-19-related patients alone would fill up the total bed capacities in these areas. We also identify 25 provinces and two cities in Metro Manila, namely, Malabon and Navotas, which do not have Level 2 or 3 hospitals within their geographic bounds. Thus, it is imperative to capacitate Level 1 hospitals in these areas to address the situation. On the projected availability of ICU beds corresponding to critical COVID cases at the provincial and regional levels (Figure3), we estimate that it is beyond the capacity of most provinces to handle the surge of the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines at its peak. There is a lack of available critical care beds because across the country, there are only a little over 2,000 ICU beds to cater to the projected 8,800 to 19,800 critical COVID-19 cases. If we are not able to “flatten the curve” or significantly reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus in the Philippines through the enhanced community quarantine ECQ, the healthcare system will be overwhelmed way beyond their capacity as clearly seen in the relatively low number of hospital and ICU beds. Approximately 35,000 additional beds are required to accommodate the peak number of cases in a scenario wherein the reproductive number (R0) is 2. Certain regions (I, III, IV, V, VI and VII) may need to stretch their capacities to accommodate the cases during the peak. Health human resource is another key determinant to the capacity of the healthcare system to absorb the surge of patients. To handle critical patients, there should ideally be one attending physician for every two patients, and one-on-one nursing. Additionally, there should be one intensivist, one pulmonologist, and one infectious disease specialist for every five patients. At R0=2, this roughly corresponds to 14,500 doctors and 13,200 nurses. As of 2018, there are 40,775 doctors and 90,308 nurses in the country. Peak-time critical COVID-19 cases alone would require the attention of approximately 21% of our healthcare workers. Note that this is over and above the already heavy regular workload of our health human resource. There are, on the average, 3.7 doctors per 10,000 population in the Philippines. This is below the World Health Organization-prescribed ratio of 1 doctor for 1,000 persons (or 10 per 10,000). Moreover, there is a wide discrepancy across regions of the country. For instance, the ratio is 10 per 10,000 in NCR while it is 0.8 per 10,000 in BARMM. Furthermore, there are 8.2 nurses per 10,000 nationwide compared to the WHO-prescribed ratio of 1:1,000. The enhanced community quarantine reduced the Reproductive Number, R, (Figure 4), which helped get the hospital care system to deliver services to those in need. We attribute this downward trend mainly to the ECQ. As of 19 April 2020, the Reproductive Number, R, for the Philippines is at 1.072. Should the ECQ be lifted on 30 April 2020, we expect the number of Covid19-related cases and the value of R to again rise. We should prepare early for this expected surge of Covid19 patients once the quarantine is lifted. The estimates provided in this document can be used as a guide for planning. These include: the number of hospital beds, ICU beds, and human resource availability. The number of medical equipment and supply of PPEs will also need real-time monitoring to guide administrators, decision-makers, and donors on the allocation of resources and triaging services. Download the PDF of the report here. Notes: The outcome of the analysis is only as good as the quality of the available data. There is also a need for more refined information on the actual bed occupancies, critical care bed numbers, and number of healthcare workers. For questions or clarifications related to the technical or other aspects of this policy note, please send an email to upri.covid19＠up.edu.ph. Scientific reports related to this statement will be posted in the endcov.ph site. |
https://up.edu.ph/ecq-doing-good-graduated-activation-recommended-after-april-30-up-pandemic-response-team/ | ECQ doing good, ‘graduated activation’ recommended after April 30—UP pandemic response team – University of the Philippines | ECQ doing good, ‘graduated activation’ recommended after April 30—UP pandemic response team ECQ doing good, ‘graduated activation’ recommended after April 30—UP pandemic response team April 20, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed over Luzon, along with other interventions, has indeed slowed down the spread of COVID-19 virus, based on “the best available data”, according to a team specially formed by the University of the Philippines to help government make informed interventions against the pandemic. Summarizing a five-page policy note by the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) said: “What took three days for the total number of cases to double now takes six days.” [Read the policy note here.] It added that, compared to Singapore and South Korea, COVID-19 related deaths in the country has not increased significantly. This means that the ECQ has been “relatively successful” given the estimated case fatality rate of 5.38 percent and a reproduction number of 0.6398, which is lower than 1. “After April 30, the best thing to do is to implement a graduated activation of ECQ. Provinces and lower-level LGUs should decide whether to extend, lift, or relax community quarantine based on how far they are to an estimated outbreak threshold,” according to the summary. Figure 3. Example map showing tPolicy note’s example map showing the probability of cases/outbreak threshold of the Philippines computed per province from best available data as of April 9, 2020. The team’s policy note added that model estimates would improve much if nationwide barangay-level data on COVID-19 were made available daily, preferably through an automated LGU data collecting system. The team volunteered to help LGUs track and monitor their data through its endcov.ph dashboard. Policy note’s example of a decision matrix for Graduated Community Quarantine implementation based on the probability of outbreak. The web portal was launched shortly after the creation of the team on March 19, 2020. It features a highly detailed map of the general locations and numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitals, quarantine checkpoints, and other usable data inputted by UPRI staff. The map doubles as a color-coded “heat map” showing which localized areas have the most and the least number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The portal has pages for COVID-19-related policies, advisories, resources, symptoms of the disease, charts, statistical data, and profiles of patients investigated, tested, admitted, and treated in hospitals, including those who have died or recovered. Endcov.ph features profiles of patients who have been investigated, tested, admitted, and treated in hospitals, including those who have died and those who have recovered from the disease. The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team is composed of UP Executive Vice President and former Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa and UPRI Executive Director Alfredo Mahar Lagmay as team leaders; with UPRI directors and experts on public health, medicine, the arts and sciences, engineering, education, governance, and related fields as members. They are tasked with design and implementation of research and dissemination of findings relevant to the pandemic. The response team made two other points, as summarized by UPRI: • Quantifying the effectiveness of ECQ is highly dependent on discovering new cases. South Korea managed the spread of the virus and lowered their reproduction number through consistent increased testing and contact tracing. • A region-wide ECQ may not be sustainable over the long run and can unnecessarily paralyze local economies. Endcov.ph’s map view has a color-coded “heat map” showing which localized areas have the most (darker areas) and the least (brighter areas) number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Resiliency expert Alfredo Mahar Lagmay (top) and former Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa (bottom) lead UP’s COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team. Photos by the UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/addressing-the-immediate-needs-of-all-especially-the-most-vulnerable-sectors-analysis-and-recommendations/ | Addressing the Immediate Needs of All, Especially the Most Vulnerable Sectors: Analysis and Recommendations – University of the Philippines | Addressing the Immediate Needs of All, Especially the Most Vulnerable Sectors: Analysis and Recommendations Addressing the Immediate Needs of All, Especially the Most Vulnerable Sectors: Analysis and Recommendations April 28, 2020 | Written by UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team Addressing the Immediate Needs of All, Especially the Most Vulnerable Sectors: Analysis And Recommendations Download the PDF copy here. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-launches-web-portal-map-for-covid-19-responders/ | UP launches web portal, map for COVID-19 responders – University of the Philippines | UP launches web portal, map for COVID-19 responders UP launches web portal, map for COVID-19 responders April 2, 2020 | Written by Fred Dabu Endcov.ph features profiles of patients who have been investigated, tested, admitted, and treated in hospitals, including those who have died and those who have recovered from the disease. The University of the Philippines COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team created the web portal http://endcov.ph/ to provide the public with vital information for fighting the coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19 in the country. The website features a highly detailed map wherein users can zoom in or zoom out to see street or satellite views of the general locations and numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitals, quarantine checkpoints, and other usable data inputted by UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) staff. The easy-to-use map also has a color-coded “heat map” showing which localized areas have the most (darker areas) and the least (brighter areas) number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Endcov.ph’s map view has a color-coded “heat map” showing which localized areas have the most (darker areas) and the least (brighter areas) number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Other pages of the website show COVID-19-related policies, advisories, resources, symptoms of the disease, charts, statistical data, and profiles of patients who have been investigated, tested, admitted, and treated in hospitals, including those who have died and those who have recovered from the disease. Screenshot of endcov.ph’s dashboard view as of 8:19 PM of April 1, 2020. The team was created on March 19 through an administrative order as one of the University’s response in support of the ongoing efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, with UP executive vice president, Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, and UPRI executive director, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, as team leaders. The members of the team are: Director Kristoffer Berse, Research and Creative Work, UPRI; Director Genaro Cuaresma, Institution Building, UPRI; Director Emmanuel Luna, Education, UPRI; Director Rolando Tolentino, Knowledge Sharing, UPRI; Prof. Carlene Pilar-Arceo, College of Science, UP Diliman; Prof. Carlos Primero Gundran, College of Public Health, UP Manila; Prof. Emmanuel Baja, National Institutes of Health and College of Medicine, UP Manila; Prof. Jomar Fajardo Rabajante, College of Arts and Sciences, UPLB; Prof. Diocel Harold Aquino, College of Engineering, UP Diliman; and Prof. Noriel Christopher Tiglao, NCPAG, UP Diliman. According to the administrative order signed by Dr. Herbosa, members of the team include UPRI directors and experts on public health, medicine, the arts and sciences, engineering, education, governance, and related fields. The document also stated that this team shall be involved in the design and implementation of research and dissemination of findings in areas related to the pandemic. The team may also involve more resource persons and identify other activities as needed. In a post by Dr. Lagmay on social media, he stated that team members will be adding more information and functions to the website as more information becomes available to them. The UPRI serves as “a proactive hub of benchmark innovative information vital to the nation’s efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation.” As of 4:00 PM of April 1, the Department of Health reported that the total number of cases of COVID-19 in the country is now at 2,311. The DOH also reported the total number of recoveries to 50. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-covid-19-pandemic-response-team-launches-new-features-on-endcov-ph/ | UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team launches new features on endcov.ph – University of the Philippines | UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team launches new features on endcov.ph UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team launches new features on endcov.ph July 7, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team (UP PRT) launches new features in endcov.ph, a web portal created to provide the public with vital information and tools in the fight against COVID-19. Since it’s launch in April, the UP PRT has contributed new resources to the dashboard including features that show Case Projections, the State of Transmissions in NCR based on LGU data, Municipal/City Density Map based on current active cases, and a Policy Sourcebook on COVID-19. COVID-19 Case Projections Through the Case Projections feature, anyone can view projections of the “Cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines”, by date up to the end of August. These projections are under the assumption of medium risk. Users can easily set the date through the calendar provided or through advanced options such as “this year” and “this quarter”. The feature uses models developed by the UP Los Baños group of the UP PRT, led by Dr. Jomar Fajardo Rabajante, who shares their notes within the feature. COVID-19 Transmissions in Metro Manila Endcov.ph can now show the State of COVID-19 Transmissions in the NCR through the “Compendium of COVID-19 Statistics” located in the “Quick Count” section of the dashboard. The compendium provides information on how LGUs are faring in the fight against COVID-19 in terms of their time-varying reproductive number (Rt), case fatality rate, and recovery rate, for a specific period of time. The Rt indicates the number of people that one COVID-19 positive case can infect. The case fatality rate is the percentage of the total number of cases that account for deaths, adjusted in consideration of delays in onset and deaths. While the recovery rate is the percentage of the total number of cases that account for recoveries. The compendium is based on the Quick Count database that sources information from LGUs and their local disaster risk reduction and management offices (LDRRMOs) and health offices. This feature also contains “special reports” highlighting LGUs that require more attention, showing their reproductive number, case fatality rate, recovery rate, and a brief analysis on whether these numbers have gone up or down, and by how much. The special reports, written in Filipino, provide easy-to-understand interpretations and explanations of the data to help LGUs make informed decisions. Local Density Map of Active Cases To visualize the state of COVID-19 at the local level, a new layer has been added to https://endcov.ph/map. The COVID-19 Density Maps are visualizations of the density of cases for every 100,000 people in an area. This is meant to account for the differences in population size in COVID-affected LGUs. The categorization of areas builds on the zoning guidelines of the COVID-19 National Task Force (NTF). It shows which municipalities and cities are (1) highly critical zones with at least 10 cases per 100,000 population; (2) critical zones with at least 5 cases relative to size; (3) zones to contain the spread for areas with at least 1 case; (4) buffer areas for those with no case but are susceptible because they are contiguous to containment areas; and (5) clear areas far from zones with cases. Policy Sourcebook Other than COVID-19 statistics, projections, and trackers, Endcov.ph also has a collection of information resources and advisories available to the public. The latest addition is UPRI’s annotated compilation of COVID-19 policies titled, “Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines: A Policy Sourcebook”. The sourcebook, which will be updated every month, consists of two volumes: Volume I covers national issuances while Volume II, which will be released at a later date, will focus on local government policies. Volume I can now be accessed through the endcov.ph dashboard, under the Policies tab. These resources are meant to help Filipinos keep track of the government’s policy responses as they try to cope with the current crisis. The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team remains steadfast in serving the people and in helping the nation in its fight against COVID-19. For questions or clarifications related to endcov.ph, please send an email (upri.covid19@up.edu.ph) to the UP PRT. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-pgh-launches-tele-kumusta/ | UP-PGH launches ‘Tele-kumusta’ – University of the Philippines | UP-PGH launches ‘Tele-kumusta’ UP-PGH launches ‘Tele-kumusta’ April 15, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital launched its ‘Tele-kumusta’ program on April 14, 2020 for their COVID-19 positive patients. COVID-19 patients can now talk to their families via video calls for free. Para sa pasyente, para sa pamilya. [VIDEO] Tele-kumusta sa PGH |
https://up.edu.ph/bayanihan-na-up-pgh-launches-covid-19-ops-center/ | Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH launches COVID-19 Ops Center – University of the Philippines | Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH launches COVID-19 Ops Center Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH launches COVID-19 Ops Center March 31, 2020 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Manned by 60-70 student volunteers, the UP-PGH Bayanihan Na! Operations Center is equipped with Hotline Number 155-200 dedicated for UP’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. 155-200 is the number to call. And it’s open 24/7. The UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) launched its Bayanihan Na! COVID-19 Operations Center on March 30 to answer queries related to COVID-19, including how to volunteer and donate. [Watch the livestream of the launch] This, just 13 days after it was initially discussed by UP President Danilo Concepcion, UP Manila (UPM) Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, and UP-PGH Director Gerardo Legaspi; and only a week after UP’s acceptance of UP-PGH’s designation and responsibility as a COVID-19 referral center. These initiatives are on top of another COVID-19 effort: the field validation by the UPM National Institutes of Health of GenAmplify, the University-developed testing kit. In partnership with PLDT, which provided 20 lines for the hotline, and the PGH Medical Foundation Inc. (PGHMFI), which will facilitate donations, the University is housing the Ops Center at the Nurses Home within the UPM compound, separate from the UP-PGH. It is currently being manned by 60-70 student volunteers in three shifts, although around 20 to 30 more are needed. UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. Padilla revealed that volunteer developers from the UP Resilience Institute and the UP Center for Student Innovations, a student organization from the UP Diliman Department of Computer Science, along with Cocoy Mercado of Unexus Medical Solutions Inc. and NowheretogobutUP, were instrumental in fixing the platform and applications to be used in the contact center for efficient data tracking and documentation. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. In his message, Concepcion thanked the University’s partners in all its efforts to find solutions to the increasing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. He made special mention of the doctors, nurses, and medical and hospital staff, without whom the needs of sick Filipinos will not be addressed. “Naglilingkod ng buong puso, buong husay, at walang takot, buhay man nila ang nakataya,” (Serving wholeheartedly, with utmost excellence, and without fear, even with their lives on the line) was how Concepcion described the frontliners. He said that they embodied the Oblation by offering themselves to heal the nation. PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan, in a message read by UPM Vice Chancellor for Research Armand Crisostomo, called helping set up the Ops Center a “no-brainer” and a “perfect fit” as PLDT has been working to provide communication support to frontline agencies and personnel and UP-PGH has been designated as a COVID-19 referral hospital. PGHMFI President Telesforo Gana Jr. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. In a video message, PGHMFI President Telesforo Gana Jr. pledged the organization’s willingness to partner with the UP-PGH in this endeavor to protect all the health and institutional workers who care for COVID-19 patients. UP-PGH Director Gerardo Legaspi. Screenshot from the Launch of UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center. Legaspi closed the brief program by announcing that together with the launch of Bayanihan Na!, the hospital was also launching the first ward for COVID-19 positive patients. He thanked St. Luke’s Medical Center for providing 48 electric beds and everyone that donated personal protective equipment and cash for the purchase of such. He added that Citystate Tower Hotel volunteered all its rooms to house hospital personnel. Legaspi also explained that the schedule of volunteers was arranged so that they will have time off to rest and de-stress from the physical, mental, and emotional toll of dealing with the health crisis. With the launch of the UP-PGH Bayanihan Na! COVID-19 Operations Center, its website has also gone live at https://publicservice.up.edu.ph/uppgh-bayanihan-na/. |
https://up.edu.ph/message-from-up-president-danilo-l-concepcion-to-the-pgh-community/ | Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion to the PGH community – University of the Philippines | Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion to the PGH community Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion to the PGH community March 26, 2020 | Written by Office of the President Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion to the PGH community 26 March 2020 To the Staff and Administration of UP-PGH, On behalf of our community at the University of the Philippines—indeed, on behalf of the Filipino people—let me thank you, first of all, for your courageous, selfless, and outstanding service in these very trying times. Our nation and our people are suffering from a devastating scourge, and those of you at the frontlines are performing a heroic and unenviable function. You have been through this before. During the Second World War, your wards overflowed with the victims of that conflict. You treated Filipinos, Japanese soldiers, and American internees alike, doing your utmost with pitifully depleted supplies. Rather than be drafted as foot soldiers, your interns were pressed into the medical service ahead of their time. But even, and especially, in more ordinary times, you have attended to our people’s needs, especially our poorest. “PGH” has become synonymous with hope and caring, with compassion and commitment, even in the direst circumstances. You never give up, you always give your all, often beyond the call of duty, and certainly beyond your pay grade. Today, we all face the gravest threat of this generation to our nation’s well-being, and once again we have been called upon to close ranks and face the enemy—an infectious and insidious pathogen—with you, our Infectious Disease Specialists and Medicine personnel, at the spearhead of our defense. It is with deep humility that those of us who march with you and behind you acknowledge that we may not be able to do as much, but we will also do our best to support you, so no effort and no sacrifice will go to waste. In accepting the formidable responsibility passed on to UP-PGH to serve as a Covid-19 Referral Center, let me assure you that we will also protect and take care of our own ranks through specific measures, 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 transportation requirements for all our HCWs in PGH during this crisis, – Providing adequate nutrition and physical as well as psychosocial support, especially to those in the clinical areas and frontliners, and – Ensuring full support from the DOH and the Philippine government as well as partner private hospitals for the augmentation of our manpower, technical, technological, and financial needs. We deeply appreciate and encourage your strong spirit of volunteerism, but let me also say that PGH will allow only those who are fit to join. PGH agreed to become a Covid referral hospital on the condition that you 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. We agreed also on the condition that the DOH will give us additional medical personnel for the Wing and that all its needs, e.g. PPEs, will be provided. If these conditions are not met, we shall restrict admission of cases to keep them at a safe and manageable level. These are extraordinary times, calling for extraordinary efforts and extraordinary people. 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. The entire UP community salutes you. Your people crown you with their gratitude. Mabuhay po tayong lahat, at patnubayan tayo nawa ng Panginoon. Ang inyong tagapaglingkod, Danilo L. Concepcion President *Featured image courtesy of UP MPRO photo archive |
https://up.edu.ph/the-many-facets-of-vp-wendell-capili/ | The Many Facets of VP Wendell Capili – University of the Philippines | The Many Facets of VP Wendell Capili The Many Facets of VP Wendell Capili June 6, 2023 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell P. Capili in his interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. If you happen to visit Art Circle Café in the UP Diliman campus, odds are you might see a bespectacled man enjoying a cup coffee and a meal. Don’t be surprised if this person turns out to be Professor Wendell Capili as that café happens to be his favorite spot in the campus. Yet at first glance, people would never assume that this distinguished looking professor-type enjoys romantic comedy movies, runs as a hobby, and loves eating sapin-sapin, his favorite Filipino snack. Dr. Jose Wendell P. Capili is currently the UP Vice President for Public Affairs (VPPA). A Professor 12 at the Department of English and Comparative Literature in UP Diliman, his favorite subject to teach is Filipino literature in English. He also cannot live without his mobile phone. He says that when he wakes up in the morning, the first thing he does is to check his phone for messages. Making good on a promise Capili has had a very long and personal history with the University of the Philippines. His earliest memory of UP was during a trip with his father when he was seven years old. “We were driving to a relative’s house in Tandang Sora, and we briefly stopped the car.” His father pointed out the UP campus to the boy, and told him that this would be the place where he would soon learn, and be educated. Capili made good on that promise, teaching in UP as a professor for 35 years. He also spent 25 of those years serving as a University administrator: as a program development associate to UP Diliman Chancellor Claro T. Laguno and Chancellor Emerlinda R. Roman from 1997 to 2001, and as Associate Dean of the UP College of Arts and Letters for nine years. He then became Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Public Affairs for fourteen years, serving under six UP VPs for Public Affairs and three UP Presidents. “We have to ensure that more Filipinos feel that UP is there for them. That UP is not just for the Iskolar ng Bayan; UP is for the Filipino people.” – Capili Capili explaining his thoughts on UP’s role in nation-building. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. From the ground up When asked about his initial reaction to being appointed as the Vice President for Media Public Affairs, Capili said he was very surprised. Up until that point, he was already considering going back to his home department and taking on a full-time teaching load. “I thought that it was already the end of my career as an administrator and that I should spend more time as a University professor.” Although he had conditioned himself mentally to teach full time, he nevertheless accepted the new position that was given to him. Of course, appointing someone with an academic and administrative career as long and impressive as his as the next UP VP for Public Affairs was a logical move on the part of the new administration. According to Capili, his experience of serving under six different VPs and three different UP Presidents will enable him not just to understand how the Office of the Vice President of Public Affairs is run, but also to see himself as an instrument between different sectors of the University. “I really started from the bottom. I came from the gutter. Getting into the University, I snuck my way in,” he said of his beginnings in UP he as a temporary instructor with a yearly contract for several years before gaining tenure. The importance of kindness in UP Capili knows all about the struggles many UP staff and community members face. He knows what it’s like to be hungry, to have his salaries delayed and his overload pay withheld for years, to not even have the luxury of having his own office. He is well aware of the fact that there are problems that need to be resolved within the University, and if someone like him, with the highest rank of a Professor 12, feels the bitterness of these struggles, then how much worse is it for administrative staff, instructors and part-time UP contractual workers? “I hope I can be an instrument to getting things done. Not necessarily solving these issues right away, but be the instrument, pointing out which office should attend to their needs.” He went on to say: “As Vice President, I would be able to amplify these issues a little more, because I know things on the ground. I’m not sitting inside an air-conditioned office; I know what’s really going on down there.” His vision aligns with new UP President Jimenez’s thrust to promote kindness and not just compassion within UP. “In the University, we keep on talking about honor and excellence. But what’s the point of having honor and excellence if you are not kind to the people around you?” Capili asked. Aside from vulnerable UP administrative staff and contractual workers, especially those who are single parents, Capili also takes to heart the struggles his students face, many of whom come to his class without having eaten anything. “The fact that the President has emphasized in his speech that we have to have honor and excellence—that is something that we have been doing. But it has to resonate in spaces outside our classrooms, outside our offices. We have to connect to the larger community.” “I’d rather that people do not just strive for excellence. They have to be kind, and they have to be driven to encourage and inspire as many people as they can, within the place of work or home or community.” – Capili UP for the Filipino people Capili believes that each employee should feel that change is happening, and that it shouldn’t be merely confined to motherhood statements. “You are not a UP official because you have to attend all these glorious events,” he said. “You are an official because you have to be an instrument. You have to attend to all these different matters that concern the lives of these people. And not just the lives of one or two people that you know. There are so many people that you still have to get to know. They all have backstories, and they needed to be attended to.” His biggest goal is to make sure that the University does its best to make supportive processes more seamless, and that UP’s presence is felt not just by its constituents but by every Filipino. “It is important that the operations of the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs should resonate not just within our publics, but with the larger external public. We have to ensure that more Filipinos feel that UP is there for them. That UP is not just for the Iskolar ng Bayan; UP is for the Filipino people.” The best piece of advice Capili has been given is to be very diligent and to be determined to succeed, but more importantly, to inspire others. Many of his childhood teachers who didn’t necessarily have high positions or ranks were the ones who inspired him to choose the path that he has taken for himself, and for that he is very grateful to them. “I’d rather that people do not just strive for excellence,” he shared. “They have to be kind, and they have to be driven to encourage and inspire as many people as they can, within the place of work or home or community.” A behind the scenes photo of Capili during the formal portrait session for UP officials. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/coming-home-giving-back/ | Coming Home, Giving Back – University of the Philippines | Coming Home, Giving Back Coming Home, Giving Back June 6, 2023 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo University of the Philippines Vice President for Development Ferdinand Jesus “Boyet” Aquino Pecson during his interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. He looked around the College of Engineering Faculty Lounge, trying to recall what the room had been before. And while he could not immediately remember, Ferdinand Jesus “Boyet” Aquino Pecson knew he was home. The new UP Vice President for Development earned his BS Mechanical Engineering and PhD in Energy Engineering degrees from UP Diliman, where he taught for 11 years. The Faculty Lounge was at that time the Department of Metallurgical and Mining Engineering, informally called “Met and Mining”. His eyes lit up in instant recognition when he was told that. Three decades is a long time to be away, and now that he is back in the University, Pecson has imposed upon himself the duty to contribute to the growth of UP. “I owe a lot of where I am today to UP.” How his UP journey began “At 16, you had no idea. Engineering was popular,” he said on picking a college program while still a senior at San Beda College High School. A close friend encouraged him to take Mechanical Engineering. Pecson chose UP. First girlfriend, first failed exam, first honorific achievement. These were some of the more memorable experiences he had at UP. Back then, he didn’t really think about balancing school and social life. He had a girlfriend, his barkada, Beta Epsilon Fraternity, and he finished within the required five years. After graduating in 1981, he joined the faculty. “In the beginning, I made a lot of mistakes,” Pecson admitted. “We had no formal training on how to teach, so all we had were experiences from our former professors.” He picked what were worth emulating and avoided what he didn’t want his students to go through. He wanted to ensure that his students’ stay in UP would be worthwhile. “My teaching philosophy was ‘adapt to the needs of students.’” Pecson said that learning about his former students’ achievements made him “proud to have somehow been part of their growth.” He worked on his PhD while teaching and got a USAID grant to do his dissertation at the University of Wisconsin. This would be his first chance to travel abroad. He was expected to present his research output at an international conference and did so at the Argonne National Laboratory at the 1988 symposium of The Combustion Institute. He then got his PhD from UP and taught until 1992. “I owe a lot of where I am today to UP. This time, I can contribute to my alma mater.” – Pecson A career outside Pecson expanded his horizons and built a solid professional career in the private sector for the next 24 years. He worked at Philippine Investment Management Consultants, Inc. and Solid Cement Corporation before going to the US to take Northwestern University’s MMM Program. It was a two-year dual-degree offering that allowed him to earn a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management and a Master of Engineering Management from the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science in 2000. He stayed in the US for two more years. Then he was with Holcim Philippines for almost seven years as VP (Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials) and later as VP for Operations. After that, he joined FLSmidth & Co. A/S., first, as operations and maintenance (O&M) consultant, where he worked in various countries, then as Egypt country manager, and finally, as performance director at its headquarters in Denmark In 2016, he went back to government service. Pecson was appointed Undersecretary and Executive Director of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center. He believed his O&M experience fit the life cycle approach of PPP. He also credited his social network—people who knew him would vouch for and recommend him—for getting the job. After six years, his term ended. For someone who led an active lifestyle (he was a finisher at the 2019 Ironman 70.3 competition in Subic Bay) and who married the equally active Marietta who ran marathons, Pecson didn’t want to look at retirement, especially when he and his wife have been empty-nesters for years. He became a PPP consultant, created a PPP blog, and traveled to Bhutan. Behind Pecson is the ongoing construction of the Faculty Commons in UP Diliman. Formerly the Faculty Center, the building was razed by an early morning fire that reached Task Force Alpha (level higher than fifth alarm) on April 1, 2016. The structure s well on its way to completely rise from the ashes with renewed purpose and vigor. As the new VP for Development, Pecson is intent on ensuring that UP infrastructure projects are completed “with good quality, on time, and on budget.” Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. Back in UP as VP “Again, it was my social network,” he revealed, recalling how he was considered for the position. When he was approached, he first asked what the job entailed because he would only accept it if he had the skills to deliver. “I needed to be able to give my 100%.” His management style is collegial and open. He listens before giving his views. Heavy on root cause analysis, Pecson is bound to probe and ask many questions. He said he is fortunate to have “a very committed and strongly motivated” team at the Office of the VPD (OVPD). His office is in charge of infrastructure development, both physical and technological. The first is guided by the land use plans of the constituent universities (CUs) and includes UP campuses that are yet to rise. The second will be enhanced by UP President Angelo Jimenez’s digital transformation initiative, and Pecson said, “We should expect changes.” A few months in, Pecson noticed that UP needed to be more efficient. “We need to complete projects with good quality, on time, and on budget.” He also said that OVPD should establish stronger relations within the System and outside. “We have to be good at reaching out to our partners and getting things done with them.” “We need to complete projects with good quality, on time, and on budget.” – Pecson Looking forward Pecson happily reported on some major projects that had been in the pipeline. The Cancer Care Center in UP Manila was already in the procurement stage. PGH Diliman has been given conditional approval; and the Investment Coordination Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority asked UP to restructure the project from 700 beds to 400 beds and include everything affected by the change. “Just like everyone else, I’m very excited to see this project come to fruition.” As for other projects, he said, “We are collating all the priority projects [of the CUs] to determine where OVPD can assist.” It is easy to see Pecson’s enthusiasm for his new role as VPD. Perhaps because he was indeed home. Surely because he now had six years’ worth of opportunities to give back to the University that helped make him the person he is today. Pecson meets with his team at the Office of the Vice President for Development. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/simply-nes/ | Simply Nes – University of the Philippines | Simply Nes Simply Nes June 6, 2023 | Written by Fred Dabu Vice President Nestor Yunque during his interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. “I’m Nestor Yunque, the present Vice President for Administration. I started as VP for Administration way back in 2017. And now, under the new UP President, I’m continuing to help stabilize everything.” As a professor who taught zoology, marine biology, and environmental science courses at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) College of Arts and Sciences-Division of Biological Sciences before taking on higher administrative positions, Vice President for Administration Nestor G. Yunque said he made learning interesting for his students by organizing class field trips. “That makes life exciting. Ayokong ma-confine sa four corners ng classroom ang pag-aaral… It is also a form of service to the students,” said VP Nes, adding: “Nag-uumapaw yung estudyante kasi alam nilang magfi-field trip…. From Iloilo, we pass by Antique, then Aklan, overnight sa Boracay, pag-uwi, dadaan sa Roxas. It’s a tour of Panay, and they spend so much less than if they’re going to do that on their own.” In his lectures, he would emphasize that UP students should care. “Whatever your course is—business management or biology, or chemistry or math—always bear in mind na yung pag-aaral mo, eventually, should help people. Bigyan mo ng halaga ang mga mahihirap,” he would tell them. VP Nes, who grew up during the First Quarter Storm era, recalls his student days at the Philippine Science High School in Quezon City and in the UP Visayas. “Gusto mo yung gobyerno, yung serbisyo, para sa tao, hindi sa kapitalista o sa kagrupo nila,” he said. He and his peers belong to the generation that organized massive rallies and campaigned for the reestablishment of the student councils. “At that time [Martial Law], lahat ng student councils ng UP units ay tinanggal. Later on, may clamor na ibalik ang student council sa bawat CU. Sa UP Visayas, we did that. Lahat ng organizations nagtipon.” As chairperson of the aggrupation, he led the students in bringing back the student council in UPV. After college, he served as a research assistant for work on agar production and commercially important seaweeds for two years, before becoming a faculty member of the UPV. Eventually, he was assigned as the station head of the UP Visayas Marine Biological Station in Taklong Island in Guimaras. When he was the Vice Chancellor for Administration of UPV in Iloilo, from 2011 to 2016, he cherished establishing rapport with administrative personnel and the moments he got to know about their problems and how the administration would be able to address them. “During that time, it was for two terms, we were able to initiate changes in how the administration is being run,” he said. “Hopefully, magtulungan talaga ang lahat ng sectors para gumanda ang takbo, ang performance ng Unibersidad. Then, we could expect more.” – Yunque VP Nes has been in charge of UP’s human resources, compensation and benefits, union and management relations, procurement and related administrative matters since 2017. In UP Diliman, VP Nes feels at home at the tambayan in front of the All UP Workers Union office. Referring to the Union, he said: “I feel na nagtulungan kami. Kasi hindi ko naman pwedeng gawin yung trabaho na magiging effective ako without the cooperation ng ating mga admin personnel.” VP Nes, whose favorite snack consists simply of Skyflakes crackers and a cup of coffee, is particularly jovial in the company of UP employees and faculty, enjoying casual conversations when outside of his office in Quezon Hall. He explained that he prefers to spend his downtime in campus in the company of UP’s administrative personnel, carpenters, plumbers, drivers. “Talagang dito ako tumatambay eh. Kasi once in a while, pupunta ang mga admin personnel, nae-encourage sila na magsabi ng mga problema nila.” He makes it a point to get them to feel at ease with one another “so they can be more open and you will know the real problem.” “Kung sa opisina pupunta, ‘yun na yung grabe na ang problema,” he pointed out. Vice President Yunque explaining his thoughts on human resources, compensation and benefits, and union and management relations. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. VP Nes said his appointment to his current position under the leadership of UP President Jimenez gives him the opportunity to continue to be of help to the University, since he was already serving as Vice President for Administration since 2017 under then UP President Danilo Concepcion. “Gamay ko kung anong mga nangyayari. Nakita ni President Jimenez na, in the meantime, pwede akong tumulong para ma-stabilize naman yung relasyon ng ating mga admin personnel with the administration,” he said. If he weren’t VP for Administration at the moment, what would he be doing instead? “I would really like to do integrated farming, aquaculture, para na rin I could share the technology with the local people,” he revealed. “Maraming nagawa si President Concepcion para sa ating admin personnel, pero baka mas madadagdagan pa ni President Jimenez, lalo na’t ang kanyang pinaka-motto is ‘serve the people,’” he said about the new administration’s focus on efforts to provide services to the community. For VP Nes, it’s about “making UP relevant to our communities, hindi yung puro tayo academics.” “Hinahanapan natin ng paraan na ma-improve ang mga benefits na makukuha ng ating administrative personnel. Dahil it’s one way of making all sectors of the University work together para mas mapaganda ang takbo ng UP. Hindi pwedeng may naiiwan eh,” VP Nes explained. “Hopefully, President Jimenez will be successful in getting more items for our personnel. Yun (lack of plantilla items) ang pinakamalaking problema ng admin personnel,” he added. Best advice he has ever received? “If you have problems, face them squarely. Do not feel frustrated if you don’t get the solution or the right answer to your problem. And always smile. Kasi less stressful yan. Kapag less stressful, mukhang magtatagal ka sa mundong ito.” As a closing message, VP Nes in turn gave this piece of wisdom: “Ang advice ko is for all the sectors to work together. Hindi pwedeng mag-rely lang tayo sa administration. The different sectors should strive na makatulong sila for UP to achieve something… [for the administrative personnel, REPS, and faculty] to keep on working with the people, for UP to keep on being relevant to society.” “Dapat magtulungan ang lahat ng sectors. Nobody should consider their role as less than the others. Hopefully, magtulungan talaga ang lahat ng sectors para gumanda ang takbo, ang performance ng Unibersidad. Then, we could expect more,” he concluded. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/vp-iryns-perfect-timing/ | VP Iryn’s Perfect Timing – University of the Philippines | VP Iryn’s Perfect Timing VP Iryn’s Perfect Timing June 6, 2023 | Written by Deina Blancaflor Vice President for Planning and Finance Iryn Y. Balmores in her interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. So what made you come back to UP? “I’ve been asking myself that question for the past month,” lightly answered Ms. Iryn Y. Balmores, the newly appointed UP Vice President for Planning and Finance (VPPF). First, what actually happened: With his official takeover of the UP Presidency in February 2023, Atty. Angelo Jimenez tapped seasoned members of past UP administrations and alumni leaders from private sectors alike to become members of his executive team. This included Ms. Iryn Y. Balmores, Chief Finance Officer (CFO) at BasicLogistics Corporation/A 1Move Logistics, Inc., and former Head of Finance for a medium-scale trading and distribution company (2016-2021) and Senior Tax Director at Sycip Gorres Velayo and Co. from 2008-2015. A proud UP alumna and certified public accountant (CPA), Balmores hopes to use her decades of experience in audit, finance and taxation, including strategic finance, reporting, general accounting and compliance, and mergers and acquisitions by giving back to the University. Balmores shares the fact that having celebrated a milestone birthday last February, her appointment as UP VP for Planning and Finance came at the perfect time. “When this possibility of working for the UP System, working for the new administration with UP President Jimenez [came], I thought it was a good time to give back,” she added. She had a very short stint with government work and accounting back in the early 2000’s. “That was a long time ago and I was very young then,” she recalled. So now, this new role with the University, while outside of her comfort zone, is a welcome challenge. Coming into the office, she hints at issues that are yet to be resolved but that don’t dim her excitement for the job at hand. “It wouldn’t be any fun otherwise—ang boring kung walang ganoon,” she said. Being thrust into a new environment, together with new people and new working cultures, makes this job even more thrilling for her. And acknowledging that her responsibilities as University Vice President is of public interest makes it even more worthwhile. Fresh pair of eyes Balmores describes herself as an outsider coming into the position, a balikbayan returning home to her roots. It’s been years since she graduated from UP, but coupled with her extensive years in private practice, medium-scale trading, and in professional services firms, she hopes these will prove useful in making sure that all the projects and plans for the University will come into fruition. “My wish here is to be a partner for each and all the other departments [of the] UP community as a whole. ‘How can I make your life simpler? How can I make your life better? What do you need from us, so that all these things that you need from a financial service point of view will be completed at the most efficient and most effective way?’” she explains. More than that, she is also the only female in President Jimenez’s executive team. “I would like to believe that I am here not because I am a woman, but just like my colleagues in the ExeComm, it is because of our respective competence and experience on the job and ultimately what we can contribute to the University. However, having said that, I fully support empowering more women to become leaders and increased women representation in the C-Suite because diverse talents and perspectives encourage creativity and make an organization better,” she added. Balmores busy at work in her office. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. Putting a premium on the cycle of mentorship Apart from the usual tasks as Vice President for Planning and Finance, Balmores also aims to instill a cycle of mentorship within her team. “I want also to focus on training and development for our own people in finance, in budget, and accounting because sometimes, baka hindi natutuunan ng pansin; so at the same time, I also told my units to start training and looking out for the next in line kasi nga being stewards, sandali lang eh. After a few years, wala na naman; so we really need to make sure that the institutional knowledge, the skills are there, tuloy-tuloy,” she explained. With this practice, she hopes to leave the office, the constituents, and the University, in capable hands even after her term. Same but different UP and its people have changed throughout the years. There have been a lot of renovations since VP Iryn’s time, but the overall sense of pride, enthusiasm, and excellence remains the same. Expect her term, along with the executive team’s vision of pushing the University to be more globally oriented, to be innovative but prudent, efficient, and transparent. “To my team and to the UP community and to my colleagues also in the administration, I’m happy to be here and I am looking forward to working hard with all of you so we can accomplish, achieve our vision for the University so that we support the mission of the University, as far as teaching and learning and research, is concerned,” she concluded. You may reach VP Iryn via email, text or call, or find her along the Academic Oval enjoying a stick of fish balls or two. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/heeding-the-higher-call/ | Heeding the Higher Call – University of the Philippines | Heeding the Higher Call Heeding the Higher Call June 6, 2023 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo De Paz Cubillan during this interview with the UP Forum. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. “I was already set on early retirement. I took a week to decide.” Dr. Leo De Paz Cubillan narrated how he became UP’s new Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). That week was one of contemplation for the ophthalmologist who wanted to see things more clearly. After studying how he could contribute to UP, he drew up plans and presented them to then-incoming UP President Angelo Jimenez. Cubillan has been VPAA since April, but he was previously the President’s adviser for academic and research development during the Office of the VPAA’s (OVPAA) transition. “The decision was difficult, but there was a higher calling.” He and his wife, Dr. Eileen Liesl Abesamis Cubillan, have been empty nesters for more than five years. He wanted more time with his children abroad, but the pull of service proved stronger, something he had felt since wanting to become a doctor and being in UP. Student, doctor, teacher Growing up in Surigao, Cubillan’s dream of becoming of a doctor started when he played the role of one in an elementary school play. Initially, he wasn’t even going to UP. Because the release of UP College Admission Test results came much later than those of other schools, he was already enrolled in another school. It was his parents’ friends who persuaded them that UP was the place for him. So, armed with a National Science and Technology Authority scholarship, he moved to UP Diliman (UPD) in 1982 under the AB Humanities pre-med program. He was 16 and homesick, going to Cubao just to call home. But he also kept his focus, shifting to BS Biology as it was a better pre-med program. “When there were dorm activities, I would go somewhere else to study,” he remembered. Graduating magna cum laude, Cubillan was named “Most Outstanding Graduate” in the first batch from the newly elevated Institute of Biology, and gained admission to the College of Medicine (CM) in UP Manila (UPM). It was another adjustment; from the sprawling UPD campus, he now found himself in cramped UPM. He was swamped with daily lectures from 7AM to 7PM and weekly exams. But it was in the flurry of med school that he met his future wife, two years his junior. Cubillan did his fellowship at the UP Philippine General Hospital (PGH) while waiting for her to finish the Dermatology program. In 1998, the couple then went on fellowships to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Cubillan was already a university researcher at the UPM National Institutes of Health (NIH) Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI) and a CM clinical associate professor. In his second year at UCSF, he took the Master of Public Health at UC Berkeley. He believed it would help him “contribute to the improvement of health care in our country” because of the issues in health care access he saw during his UP-PGH clinical training. “The decision was difficult, but there was a higher calling.” – Cubillan From research to policy to practice He was seeing patients, teaching, and doing research after his UC studies. Among others, Cubillan was involved in the regular PERI survey of blindness that helped formulate the Department of Health policies on the prevention and reduction of blindness in the country. Another research outcome he was proud of was the signing in 2019 of Republic Act No. 11358 or the National Vision Screening Act for the mandatory vision screening of kindergarten pupils, which was to be implemented by the Department of Education. Teachers were trained to test the vision of students aged below seven years, using the PERI-developed kit. Cubillan said that vision screening revealed that many children were distracted in class simply because they couldn’t see the blackboard too well. There was one who even emerged as the top student in class after being moved to the front and finally seeing the blackboard clearly. Screening at this stage in children’s development also allowed for the detection and correction of a lazy eye. While implementation of the law was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has since resumed. “We’re able to prevent further visual impairment. One student, one class at a time,” he said. Cubillan at one of the hallways of the UP PGH Polyclinic in New Clark City, Tarlac. The facility, which will eventually be a 200-bed hospital, is one of the development projects he has been handling for UP Manila. Photo by MIsael Bacani, UP MPRO. The administrator As if the hats Cubillan wore weren’t enough, he has also been appointed to various administrative posts since 2005 at PERI, NIH, UP PGH, and UPM. Additionally, he has been handling development projects, such as the NIH building and the UPM units in New Clark City, including the 200-bed UP PGH whose initial structure was the polyclinic opened in time for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and the S&T park for health sciences. “I experienced firsthand the challenges of running a government academic institution and hospital,” he recalled. Certainly taxing, but all were done in the spirit of service and the desire to help UP further contribute to national development. “Because of my experience, I have learned to think out of the box in looking at programs and projects, and learning how to do them well and making them effective despite bureaucratic challenges.” He added that President Jimenez’s vision for UP encouraged him more and inspired him to work as VPAA. “I experienced firsthand the challenges of running a government academic institution and hospital.” – Cubillan The next six years The OVPAA is anchored on the three pillars of UP education: instruction, research, and public service. Under Cubillan’s leadership, it will continue to support the fulfillment of UP’s mandates. It will move to increase democratic access to UP education by expanding scholarships that cover cost of living expenses. He expressed interest in looking into possible first generation college students, the first in their families to get a college education, and to provide them with opportunities to study in UP. Cubillan’s office will work to improve student and faculty experience by creating more spaces for social interaction among students, and academic collaboration among faculty. He intends to push for the creation of programs and avenues for public service, taking the cue from President Jimenez who envisions “a UP that is not just about honor and excellence but also kindness.” To make more responsive curricular programs, the OVPAA will pursue the integration of digital technologies to improve teaching, learning, and research “in the face of a rapidly changing digital landscape.” It will work towards improving cross enrollment across the UP System, aligning with President Jimenez’s aim of allowing UP students smooth and seamless access, physical or digital, to course offerings in other campuses. More initiatives are forthcoming under Cubillan’s direction. It is certainly expected of someone who has been with UP for 40 years. That he chose to continue serving over his personal aspirations speaks volumes about the man with a clear vision at the helm of the OVPAA. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/up-college-admission-test-upcat-2024-tips/ | UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) 2024 Tips – University of the Philippines | UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) 2024 Tips UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) 2024 Tips June 2, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office As the University of the Philippines prepares to administer the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) for the first time since 2020, UP campuses and units have released helpful announcements, traffic rerouting schemes, and reminders for our UPCAT-takers who will be taking the test in the UP campuses. Please click on the links below for the latest announcement from the constituent university of your concern. UP Diliman UP Manila UP Los Baños UP Visayas UP Open University UP Mindanao UP Baguio UP Cebu UP Tacloban The Office of Admissions reminds this year’s UPCAT applicants to bring the following: Test Permit Current School ID or government-issued ID Sharpened good-quality pencils Eraser Snacks and Water Facemask and sanitizer Jacket (optional) For the latest announcements from the Office of Admissions, please click here. Aside from the items above, test takers are advised to: 1. Read the instructions provided by the UP Office of Admissions. 2. Get their Test Permits from the UP Office of Admissions or the Office of the Registrars of the UP constituent universities. 3. Be on time. Go to their designated Test Center on the date specified in your test permit. June 3 (Saturday) or 4 (Sunday) Be at the venue by 6:00 AM (morning session) or 11:30 AM (afternoon session) 4. Not bring backpacks and large bags. Also, the use of cellphones, calculating devices, and/or cameras during the test is strictly prohibited. 5. Observe minimum public health standards at all times. Only the UPCAT examinees are allowed to enter the campus during the exam. Applicants with incorrect ID photos uploaded in the Form 1 portal, are asked to bring two (2) 2×2 ID pictures with nametag (signature over printed name) on the day of your exam. Incorrect ID photos are those which are blurred, pixelated, have poor contrast, with an obstructed face, dark background, and/or does not resemble current appearance. |
https://up.edu.ph/locating-barangay-elections-in-the-filipinos-list-of-priorities/ | Locating barangay elections in the Filipinos’ list of priorities – University of the Philippines | Locating barangay elections in the Filipinos’ list of priorities Locating barangay elections in the Filipinos’ list of priorities November 14, 2023 | Written by Alicor Panao On October 30, 2023, the Philippines held what is arguably the most impactful elections in the country: the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). The 2023 elections decided the leaders and council members for the smallest unit of government and the primary implementer of government policies at the grassroots level: the barangay. After the COVID-19 pandemic led to postponement after postponement of the BSKE, the first village-based and youth council elections were finally held after five years. Two days later, all ballots from 42,001 barangays in the Philippines came in; and the newly elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials begin their terms at noon on November 30, 2023. Pundits have since noted that the conduct and aftermath of this year’s election, which was marked by a lack of overtime pay for teachers who served extra hours on barangay election day, teachers backing out of poll duties for fear of security threats, and stories of violence and fatal shootings, will influence the midterm elections in 2025. But the impact of barangay elections goes much further than future polls. This article by Dr. Alicor Panao of the UP Diliman Department of Political Science explains the reason. Aspiring candidates from Quezon City file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City on Aug. 28, 2023. Photo by Joseph O. Razon, Philippine News Agency (PNA). People, the cliché goes, are most curious about the things that matter. Studies on issue salience, for instance, suggest that people are more likely to seek information on political matters when they are relevant, affect their well-being or align with their predispositions or values. In political science, information seeking is regarded as a cornerstone of civic engagement. After all, information is crucial to making informed decisions, not only on health, finance, or education, but also on politics. On October 30, Filipinos voted for the leaders of the nation’s basic unit of governance. Barangay elections are vital for ensuring effective local governance, community development, and civic participation in the Philippines. Section 384 of the Local Government Code states: “As the basic political unit, the Barangay serves as the primary planning and implementing unit of government policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities in the community, and as a forum wherein the collective views of the people may be expressed, crystallized and considered, and where disputes may be amicably settled.” Barangays, in other words, are foundational in the country’s democratic system, as they allow citizens to have a direct say in the leadership and decision-making processes of their local communities. Considering their significance in our political life as a nation, to what extent did Filipinos seek information on the upcoming barangay elections? A quick way to grasp Filipinos’ informational interest on the barangay elections is to examine online search trends, such as those made through Google. Using Google Trends, a free online tool, we can examine, for instance, how frequently certain search queries, such as the phrase, “barangay elections”, are entered into Google’s search engine over a specified period and in specific regions or geographic locations. Figure 1 below gives the daily series of the search phrase, “barangay elections”, and its related term, “comelec”, from June 01, 2022 to October 30, 2023. Both terms correspond to the barangay elections and are most likely the most common terms keyed in when people query for information from the search engine. Interestingly, informational interest in the barangay elections appears to be minimal and started to peak only sometime in late August and in late October. The first uptick likely corresponds to the period of the filing of candidacy for the barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections, which COMELEC set between Aug. 28 and Sep. 2. The second uptick, on the other hand, is probably due to interest generated by the campaign period (Oct. 19 to 28). When campaign posters started littering the streets, people probably began to be curious about the candidates. Figure 1: Election related search trends To ascertain to what extent the barangay elections is salient, however, we need to compare it with other queries made on other issues Filipinos find relevant. Figure 2 replicates the trend lines, but this time includes series corresponding to issues that may also be of relevance to Filipinos. For simplicity, we only included two issues. We included the search trend for the term, “job hiring”, since the clamor for better wages is perennially an urgent concern among Filipinos, based on surveys. We also included the trend for the search term, “kdrama”, since Korean dramas now consist a substantial component of contemporary Filipino entertainment. Figure 2 shows interest on employment somewhat consistent all throughout. Employment search is expected to be a more constant concern than interest in elections, considering that jobs are a fundamental economic necessity for most Filipinos and their families. Employment provides a means to earn a living, support basic needs, and achieve financial stability. Interestingly, neither elections nor employment creates the amount of informational curiosity that Korean dramas do. While it is well known that search trends reveal information-seeking behavior related to seasonal interests or activities, elections do not seem to create the same level of excitement as, perhaps, the latest episodes of one’s favorite K-Dramas. Figure 2: The salience of election related queries In fine, barangay elections do not create the same degree of informational concern as, say, employment prospects or television entertainment. This is not to say, though, that Filipinos have their priorities in the wrong places. Quite understandably, in a country where there is a wide gap in the quality of life, people are always on the lookout for better paying jobs to improve their financial stability and standard of living. On the other hand, watching TV dramas can offer a sense of catharsis, allowing citizens an outlet to release pent up emotions and frustrations related to government dissatisfaction. For all we know, K-Dramas might be the only thing that keeps citizens from rioting and the state from collapsing. Nevertheless, these trends do remind us of the need for election management bodies (e.g. COMELEC) to strengthen voter education and broaden civic education. For voter education to be impactful, initiatives should commence well in advance and persist throughout the electoral cycle. At the outset of this cycle, the electorate should receive information regarding voter registration procedures, not only to allow them sufficient time to complete the registration process, but also to help them understand the gravity of the deliberative exercise to our life as a nation. By educating citizens on the democratic process and their role in it, voter education ensures that elections are fair, transparent, and reflective of the will of the people, thereby strengthening the democratic foundations of a society. Dr. Alicor Panao is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science, UP Diliman. He is also a member of the Philippine Bar. (Photo courtesy of the UP Diliman Department of Political Science) |
https://up.edu.ph/exploring-korean-studies-in-europe/ | Exploring Korean Studies in Europe – University of the Philippines | Exploring Korean Studies in Europe Exploring Korean Studies in Europe December 1, 2023 | Written by Dr. Kyung Min Bae Dr. Kyung Min Bae at the Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany. Contributed photo. The last time I visited Europe, in 2019, was on a personal trip with my family. But this year, returning to Europe for the first time after the pandemic, I felt like a first-time traveller. Given that I am not the type who enjoys unlimited inflight film watching, crossing different time zones, and waking up multiple times only to realize that the plane is still hours away from its destination, I had to prepare my body and mind for the long flight from the Philippines to Germany. However, even with all the hassles of international travel, I believed it would be a great opportunity for UP Korea Research Center (UP KRC) to promote ourselves, as well as to learn from those in other Korean Studies institutions in Europe with whom we rarely get the opportunity to interact. I was scheduled to present, this November, a paper titled “Return Migration to Where I was Not Born: Two Korean-Filipino Youth’s Experience” at the 6th Social Sciences Korean Studies European Network (SoKEN) conference. The event was held at Goethe University Frankfurt in Frankfurt am Main, which has a thriving Korean Studies program headed by Dr. Yonson Ahn. Although I was given the choice to join online, and admittedly seriously considered that option, I believed it was time for real human connections again. It was only right to go in person. Apart from the conference, I was lucky enough to visit two other institutions: the Freie Universität Berlin and the University of Copenhagen. Dr. Eun-jung Lee, Director of the Institute of Korean Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, generously invited me to be part of the 6th Berlin Forum on Korea organized by the Graduate School of East Asian Studies (GEAS). I served as a discussant to share some insights on the importance of right approaches to Korean studies by both Korea-based and overseas institutions. In UP KRC, our main goal is to train home-grown Filipino scholars who will study Korea in their respective disciplines and through their own lens, rather than imposing a unidirectional way of understanding Korea. I noted the importance of contextualizing what Korean Studies could mean in different countries and institutions, as each has a distinctive socio-historical background that should be considered. At the University of Copenhagen, through Dr. Barbara Wall, I observed Korean Studies classes under the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, and also gave an overview on UP KRC’s activities and Korean studies in the Philippines. Dr. Kyung Min Bae (second from right) with students and faculty members at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Contributed photo. It was such a great opportunity for me to directly observe how local and Korean scholars are building a community of Korean Studies together in diverse disciplines and training the next generations of cademics and professionals. In Copenhagen, their first- and second-year curriculum is pretty intensive: each week, 12-hour Korean language courses are taken, aside from other content courses. I also learned that every single Korean Studies student goes to Korea as an exchange student as part of the curriculum, so that everyone gets to experience applying their knowledge as well as using the real-world language. I wished this could be possible with our students who are taking Plan C Korean under the Department of Linguistics so that their actual living experiences in Korea will benefit them by making them more competent in understanding language and culture by the time they graduate. UP has existing partnerships with Korean universities, and it is time to maximise our opportunities to activate outbound exchange student programs, particularly given that both countries’ HEIs are seriously pushing internationalization. I hope the long-term planning to strengthen partnerships through exchanges can be made possible. In Germany, one of the most impressive things about their institutions was that it was not just locals, Germans, who are studying in the program; a relatively large number of Koreans and students of other nationalities are taking their doctoral or postdoctoral degree programs because of particular geopolitical or historical contexts in Germany (e.g., unification, refugee policy, migration, etc.), and their dissertations indeed focus on the Korean peninsula, political refugee issues in Korea. This is what UP KRC has also sought to implement, starting last year. We connected Filipino Koreanists with international scholars and Korean informants to conduct research on several comparative studies on migration policies, cultural industry, and foreign policy, to name a few. I believe in this way, scholars’ views are expanded by interacting with other scholars from different socio-cultural backgrounds outside the Philippines and gaining more knowledge that cannot be learned locally. With the mission “to contribute to a greater understanding of Korea in the Philippines,” UP KRC supports the research and networking of Filipino Koreanists. One of the ultimate goals of the UP KRC is to be a Korean Studies hub locally in the Philippines, as well as globally. To achieve this goal, we have networked with local state and private universities, ASEAN partners, and diplomatic sectors. This trip was initially conceived to promote UP KRC, but I am personally glad that European institutions and their students were equally delighted to know about us, especially as we are from the Global South where the Korean Studies experience is somewhat different from their own. A copy of the poster of the event hosted by the Korean Studies of the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany. Contributed photo. The whole trip required me to jump from one city to another, each time getting used to harsh winds. But it was rewarding and fruitful to finally meet the leading Korean Studies professors in three European universities, witnessing the hard work of training the next generations of scholars and enhancing their strengths in teaching and research, which is exactly what UP KRC also aims to do. Leaving the Philippines, traveling to another continent, seeing how Korean Studies is evolving around the world, and considering how best to position it as an academic discipline in different contexts—all this helped me recognize both our strengths and areas for improvement at UP KRC. As young as our Center is, we understand how crucial it is to equip young generations with diverse resources and balanced views and knowledge on Korea. We will continue to develop; and whatever our weaknesses are, such as how to engage more Korean and international scholars into Korean Studies dialogues in the Philippines, we could strategically benchmark these and improve, based on what I observed outside the Philippines. One sure way for academic institutions to grow and improve is to engage with other related institutions for benchmarking and networking, and I am glad that UP KRC took the initiative to visit Europe, not only for publicity, but to share with and learn from our colleagues around the world. Kyung Min Bae, Ph.D., Director of the UP Korea Research Center, is Assistant Professorial Fellow at the UP Department of Linguistics where she has been teaching since 2010. She obtained her Ph.D. at the UP College of Education in July 2020, with her dissertation, “Professional Identity of Non-native Teachers of Korean as a Foreign Language as Basis for a KFL Teacher Education Program Framework”. [1] Learn more about the UP Korean Research Center: Website:https://upkrc.wordpress.com Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/UPKRC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UPKoreaResearchCenter [1] https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/heads-of-offices-under-the-ovpaa/ |
https://up.edu.ph/up-increases-economic-benefits-for-regular-employees/ | UP increases economic benefits for regular employees – University of the Philippines | UP increases economic benefits for regular employees UP increases economic benefits for regular employees November 9, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Starting January 2024, regular employees of the University of the Philippines (UP) will get an additional P1,500 to the total amount of annual economic benefits currently received. Specifically, the Annual Incentive Grant or AIG will be increased from P13,700 to P14,000; the Christmas Grocery Allowance, from P8,400 to P9,000; and the Rice Subsidy, from P9,400 to P10,000, thereby, raising from P31,500 to P33,000 the total amount of benefits that UP’s qualified academic and non-academic employees will be entitled to receive annually. The UP Board of Regents (BOR), the highest governing body of the University, approved the proposed adjustments at its 1384th meeting held on October 26 at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. The BOR took into account the fact that said benefits were included in the past Collective Negotiation Agreements (CNAs) between the University and its two employees’ associations: the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) and the All UP Workers Union (AUPWU), and that the last time these benefits were increased was way back in April 2019. The University and the two unions had already executed new CNAs in 2020 and 2021, with the affirmation of providing all benefits previously authorized by the BOR, recognizing the principle of non-diminution of benefits, as well as the sole power of the Board, pursuant to the UP Charter, to adjust such benefits from time to time, subject to the accomplishment of the University’s mission, applicable laws and regulations, and availability of funds. Furthermore, the adjustments on Rice Subsidy and Christmas Grocery serve as welfare measures to alleviate the impact of inflation on employees. The estimated total amount of additional funding required for the increase is P21.477 million per year; and this will be sourced from the Revolving Fund, as the case may be, of the University’s constituent units. |
https://up.edu.ph/bor-approves-appointment-of-five-new-up-system-officials/ | BOR approves appointment of five new UP System officials – University of the Philippines | BOR approves appointment of five new UP System officials BOR approves appointment of five new UP System officials November 9, 2023 | Written by Fred Dabu During the 1384th meeting of the University of the Philippines (UP) Board of Regents (BOR) held at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman on October 26, 2023, the Board approved the appointment of the following UP System officials: Rolando B. Tolentino, appointed as Vice President for Public Affairs, effective September 1, 2023, to serve at the pleasure of the University President; Prof. Cherish Aileen A. Brillon, appointed as Special Assistant to the Vice President for Public Affairs, and Director of the UP Padayon Public Service Office, a program under the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs, effective June 1, 2023; Galileo S. Zafra, appointed as Director of the UP Press, an administrative office under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective September 1, 2023 until August 31, 2026; Prof. Michelle R. Palumbarit, appointed as Director of the Centre International de Formacion des Autorites et Leaders (CIFAL), a program under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective September 1, 2023 until August 31, 2026; and, Professorial Fellow Kyung Min Bae, appointed as Director of the Korea Research Center, a program under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective September 1, 2023 until August 31, 2026. The UP BOR is the highest governing body of the UP System. The full list of the officials of the UP System Administrative Offices may be viewed here. |
https://up.edu.ph/possible-up-uottawa-collab-areas-discussed/ | Possible UP-uOttawa collab areas discussed – University of the Philippines | Possible UP-uOttawa collab areas discussed Possible UP-uOttawa collab areas discussed November 7, 2023 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Biosurveillance, cybersecurity, and resilience. These were the possible areas of collaboration mentioned by UP President Angelo Jimenez (PAJ) to University of Ottawa (uOttawa) President and Vice Chancellor Jacques Frémont in their meeting on November 6. PAJ took his cue from Frémont’s overview of uOttawa and his discussion of some of its leading programs. It was the latter’s first visit to UP and served as his introduction to the UP System. PAJ was joined by VP for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan, VP for Public Affairs Roland Tolentino, UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II, and Assistant VP for Academic Affairs (Internationalization) and Office of International Linkages Director Imee Su Martinez, who gave Frémont a brief presentation on UP. University of Ottawa President and Vice Chancellor Jacques Frémont (leftmost) and UP President Angelo Jimenez (rightmost) discuss cybersecurity, computer engineers, and IT professionals in relation to labor migration and academic exchange. With them are other UP officials (second from left to right), Assistant VP for Academic Affairs (Internationalization) and Office of International Linkages Director Imee Su Martinez, UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II, VP for Public Affairs Roland Tolentino, and VP for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) University of Ottawa (uOttawa) President and Vice Chancellor Jacques Frémont talks about the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities, of which uOttawa is a member. According to its website, U15 members collectively “attract 77% of Canada’s sponsored research funding.” (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) UP President Angelo Jimenez (left) and University of Ottawa President and Vice Chancellor Jacques Frémont exchange ideas on how Filipino talent trained abroad may be enticed to return and serve the Philippines. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) UP Assistant VP for Academic Affairs (Internationalization) and Office of International Linkages Director Imee Su Martinez (middle) presents a briefer on the University’s efforts to achieve its mandate as a global and regional university. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) University of Ottawa (uOttawa) President and Vice Chancellor Jacques Frémont (left) tells the story of his appointment to the uOttawa leadership, to UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II (middle) and UP VP for Public Affairs Roland Tolentino (right). (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) UP President Angelo Jimenez (left) and University of Ottawa President and Vice Chancellor Jacques Frémont (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) From left: UP Assistant VP for Academic Affairs (Internationalization) and Office of International Linkages Director Imee Su Martinez, UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II, UP President Angelo Jimenez, University of Ottawa President and Vice Chancellor Jacques Frémont, UP VP for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan, and UP VP for Public Affairs Roland Tolentino. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/up-president-jimenezs-october-sojourn-to-the-us/ | UP President Jimenez’s October sojourn to the US – University of the Philippines | UP President Jimenez’s October sojourn to the US UP President Jimenez’s October sojourn to the US November 11, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office “Far tho’ we wander o’er island yonder, Loyal thy sons we’ll ever be” So go the lines from the UP Beloved, the official school hymn of the University of the Philippines. Or as UP alumni who were students in the 1970s onwards and know the hymn as the UP Naming Mahal sing it: “Malayong lupain amin mang marating, Di rin magbabago ang damdamin” In October this year, Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez, the 22nd President of the University of the Philippines, was invited by several UP alumni associations based in the United States to participate in their festivities and to come and meet the Iskolar ng Bayan who did, indeed, wander far yet remained true to their alma mater. On October 14, Jimenez headed to the San Francisco Bay Area to meet with the UP Alumni Association of San Francisco, Inc. (UPAASF), which was celebrating its Golden Jubilee with the theme, “50 Years of Service, Building a Legacy”. During the UPAASF’s Gala Celebration, UP President Jimenez delivered the keynote address after presenting the UPAASF Distinguished Alumnus Award to Mrs. Cynthia Bonta. Following a lunch reception and fellowship with Alphans and Deltans on October 15, President Jimenez participated in the quarterly Board of Trustees meeting of the Friends of UP Foundation in America, Inc. (FUPFA) on October 16 in New York City, where he presented his vision and priority projects for FUPFA’s support. Later, in the evening of October 18, Jimenez also joined in the celebration of the FUPFA’s 40th anniversary during the Donors Appreciation Night, where he was guest of honor and keynote speaker. Finally, from October 19 to October 22, President Jimenez traveled to New Jersey to participate in the 22nd Grand Reunion and Convention of the UP Alumni Association in America, Inc. (UPAAA)—a three-day celebration that featured former Philippine Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo and National Scientist and then UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, among others, as the other guests of honor. Below are photos and videos from UP President Jimenez’s trip to meet and greet the UP alumni who embodied the lines from the UP Naming Mahal, and to share his administration’s vision and strategic initiatives with the members of the UP community who keep the UP spirit alive across the USA. October 14, 2023: UP Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF)’s 50th Anniversary University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco’s 50th Anniversary held on October 14, 2023 at Embassy Suites Waterfront, San Francisco, Burlingame, California. Photos and captions by: Rey Guarin, Arlene Cabrales and Rosario Calderon At the celebration of University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco’s 50th Anniversary, Mrs. Cynthia A. Bonta (3rd from left) was bestowed the UPAASF Distinguished Alumna award. Joining her are special guests (L-R) Philippine Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and UP President Angelo Jimenez, together with UPAASF President Chato Calderon and UPAASF Chair Eric Golangco. In photo: True to their commitment to service and building a legacy, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF) raised funds and gave a $10,000 donation for the much-needed upgrade of Kalayaan Residence Hall. UPAASF’s Alumni Mentoring Program with UP Diliman was also launched during the 50th Anniversary celebration. This group photo shows UPAASF Board Directors and Officers presenting the symbolic check to UP President Angelo Jimenez. Excerpt from UP President Angelo “Jijil” Jimenez’s presentation before the Friends of UP Foundation in America at the Harvard Club on October 18, 2023. UPAAA’s 22nd Biennial Grand Reunion and Convention: Day 0 UP Alumni Association in America (UPAAA) kicks off their “22nd Biennial Grand Reunion and Convention” on October 19, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick, New Jersey. UP President Angelo A. Jimenez and former Vice President Leni Robredo graced the prestigious event. Meanwhile, UP Alumni Association President and Alumni Regent Robert Lester Aranton did the rounds of introductions during the Welcome Reception. Photos by Ms. Vivian Balagtas and Dr. Colleen Rosales Attendees during the Welcome Reception. UP Alumni Association President and Alumni Regent Robert Lester Aranton delivers the introductions during the Welcome Reception. Pres. Jimenez accompanied by Dr. Winston Umali, incoming UPAAA President (for term 2024-2025), sings during pre-conference Fellowship Night. Pres. Jimenez and members of the UP Alumni Association in America welcomes former Vice President Leni Robredo at the registration area. UPAAA 22nd Biennial Grand Reunion and Convention: Day 1 IN PHOTOS: Day 1 of UP Alumni Association in America’s 22nd Biennial Grand Reunion and Convention: Iskolympics Fun Run (morning) and Jubilarian Night (evening). Photos by Ms. Vivian Balagtas and Dr. Colleen Rosales Pres. Jijil gives welcome remarks during the Iskolympics Fun Run. Pres. Jimenez and the presidents of UPAA – University of the Philippines Alumni Association and UP Alumni Association in America finishing the fun run. UPAA Houston delegates with Pres. Jimenez, former Vice President Leni Robredo, Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, UPAAA President Jun David and Father Gregory Ramon Gaston. Pres. Jimenez and former Vice President Leni Robredo give awards to the Jubilarians. Then UPM Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, former Vice President Leni Robredo, Pres. Jimenez, past UP Alumni Association in America president and current board member Nelsie Parrado, and UPAAA President Jun David presents the Presidential award to Dr. Joy Celo. |
https://up.edu.ph/pcca-lantern-making-contest-2023/ | PCCA Lantern-making Contest 2023 – University of the Philippines | PCCA Lantern-making Contest 2023 PCCA Lantern-making Contest 2023 November 22, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Calling all UP Creatives! As we approach the Christmas 2023 Season, let’s celebrate and showcase cultural diversity through lanterns! With the theme: “Cultural Kaleidoscope: Celebrating Cultural Diversity in Lanterns”, the Presidential Committee on Culture and the Arts (PCCA) CCA-award for the best CU Lantern is an expression of the Kalinangan Bayan, Kalingang UP campaign of the PCCA. It aims to foster the One-UP spirit, especially with the advent of Christmas 2023 Season, while it also promotes cultural diversity. The PCCA award is a recognition of UP constituent’s creativity and community engagement. Eligibility: Open to any group currently enrolled or employed at the UP Constituent University. Entry Requirements: Participants must register for the contest by a deadline set by the CU CCA/OICA. Registration should include names, positions, CU affiliation, contact details, etc., and can be done online. Illuminated lanterns must be in the form of a star. There is no limit on size. Participants must submit a concept board illustrating ideas behind the lantern, considering the criteria below. Materials: Use of local sustainable materials Should be safe and recyclable or reusable Judging Criteria: Alignment to the CU and PCCA Christmas theme (20%) Lantern that best embody honor, excellence in the service of the nation (15%) Sustainability (15%) Ingenuity of the design (20%) Innovation of the design (15%) Craftsmanship (15%) For more details please contact the Head/Chair of the OICA or CCA of your campus. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-and-pnoc-sign-mou/ | UP and PNOC sign MOU – University of the Philippines | UP and PNOC sign MOU UP and PNOC sign MOU November 9, 2023 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) have formalized their cooperation. PNOC counts on the national university for urgent technical assistance with its priority projects, proposed investments, and technologies; UP, meanwhile, looks to the government-owned and -controlled corporation for support in equipping energy-related laboratories, among others. The memorandum of understanding was signed by UP President Angelo Jimenez and PNOC President and CEO Oliver Butalid, with UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan and PNOC General Counsel Antonio Buenviaje signing as witnesses, on November 8, 2023, at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. UP President Angelo Jimenez and PNOC President and CEO Oliver Butalid introduce themselves to each other before signing the MOU between their two organizations; while Jennifer Racho, PNOC OIC Senior Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services looks on, November 8, 2023, at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) The PNOC officials present at the MOU signing with UP on November 8, 2023, at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City, are: President and CEO Oliver Butalid; General Counsel Antonio Buenviaje; Corporate Secretary Jesus Joel Mari Arzaga; Jennifer Racho, OIC Senior Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services; and Alma Taganas, OIC Department Manager of Strategy Management Office. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) UP officials present at the MOU signing with PNOC on November 8, 2023, at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City, are: President Angelo Jimenez; Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan; Vice President for Legal Affairs Abraham Rey Acosta; College of Engineering (COE) Dean Maria Antonia Tanchuling; Deputy General Counsel Francis Paul Baclay; Rowaldo Del Mundo, COE Associate Dean for Public Engagement; and Executive Vice President Jose Fernando Alcantara. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) UP and PNOC officials discuss areas for immediate collaboration before signing the MOU between them on November 8, 2023, at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) UP President Angelo Jimenez signs the MOU between UP and PNOC, while UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan signs as witness, on November 8, 2023, at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) PNOC President and CEO Oliver Butalid signs the MOU between UP and PNOC, while PNOC General Counsel Antonio Buenviaje signs as witness, on November 8, 2023, at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) PNOC President and CEO Oliver Butalid and UP President Angelo Jimenez sign the MOU between UP and PNOC, while PNOC General Counsel Antonio Buenviaje and UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan sign as witnesses, on November 8, 2023, at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan, UP President Angelo Jimenez, PNOC President and CEO Oliver Butalid, and PNOC General Counsel Antonio Buenviaje—signatories of the MOU between UP and PNOC—present the newly signed copies of the MOU, on November 8, 2023, at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Signatories of the MOU between UP and PNOC (seated): UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan; UP President Angelo Jimenez; PNOC President and CEO Oliver Butalid; and PNOC General Counsel Antonio Buenviaje; with UP Deputy General Counsel Francis Paul Baclay; UP Vice President for Legal Affairs Abraham Rey Acosta; Rowaldo del Mundo, UP College of Engineering (COE) Associate Dean for Public Engagement; COE Dean Maria Antonia Tanchuling; PNOC Corporate Secretary Jesus Joel Mari Arzaga; Alma Taganas, PNOC OIC Department Manager of Strategy Management Office; and Jennifer Racho, PNOC OIC Senior Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services, November 8, 2023, at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) UP President Angelo Jimenez and PNOC President and CEO Oliver Butalid shake hands after signing the MOU between their two organizations on November 8, 2023, at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City, together with Rowaldo del Mundo, UP College of Engineering (COE) Associate Dean for Public Engagement; COE Dean Maria Antonia Tanchuling; UP Vice President for Legal Affairs Abraham Rey Acosta; UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan; PNOC Corporate Secretary Jesus Joel Mari Arzaga; PNOC General Counsel Antonio Buenviaje; Jennifer Racho, PNOC OIC Senior Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services; UP Deputy General Counsel Francis Paul Baclay; and Alma Taganas, PNOC OIC Department Manager of Strategy Management Office. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) |
https://up.edu.ph/rice-subsidy-for-2023/ | UP employees to get fourth tranche of their rice subsidy for 2023 – University of the Philippines | UP employees to get fourth tranche of their rice subsidy for 2023 UP employees to get fourth tranche of their rice subsidy for 2023 October 26, 2023 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc University of the Philippines (UP) President Angelo Jimenez has just approved the release before the year ends of the fourth tranche of the 2023 rice subsidy for the University’s faculty members; research, extension, and professional staff (REPS); and administrative employees. A memorandum from UP Vice President for Administration Augustus Resurreccion, dated October 24, 2023, says the fourth tranche, in the amount of P2,350 each, will be available starting December 7, 2023. Those holding confidential and managerial positions are entitled to the subsidy in the form of cash. Administrative employees will be given a minimum of 47 kilograms of rice once a supplier is awarded a contract through procurement. In the case of failed bidding, the UP Vice President for Administration can approve requests by the campuses to convert the subsidy into cash. The rice subsidy in four tranches has been approved and authorized by the Board of Regents, UP’s highest governing body, after collective negotiation with UP’s academic employees and workers unions. All UP faculty members, REPS, and administrative employees with regular items—including temporary, UP contractual, casual, coterminous and substitute employees, with employer-employee relations with the University, who will have rendered at least three months of active service as of December 31, 2023—are entitled to the fourth tranche rice subsidy for 2023. Project-based employees who have rendered the minimum length of service are also entitled if funds are provided for in the budget of the projects. Those who have rendered service for less than three months but not less than two months are entitled to P1,600; and those who have rendered for less than two months but not less than a month are entitled to P800. Read the memorandum here: Memo-No.-ACR-23-50_Guidelines-on-the-Release-of-the-Fourth-Tranche-of-the-Rice-Subsidy-for-FY-2023. |
https://up.edu.ph/the-saga-of-philippine-cinema/ | The Saga of Philippine Cinema – University of the Philippines | The Saga of Philippine Cinema The Saga of Philippine Cinema November 30, 2023 | Written by UPFI Film Center With support from The UNESCO Memory of the World (PH), a new movement to recognize cinema as the world’s documentary heritage needing protection and preservation is launched with the nationwide advocacy to use cinema for education. The Pedagogical Cinema kicks off with a launching program featuring Nick Deocampo’s “The Saga of Philippine Cinema.” Believing that education starts with a knowledge of history, the program combines a study of Philippine history with the understanding of a medium that has popular appeal to students and the public. In glorious 3D animation, Philippine history is recreated, giving cinema the enviable task of giving life to the social forces which defined Filipino identity and the cinema that helped shape it. A program tailored for students and teachers it begins its nationwide journey at the UPFI Film Center in UP Diliman on December 4 Monday at 5 p.m.. Tickets for only P100. Due to limited seating, viewers need to pre-register to reserve seats: https://tinyurl.com/SagaofPHCinemaUPFI Those who will make reservations need to be present at the venue fifteen minutes before the event, otherwise walk-in viewers will be admitted. Classes and organizations are welcome to attend. Sixteen universities, NGOs, and local government cultural and heritage committees have booked for 2024. Nationwide bookings can be made by sending a letter of intent to sponsor to: nadeocampo@yahoo.com.ph The program consists of film screenings and lectures. Synopses of featured films: CINE TALA (THE MOVIE CHRONICLES) OPENING FILM Dec 4 Mon 5 p.m. A film historian (played by National Artist for Theater Tony Mabesa) recalls the history of Philippine cinema from its colonial beginnings to its national maturity. Featured are movie stars of bygone eras like Rosa del Rosario and Rogelio de la Rosa in enduring film classics like Maalaala Mo Kaya? CINE>SINE: SPANISH BEGINNINGS OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA Dec 5 Tue 5 p.m. The documentary recalls the Spanish past of Philippine cinema through language, material culture, aesthetics, and ideology. Featured are phenomenal stars like Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon in unforgettable classics like Himala and Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? FILM: AMERICAN BEGINNINGS OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA Dec 6 Wed 5 p.m. The American past of Philippine cinema has contributed technology, capital, aesthetics, and consumerist ideology to make movies a popular culture. Iconic stars like Fernando Poe, Sr. appears in Zamboanga and Anita Linda and Hilda Koronel star in Lino Brocka’s masterpiece, Hellow, Soldier! to provide an affirmation as well as a counter-reading of Hollywood’s excessive dominance. EIGA: CINEMA DURING WORLD WAR II Dec 7 Thurs 5 p.m. The destruction brought about by the Japanese occupation has wrought havoc to cinema’s growth and made propaganda its cinematic contribution. Movie idols are featured in war-themed films like Leopoldo Salcedo in the propaganda movie, Dawn of Freedom, and the explosive combination of Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon and Bembol Rocco in Tatlong Taong Walang Dios PELIKULA: THE BIRTH OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA Dec 8 Fri 5 p.m. Since motion pictures came into the hands of photographer Jose Nepomuceno, cinema flourished as a homegrown cultural expression that made the once-colonial movies into a popular national experience. Excerpts from pioneering films like Giliw Ko and interviews of film historians like the American scholar Dr. Charles Musser and Swedish Nepomuceno scholar Nadi Tofighian make this an important film document to watch. MARTIAL LAW FILMS Dec 9 Sat 2 p.m. Films produced during the period of martial law and its aftermath are studied for their social and semiotic significance, revealing hidden subversions contained within the cinematic texts. Lino Brocka’s films are decoded for their use of film language and visual semiotics in movies like Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim starring Gina Alajar and Philip Salvador and Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang with Lolita Rodriguez, Mario O’Hara and Christopher de Leon. PHILIPPINE ALTERNATIVE CINEMA Dec 9 Sat 5 p.m. Outside the mainstream cinema is the alternative world of short films, documentaries, experimental films, and all things that are cinematically oppositional. A wide array of shorts is featured from the mythopoeic films of Raymond Red, to controversial documentaries like Oliver, wild animations like Roxlee’s Tronong Puti, and nihilist films like Regiben Romana’s Pilipinas. See you at the screenings! |
https://up.edu.ph/love-life-and-dont-give-up/ | Love life and don’t give up – University of the Philippines | Love life and don’t give up Love life and don’t give up September 11, 2023 | Written by Dr. Hannah Patricia E. Bringas Photo collage courtesy of Hannah Patricia Bringas. Hannah Patricia E. Bringas Doctor of Dental Medicine UP College of Dentistry I am Hannah Patricia E. Bringas, a graduate of Doctor of Dental Medicine of the UP College of Dentistry. I was supposed to graduate from the course back in 2017 but several interventions contributed to my delay. During the preparations for the Lantern Parade 2013, my dominant (right) hand was injured by a cutter blade in a freak accident. I was immediately rushed by my seniors and my friends to the PGH Emergency Department as I was already losing a lot of blood. The hospital staff performed several tests to check if there were any internal damages, especially on the nerves, and fortunately, it all seemed okay at the time. We all thought that it was just a simple skin laceration that needed to be sutured and closed shut. I was dismissed and I returned to my classes with a bandage on my hand the next day. The unfortunate accident happened in the second semester of my first year in Dentistry Proper, while I was enrolled in the Dentistry 131.1 (Operative Dentistry I) laboratory course. This course is only offered once a year and it is a prerequisite to several of the courses in the succeeding pre-clinical years. Even now, I could recall some laboratory sessions when I struggled to finish an exercise as my bandage kept falling off or my wound suddenly bled out of nowhere, but I continued to participate in classes and even attended the Lantern Parade itself. During the Christmas break, I started to notice some difficulty in moving my right hand, but I thought that it was just part of the healing process, and it would return to normal after a few days or weeks. However, one day, after our anatomy class, I consulted with my professor, an orthopedic surgeon, regarding my struggle in lifting my right ring and little fingers on their own and in using my hand to grip objects. I told him about my accident and asked for any input. That was when he informed me that my injury might have resulted in the transection of a few of the tendons in my right hand. He referred me to one of his colleagues for further assessment. My surgeon knew that I was taking up Dentistry and he warned me that if I did not immediately undergo surgery to restore function and to prevent atrophy of my arm muscles, I might have to say goodbye to my dream of becoming a dentist. So, I went through the operation. I had to wear a cast for 6 weeks while the semester was still ongoing, and I was required to attend physical therapy sessions for several months after the cast was removed. As a result, I was unable to perform our laboratory exercises in Dent 131.1. I was advised by the then College Secretary, who was also the faculty coordinator of the said course, to file for dropping to avoid getting a failing grade. I was given the chance to still attend the lectures, while struggling to write with my left hand or using my tablet just to take down notes. I was even offered an oral examination because I was struggling to write legibly. I already knew by then that I would not be able to graduate on time, that I would be delayed, that I could not join my friends and batchmates. It was painful, both physically and emotionally. My parents even asked me if I wanted to leave Dentistry when they saw and felt how defeated I was, and thought of how my injury would definitely affect my future. It had gotten to the point that I would take my injury as a test to see if I really did belong in Dentistry. However, I never thought of quitting. I saw this hurdle as an opportunity to strive harder. I was even able to perform well academically the next semester, and finished with a GWA of a “College Scholar”. I re-enrolled in the same laboratory course the following academic year but had to endure pain and discomfort on my right hand while still undergoing physical therapy. Unfortunately, I was not able to complete the requirements in the course on time, as the laboratory procedures then required double or even triple my previous efforts, given my injury. I received a failing mark on the laboratory course and had to wait another year to re-enroll again. I was already delayed for two years in the pre-clinical courses, but I made sure to never receive a failing grade on any theoretical subject. I practiced performing my laboratory requirements a lot, so as not to fail ever again. I also worked as a student assistant for a year during my pre-clinical years. As a clinician, one cause of my delay in completing the requirements was due to repeated cases because of patients’ non-compliance even with the treatments already nearing completion. I, however, attended to all my patients, other clinical requirements, research, and community service in the best way I could, despite constant suffering through pain and discomfort in my right hand. During the semesters within the pandemic, I lived alone near the College to attend to all the remaining requirements that I could accomplish via remote laboratory sessions, online case discussions, and limited face-to-face simulation exercises. However, a few of those remaining requirements still needed to be accomplished on live patients, so I still waited for the re-opening of the clinics last September. Once the clinics re-opened, despite a few problems encountered, I did not stop until I was able to complete my requirements and finally graduate. While attending to my classes and requirements, I was a shift head for several semesters, and later on, became the head and the student council representative of the resident clinicians. I served a few years in the Dentistry Student Council, joined and performed with the members of GrooveDex, was one of the founding members of the UPCD Occlusal Harmonies, and participated in several dental missions and served the community through the Dental Health Brigade. Even now as I practice for the board exam, my hand still hurts every now and then. The large scar is still there and reminds me every day of what I have lost, and of what I have also gained through all I have experienced. They taught me not to give up. They taught me to appreciate every second. They taught me to love life, and that there is always light at the end of a very dark tunnel. These lessons are what I will carry with me as I face the next chapter of my life. ———- Written by Dr. Hannah Patricia E. Bringas for the UP Pagtatapos 2023 microsite. https://up.edu.ph/pagtatapos-2023/ |
https://up.edu.ph/doktor-para-sa-bayan-kasama-ng-bayan/ | Doktor Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan – University of the Philippines | Doktor Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan Doktor Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan September 12, 2023 | Written by Dr. Jessica Franco Perez Photo courtesy of Jessica Perez. Jessica Franco Perez Magna cum laude Doctor of Medicine UP College of Medicine I am Jessica Franco Perez, 32 years old, from San Mateo, Rizal. I studied BS Nutrition in UP Los Baños and graduated magna cum laude in 2011. I passed the Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Examination and became a Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian that same year. I worked at the Dietary Department of the UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) as a clinical dietitian. I was assigned at the Nutrition Clinic of the Department of Out-Patient Services where I provided nutrition assessment, individualized diet plans, and educational lectures to patients, doctors, and paramedical professionals. While working at PGH, I was also given opportunities to participate in different researches. I am a co-investigator in a research project of Dr. A.G. Limpoco of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, titled “Development and Evaluation of Rapid Eating Assessment for Patients (REAP) Tool”. I also became part of several patient support groups, such as the Hansen’s Club, Lipat Kalinga, and Psoriasis Club. After six years of working at PGH, I then applied to and got accepted in the University of the Philippines College of Medicine at the age of 28. I became a member of the UP Pangkalusugang Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral (UP PAGSAMA) where I served under the SocCon Force, a committee that focuses on social engagements and community organizing activities. In the recently conducted 114th Commencement Exercise of the UP College of Medicine, I finally got my Doctor of Medicine degree, graduating magna cum laude and being one of the Top 5 Most Outstanding Graduates in Academics of our batch. I was also given recognition as one of the Top 3 Most Outstanding Interns of AY 2022-2023, being an outstanding intern in Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Surgery. Pursuing the dream Photo courtesy of Jessica Perez. I have always dreamt of becoming a doctor since I was a child. However, being born in a middle-class family, this dream seemed impossible. Being the second child in a brood of four, I also wanted to help my parents financially, especially in sending my younger sisters to college. I initially gave up on my dream of becoming a doctor and focused on a career still close to medicine. I was happy serving as a clinical dietitian. It was an equally fulfilling profession, having the opportunity to help other people through proper diet and a healthy lifestyle. However, I knew that some part of me was wishing and hoping I could still be a doctor someday. Every morning after I conducted lectures in the OPD waiting areas, seeing the long queue of people patiently waiting to be seen by a doctor, I had always felt the desire to serve more, both as a dietitian AND as a doctor. When my youngest sibling was already in her last year in college, I asked myself, “Posible pa bang maging doctor ako? Ipu-pursue ko pa rin ba ang pagme-Med kahit na matanda na ako?” These doubts had been running through my mind for quite a while. I also did not want to be a burden to my family, especially to my mother, given the additional years of studying instead of earning money. Thankfully, my family and friends were very supportive and encouraged me to still try. As the famous line goes, “It is better to try and fail than to never know and wonder what could have been if I tried.” And so, I juggled work, the National Medical Admission Test review, and preparations for applications to medical schools. With a limited amount of savings and overwhelming uncertainty, I found the courage to resign from the job I had treasured for six years to start this new journey. I was very blessed to be accepted in the UP College of Medicine, where I could have a subsidized, high quality medical education. Without the subsidized tuition fees, the scholarship grants from the College, the Pe Gan Heng Foundation, and the UP Medical Alumni Society of America (UPMASA), as well as the unending support of my family and friends, I may not have been able to reach this point. Student life and survival tips The University of the Philippines has been my home since I was in college. I have always believed in its ideals and advocacies. With this, I am truly grateful to be admitted to the UP College of Medicine that lives up to its vision-mission of cultivating highly competent scholars whose lives are directed to learning and service to the underserved. Our medical curriculum is guided by the principles of a community- oriented education, research, and service. These ideals and principles guided me through all these years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the College greatly helped the students as they were able to quickly adapt to the challenges and difficulties brought by the pandemic restrictions. They made sure that we were learning, while giving us ample consideration and understanding of the fact that we were also taking care of our family and doing chores at home, on top of our obligations as medical students. Admittedly, I struggled with my studies, especially during my first year in medical school. With a gap of six years from the last time I had reviewed for an exam, I needed to relearn and adjust my study habits to fit the highly demanding medical education. I would sleep first after a long day of lectures and then wake up early in the morning to study. We all have different learning styles and thus, it is important to identify the study routine that works best for you. What worked for me may not work for other students. But if I were to share one study habit that greatly helped me survive medical school, it is the habit of planning and making a schedule. Planning ahead and identifying my target accomplishments for the day or the week made me more efficient and focused on my activities. Photo courtesy of Jessica Perez. Another survival tip is to allow yourself to rest, as well as to allot quality time with family and friends, and on your hobbies. These will help you keep your sanity and will give you a boost to face yet another week of unending lectures, duties, and exams. My advice to make this possible would be to: 1) actively listen during lectures; 2) limit your time for browsing your social media accounts; and 3) prioritize sleep (you absorb and understand better what you are reading with a clear mind). I also maximized my study hours during weekdays (or on allotted study days) so that I could go home to Rizal and spend time with my family in the other days. All these helped me maintain balance between studies and life outside medical school. Last but definitely one most important advice that I want to share is to have a deeper reason for what you do. Why are you studying medicine? Whenever I felt exhausted having to study for an exam even after a tiring hospital duty, I always went back to why I was here. I always reminded myself not to study just to pass the exams, but to study so that you will be a competent and excellent doctor for your future patients; study so that you can be part of a better healthcare system that you have always wanted. When we have a purpose that goes beyond us, things will still be difficult, but you will have the courage to overcome whatever obstacle you will face. Plans after graduation After graduating and passing the Physician Licensure Examination this October 2023, I plan to apply to the Internal Medicine residency program at the UP Philippine General Hospital. In the future, I also want to enter the academe as a professor and to participate in activities, programs, and advocacies directed to the service of marginalized communities and to the betterment of our healthcare system. Photo collage courtesy of Jessica Perez. Looking back on my journey Work hard, be patient, and do not give up on your dreams, even if it would take time realizing them. There will be detours and things will not always be in your favor. But be steadfast and trust that God’s plan is the best plan. Looking back on my journey, I now realize why God had to delay my admission to medical school. It was at the right time for me, when there was a CGMS (Cash Grant to Medical Students Enrolled in State Universities and Colleges) to largely subsidize our tuition fee knowing that I might not be able to finish my medical education due to financial constraints. I was taught by the most excellent professors who nurtured and inspired us to do our best as future physicians. I met my friends who have supported me and believed in me even in times when I myself doubted my own capabilities. They made my stay in UPCM worthwhile and much more bearable. Trust that the failures, rejections, frustrations, and “unanswered” prayers we encounter are part of the process to prepare us for the best things in life. May we always uphold honor, integrity, and excellence whatever path we choose. May we all live a life of purpose, a life directed to the service of others. Kudos at Padayon, mga Doktor Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan! ———- Written by Dr. Jessica Franco Perez for the UP Pagtatapos 2023 microsite: https://up.edu.ph/pagtatapos-2023/ |
https://up.edu.ph/teaching-literature-the-gemino-h-abad-seminar-workshop-2023/ | Teaching Literature: The Gemino H. Abad Seminar-Workshop 2023 – University of the Philippines | Teaching Literature: The Gemino H. Abad Seminar-Workshop 2023 Teaching Literature: The Gemino H. Abad Seminar-Workshop 2023 November 10, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Teaching literature is impossible; that is why it is difficult. –Northrop Frye “Do you want to enhance your skills in reading and teaching literature? Do you want to learn how to uncover the hidden meanings and messages of literary texts?” So reads the invitation to the Gemino H. Abad Seminar-Workshop (GASW) for Teaching Literature 2023, which was held from September 20 to 22 at the NISMED Auditorium in UP Diliman. The GASW is a project of the Likhaan UP Institute of Creative Writing, and aims to inspire and empower educators with the ultimate goal of fostering a love for literature among Filipino students. The 48 participants were junior and senior high school teachers of literature and creative writing in English from public and private schools nationwide, and the lecturers are some of the country’s most distinguished literary scholars and writers. As a tribute to the joys and challenges of education, especially for teachers of literature and the humanities, we are sharing an article written by Dr. Vim Nadera, award-winning poet, fictionist, playwright, and essayist, at the conclusion of this year’s GASW. The article was originally published by the Pilipino Mirror. Reading Literature: Text and Context Ni Dr. Vim Nadera Dr. Vim Nadera delivering his message at the workshop. Photo from Likhaan: University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing Facebook page. Isa lamang proyekto iyon, kung tutuusin, ng Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing. Pero binigyan ito ng bagong dimensiyon nang mag-post sa Facebook ang DLSU SHS Arts and Design Track Department ng pagbati: “We would like to extend congratulations to Ms. Blulean Albao, our Creative Writing teacher, for taking part in the Gemino Abad Seminar-Workshop for Teachers, which was conducted on October 4-6, 2023, at the NISMED Auditorium, University of the Philippines, Diliman.” Tinapik kaming lahat ng ganitong balita sa balikat. Kahit paano’y nabunutan ng tinik sa pagtanggap sa hamong maging Workshop Director. At, napausal din kami ng dasal sa pagpili sa butihing guro ng De La Salle Integrated School SHS Manila sa Biñan, Laguna na marunong tumanaw ng utang na loob: “This is testimony of how a Lasallian educator can showcase capabilities and empower co-educators to nurture and mold student in the future.” Kasama ni Bb. Albao sa loob ng tatlong araw sina Anglika Fe Amado, Alyzza Chelsea Avestruz, Michael Beraña, Jerald Belmas, Charine Bolalin, Michelle Collado, at Consuelo Celine Fuentes, Kristian Ross Pimentel, John Carlo Pineda, Ferdinand Marc Sandoval, Charma Rose Tadeja. Dahil nasa Creative Non-fiction siya, sumailalim siya sa kalinga ni Prof. Larissa Mae Suarez na sanaysayista’t kuwentista. Para sa Fiction ang mga dumalo sina Alvin Aborde, Lou Stephie Cambe, Maria Christina Corpuz, Jericho de Leon, Reniel Justine Gandecila, Karen Laking, Jayson Paderon, Brandon Parrenas, Nicka Marcel Reyes, Rhoda Salen, Vincent Eduard Sta.Clara, at Christian Lloyd Valenzuela sa giya ni Siege Malvar na nobelista’t makata. Para sa Drama, ang mga lumahok ay sina Ma. Jessi Carilla, Armin Concepcion, Rafaelle Jasmin Ibañez, Clarice Yvette Laroza, Lourrie Mey Libo-on, Aubrey Dorothy Macas, Roselle Grace Mendoza, Justine Montilla, Ernesto Pang Jr., Maria Fe Ricamonte, Melissa Sarmiento, at Frank Tamayo sa gabay ni Dr. Joachim Emilio Antonio na mandudula, kuwentista’t kuwentistang pambata. At para sa Poetry, ang mga sumali ay sina Rogelio Alegrid Jr., April Arevalo, Ronald Cabingon, Melchor Cayabyab, Darlyn Lojero, Ymanuel Manaog, William James Obrero, Angelica Padilla, Manuel Radislao, Nenita Ramiro-Rondera, Rosseth Salvan, at Charles Dominic Sanchez sa patnubay ni Ramil Digal Gulle na makata’t mamamahayag. Mas prestihiyoso ang palihang ito dahil sa panayam ng batikan sa kani-kanilang larang: Professor Emeritus Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo (Creative Non-fiction), Prof. Charlson Ong (Fiction), Prof. Luna Sicat Cleto (Drama), at Pambansang Alagad ng Sining na Dr. Gemino Abad (Poetry). Binayayaan din kami ng pagdating sa una’t huling araw ni Lord Jim na paulit-ulit sa pagsasabing: “This is so well-organized!” Kaya, kahit nakauwi na si Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan, amin pa ring pinasalamatan hindi lamang sina Dr. Romulo Baquiran at Prof. Vladimeir Gonzales kundi sina Howi Bakunawa at Toni Panagu at ang kanilang mga anghel na sina Arlene Andresio, Ronnie Amuyot, Denise Cayetano, Karlo Erfe, Manolet Ferrer, Kenneth Guda, Philip Jamilla, Phoebe Lina, Danielle Madrid, P.B. Maraña, Dominick Molina, Cyril Noroña, Karen Pablo, at Jasper Villasis. At, siyempre, ang nakaisip ng paksa na si Dr. Jose Dalisay. Subalit, ibang-iba talaga ang kahingian sa panitikang Filipino. Kaya sana magkaroon ng Virgilio Almario Seminar-Workshop for Teachers. For photos of the 2023 Gemino Abad Seminar Workshop for Teachers, please browse through the post below from the Likhaan: University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing Facebook page. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-cebu-graduate-tops-licensure-exam-for-secondary-level-teachers/ | UP Cebu graduate tops licensure exam for secondary-level teachers – University of the Philippines | UP Cebu graduate tops licensure exam for secondary-level teachers UP Cebu graduate tops licensure exam for secondary-level teachers December 13, 2023 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The Oblation in UP Cebu. UP MPRO file photo. A BS Mathematics graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu College of Science, Trilbe Lizann Espina Vasquez, ranked first in the September 2023 Licensure Exam for Professional Teachers (LEPT), secondary level. In addition, three graduates from UP Diliman and one from UP Los Baños made it to the list of top ten examinees in the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET). This was announced by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Professional Teachers on December 7. The LET Secondary Level top examinees from UP are: Trilbe Lizanne Espina Vasquez, UP Cebu – ranked 1st with a 94.80% rating; Matthew Kyle Yee Oronce, UP Diliman – ranked 3rd with a 94.20% rating; Fritzie Anne Cebrian Bueno, UP Diliman – ranked 4th with a 94.00% rating; Maro Rapog Peña, UP Diliman – ranked 8th with a 93.20% rating; and, Rachel Anne Garcia Concepcion, UP Los Baños – ranked 10th with a 92.80% rating. Meanwhile, UP Diliman is the second top performing school in the LET Secondary Level, with 67 out of 69 or 97.10% of its examinees passing the exam. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-faculty-and-alumni-up-press-win-41st-national-book-awards/ | UP faculty and alumni, UP Press, win 41st National Book Awards – University of the Philippines | UP faculty and alumni, UP Press, win 41st National Book Awards UP faculty and alumni, UP Press, win 41st National Book Awards December 13, 2023 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II Faculty and alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP), as well as the UP Press, won big when the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle (MCC) recently announced the winners of the 41st National Book Awards. Among the list of winners are books written by UP faculty members or graduates of the University, and/or published by the UP Press, the official publishing house for all constituent units of the UP System and the first university press in the country. The winners are: BEST NOVEL IN ENGLISH – “Yñiga: A Novel” – Glenn Diaz (Ateneo de Manila University Press) GERARDO P. CABOCHAN PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK OF SHORT FICTION IN FILIPINO – “Ang Buang ng Bayan: Mga Maikling Kuwento” – Rowena P. Festin (University of the Philippines Press) PABLO TAN PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK OF NONFICTION PROSE IN ENGLISH – “Even Ducks Get Liver Cancer and Other Medical Misadventures” -Wilfredo Liangco (Milflores Publishing) BEST ANTHOLOGY IN ENGLISH – “Kalandrakas Part 1, 1890-1945: Stories and Storytellers of /on Regions in Mindanao, 1890-1990” and “Kalandrakas Part 2, 1946-1990: Stories and Storytellers of/on Regions in Mindanao 1890-1990” – Ricardo M. De Ungria (Ed.) (Ateneo de Manila University Press) BEST ANTHOLOGY IN FIILIPINO – “Plus/+ at Iba Plus, Maramihan; New Philippine Nonfiction on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities” – Roland B. Tolentino and Chuckberry J. Pasucal (Eds.) (Atendeo de Manila University Press) BEST BOOK ON MEDIA STUDIES – “Alternative Cinema: The Unchronicled History of Alternative Cinema in the Philippines” – Nick Deomampo (University of the Philippines Press) PHILIPPINE LITERARY ARTS COUNCIL PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK OF POETRY IN ENGLISH – “Coming Home to the Island: Poems” – Arlene J. Yandug (Xavier University Press) BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL AND COMICS IN FILIPINO – “Josefina” – Ace C. Enriquez, Illustrator (Adarna House) BEST TRANSLATED BOOK IN FILIPINO – “Illustrado” – Chuckberry J. Pascual, Translator (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House) BEST BOOK ON DRAMA AND FILM – “Huni at Pakpak: Mga Dula, Mga Sanaysay’ – Luna Sicat Cleto (University of the Philippines Press) BEST NOVEL IN BINISAYA – “Arkipelago: Novela” – Januar Yap (Advaux Publishing) BEST BOOK OF POETRY IN BINISAYA – “Ang Nakayatak kay Nayatakan (Who Steps Upon Is Stepped Upon)’ – Adonis Durado (University of the Philippines Press) ALFONSO T. ONGPIN PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK ON ART – “Julio Nakpil (1867-1950) Collected Works Volume 1: Piano, Vocal, and Chamber Music – Maria Alexandria Iñigo Chua (Ed.) (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House) The National Book Awards, an annual prize that honors the most outstanding book titles written, designed, and published in the Philippines, aims to celebrate the enterprising creative labor involved in book publishing. According to the NDBD’s website, for this cycle of the National Book Awards, a total of 235 titles were submitted across 34 categories consisting of seven languages: Filipino, English, Bikol, Binisaya, Hiligaynon, Tausug, and Waray. The 41st iteration of the awards is slated to take place in February 2024. The 41st National Book Awards coincides with the two-year preparation of the Philippines as it makes history as the second Southeast Asian country to be chosen as Guest of Honour in 2025 at the world’s biggest book fair, the Frankfurter Buchmesse. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-barmm-ministry-sign-accords/ | UP, BARMM ministry sign accords – University of the Philippines | UP, BARMM ministry sign accords UP, BARMM ministry sign accords June 17, 2022 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc BARMM-MBHTE Director General Salik Jr. (left) and UP President Concepcion sign the MOU for the partnership between UP and BARMM-MBHTE. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM-MBHTE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for educational cooperation, during a ceremony on June 14, 2022, at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. UP President Danilo Concepcion and MBHTE Director General for Basic Education Abdullah Salik Jr., representing Minister Mohagher Iqbal, signed both documents, with UP’s Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Director Marie Therese Bustos and MBHTE Director General for Madaris Education Tahir Nalg as witnesses. UP President Danilo Concepcion (right) and MBHTE Director-General for Basic Education Abdullah Salik Jr. hold up the newly signed MOU between UP and the BARMM-MBHTE. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). Other BARMM-MBHTE and UP officials, along with members of the technical working group for the partnership and heads of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod chapters in the UP constituent universities, attended the ceremony. Under the MOU, UP and the MBHTE agree to develop activities in mutual interest in academic and public service areas. These include the offering of graduate or certification extension programs, pre-service or in-service capacity-building for teachers, deployment of UP Gurong Pahinungod, establishing a Bangsamoro junior scientist program, enhancing a physical education and sports development program, research and capacity-building in food science and technology, exploring the possibility of establishing a tribal university, enriching Madaris education, strengthening the culture of educational research, and the promotion and cultivation of the Bangsamoro history, culture, and artistic tradition. UP President Concepcion cites the value of the partnership for UP as “an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture and history of Bangsamoro.” Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). The MOA primarily involves the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod for implementing a term of the MOU. UP volunteer teachers will assist the MBHTE in developing and implementing adaptive learning materials and other educational innovations. “This signing is the culmination of months of discussions between Minister Iqbal and his team on the one hand, and the UP System, UP Diliman, and UP Mindanao officials and staff on the other,” Concepcion said. “I welcome this partnership as an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture and history of Bangsamoro.” BARMM Police Regional Appellate Chair Ysnaira Ibrahim delivers Minister Mohagher Iqbal’s message. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). In his message delivered by BARMM Police Regional Appellate Chair Ysnaira Ibrahim, Iqbal said the BARMM is exploring ways to uplift its educational system and envisions producing at least one professional in every Bangsamoro family. “It is a heartfelt sense of assurance and affirmation having the UP System as the country’s national university to be alongside us to support our education reform initiative.” |
https://up.edu.ph/the-education-of-an-iska/ | The education of an Iska – University of the Philippines | The education of an Iska The education of an Iska October 5, 2018 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao Edeline Payawal shares the stoke from sea to school. When the air conditioning unit inside her hotel room in Leyte woke her up with its loud noise, Edeline Payawal could not have known how her life was going to change. Payawal is an Iska whose achievements have only become more meaningful since that fateful day on November 8, 2013. As the UP College of Mass Communication alumna tells it, “At the hallway, a guest told me to transfer to the hotel’s main building while the water was ankle-deep. I went back in to our room to check on my friends; however by the time we had to leave the building, the water was already neck-deep. Then suddenly, the roof broke down so that the rain started to pour on our floor. And we only had our room’s window to access the hotel’s main building by crossing over a water tank right beside it. We were 40 people in the building who had to climb out the window and cross over the water tank while braving the gusting winds of Typhoon Yolanda.” “I can vividly remember the sound of everyone in despair. At that moment, I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to die that day. I prepared myself for that moment. But all of us were able to get to the main building,” she continues. Standing right outside the hotel’s main building after the storm, she saw a pushcart loaded with two pale, lifeless teenagers retrieved by rescuers. “From the horror of possibly dying to seeing actual death, I was seriously in a state of shock. At some point I thought I had an out-of-body experience, thinking that it could have been us,” she confesses. For several months after the storm surge, the cum laude graduate kept questioning herself why she had been spared, while too many victims did not deserve to die. “I always asked, what meaningful thing did I do? Is it really all about finishing college with honors, having my own research firm, and being successful? Those who lost their lives in Typhoon Yolanda had families on their own, who were pillars of their communities, as compared to me. Nobody would be concerned more than my parents.” From sea to school The Yolanda experience led her to establish Surf to School. Surf buddies and Iskas Edeline Payawal and Nika King began this program in 2013. “That year was a time of giving. So, I asked friends who were willing to join in this donation drive. The immense support from friends and other networks inspired me to organize the program, and make it sustainable rather than remain a one-time charity project,” Payawal explains. Zambales leg of the Surf to School Program (Photo courtesy of Edeline Payawal) “The Surf to School Program is a collective effort of wave lovers to help these children sustain their interest to stay in school. It aspires to persuade them to live a balanced life both in school and in the sea,” she continues. Catching up with Surf to School’s Siargao leg this year, the program brought volunteer facilitators for various arts workshops and sports clinics, and donations of school bags and supplies to the island. Since its establishment, the program has already reached the shores of Baler, Pundakit, La Union, Puraran, Bagasbas in Quezon, Pagudpud and Sorsogon. Residual funds were used to set up surf competitions with scholarships as grand prizes, according to Payawal. Young wahines converge from La Union, Baler, Siargao and Lanuza for Surf to School’s Siargao leg (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Surf to School’s Girl Grom and Wahine surf competition at the Cloud 9 tower, Siargao (Photo courtesy of Edeline Payawal) “Surf to School saved me at that critical point in my life,” Payawal says. “My favorite reaction I got from the kids was overhearing them talking about how happy they were to have food, school supplies, prizes from the competition, and scholarships. I cried, as that was exactly what I wanted for them to feel, to feel special and appreciated. This is not just about charity or helping the poor. This is about making a lasting impact. You do it once, twice, but never to make yourself look good, but to have a commitment in serving others,” she continued. The cool in school The UP MBA alumna anchors her professional and socio-civic activities on her UP education. “Learning is very valuable to me because I believe in the University so much. That’s why UP has been the greatest influence in my support for education as well as in public service,” she said. Medals and other prizes for Surf to School’s Girl Grom and Wahine Camp in Siargao (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Another thing that is known to her as part of Tatak UP is every Iskolar ng Bayan’s resourcefulness. “It is not just about the intellect or intelligence that’s being imparted to you by UP, but also being maparaan. Until now, whenever I recommend individuals for jobs, I place top priority on UP graduates because of this special skill,” she says. Payawal herself is now the managing director of Carillon Consumer Research & Growth Strategists, a market research firm. “You should be shaken to the very core—that’s UP for me,” Payawal asserts, “so that you become a total person who has both a heart and a mind.” Edeline takes her daughter Quinn to Surf to School’s activities (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) “As a mother, I’d like for my daughter to go through the same education I got from the University and make the most of it as I did, and to have that sense of continuous learning even beyond degrees and diplomas,” she concludes. |
https://up.edu.ph/plant-science-for-the-people/ | Plant science for the people – University of the Philippines | Plant science for the people Plant science for the people November 9, 2017 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo He dreamed of becoming a doctor and now he is addressed as Dr. Pablito Magdalita. Instead of a medical degree, however, he has a PhD in Plant Breeding and Plant Biotechnology from the University of Queensland, Australia. “I went from wanting to help human health to plant health. It’s ultimately about wanting to help improve lives through science. I loved all my science classes in high school,” Magdalita says. Going into medicine was something his family couldn’t afford. His father was a coconut farmer and his mother was a storekeeper. Practicality and a scholarship from the Philippine Coconut Producers Federation, Inc. prompted him to take up agriculture at Luzonian University (now Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation) in Lucena City, Quezon in 1978. If it weren’t for that decision, Magdalita wouldn’t have started the journey to becoming the scientist he is today—one known for his work on numerous hibiscus hybrids, several varieties of fruits, and on plant breeding, genetics, and diseases. He holds a patent for the ACC oxidase gene and its use and is currently awaiting the grant of another patent from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines for the coat protein of the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). With principal breeder Dr. Violeta Villegas, he co-developed the papaya hybrid Sinta, which is tolerant to PRSV. The other fruit varieties he co-developed include the Aguinaldo guyabano, Amarillo rambutan, Mabini jackfruit, Mapino chico, Red Princess cashew, Roja rambutan. Dr. Pablito Magdalita shows a specimen of Saba banana variety in his study on species that can adapt to climate change. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “At first it was curiosity, then it was excitement about the possibilities of how I could make crops better. I was inspired by the challenges posed by my professors in plant breeding to create improved crops through breeding and selection,” he explains about his agriculture courses. Just like that, the dream of becoming a medical doctor was soon forgotten. Married to his career “The environment in UP is competitive, so I am inspired to be productive,” Magdalita says, describing his 35-year stint in the University. He started as a research aide in 1982 at the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) and enrolled in UP Los Baños’ Master of Science program in 1983, majoring in Plant Pathology and Plant Breeding. Moving up the ranks to become a research assistant, research associate, and eventually a university researcher, Magdalita spent most of his UP life conducting various studies and experiments on the development of ornamental and fruit crops. After his doctoral and post-doctoral studies on plant breeding, plant biotechnology and genetic engineering from the University of Queensland in the late 1990s, he was asked to teach molecular biology and biotechnology courses at the Institute of Biological Sciences, but not as a full-time faculty member. It wasn’t until 2010 that he officially joined the ranks of UP faculty at the College of Agriculture and Food Science. Specimens of Sinta hybrid papaya that Dr. Pablito Magdalita continues to do research on, despite the variety having been released in 1995. “You can always improve the variety,” he says. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “I realized I had more to offer as a teacher because of my almost 30-year research experience. Being able to share knowledge, especially those that I’ve applied myself, is a remarkable feeling.” And he hasn’t stopped doing research. Magdalita begins a typical workday by waking up at 4 am to get some writing done for his journal articles. “I do a little work before physically going to work.” He’s in the field around 8 to 9 am, then proceeds to his classes, does paperwork for administrative committee assignments, checks up on his laboratory at the IPB, and then goes home. He doesn’t usually work on Sundays. He attends Mass, walks his dogs, and works in his garden. “Well, it’s like I have a second field at home because I also use my crops as fresh specimens for my classes.” It’s clear he loves what he does and even jokes, “My colleagues tell me I’m married to my career!” Better crops for everyone Scientists like Dr. Magdalita are often invisible to the public they serve, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He has been honored by his scientific and academic peers for his research. And while he takes pride in his accomplishments, they don’t compare to the satisfaction of knowing his work helps farmers and local communities, contributes to countryside productivity, and is enjoyed by the wider public. “It usually takes at least ten years to come up with a good fruit crop variety and you have to wait even longer to see how far the crop has gone in terms of distribution, production, and consumption. We released Sinta papaya in 1995 and now it’s in Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.” Dr. Pablito Magdalita shows one of the papaya trees among the numerous crops outside his laboratory at the Institute of Plant Breeding. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) His work on ornamentals and fruits continues. He reveals that they are looking into creating varieties of different-colored sampaguita and thorn-less bougainvillea, among others. He is interested in exploring other crops with health and wellness benefits as well. He also says we should watch out for three new varieties of papaya, which they started working on in 2005. In three years, the sweet Hirang, Liyag, and Timyas hybrid papayas are expected to hit the market. “We still need more high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate change-resistant crops. And I want to continue working on answering those needs. This is my life as a scientist in UP. To work here is to work for the people.” |
https://up.edu.ph/the-gene-doctor-will-see-you-now/ | The gene doctor will see you now – University of the Philippines | The gene doctor will see you now The gene doctor will see you now March 28, 2019 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion National Institutes of Health Director and Dangal ng Bayan Awardee Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO If there is anything that Dr. Eva Cutiongco-de la Paz seems not to enjoy, it’s getting undue credit. The winner of the 2018 Dangal ng Bayan Award was admittedly nervous when her mother, a former faculty member at the UP College of Education, suggested having their photo taken with the tarpaulin celebrating her feat. “I was hoping nobody was there,” she said, “and that nobody would recognize me when we were having our family picture taken at the Oblation Plaza.” As far as her research is concerned, Cutiongco-de la Paz is quick to laud the contributions of her collaborators over her own. The clinical geneticist and current executive director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has certainly published on a broad range of subjects, from the genes implicated in rare diseases to our population’s genetic diversity. When asked, she tends to downplay her role in each of them. “None of these is just about me,” she says. There is, however, one topic that she talks about with pride. And that is her passion as a clinician-scientist. Having fuelled a career that earned her an award for “sustained contributions in the field of genetics,” this passion involves using her knowledge of genes to provide accurate diagnoses of illnesses to families and managing their multidisciplinary care. This passion, which describes the field of clinical genetics in a nutshell, has shaped her character as a scholar, a teacher, and, most importantly, a healer. Getting to this point was a journey that took Cutiongco-de la Paz nearly around the world. After surviving disasters abroad and receiving genetics training from some of the world’s top institutions, the pediatrician by training hopes that what she learned can now be used to help Filipinos and their families live healthier, more dignified lives. Deviation from form Graduating from the UP College of Medicine in 1989 was something Cutiongco-de la Paz thought would necessarily lead to a conventional career as a physician. An invitation to avail of a research fellowship at Kobe University’s Graduate School of Medicine in 1995, however, would change these plans forever. While there, she had the opportunity to study a condition called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in great depth. The disease is associated with a mutation in a gene on the X-chromosome and is mostly found in males. This mutation causes abnormalities in a protein called dystrophin in our muscles that makes them fragile and easily damaged. Afflicted children typically fall over and become wheelchair-bound. Since the heart and diaphragm consist themselves of muscle, those who fail to manage the illness typically die before age 30. Dr. Cutiongco-de la Paz is conferred the Dangal ng Bayan Award by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Although her stint in Kobe University introduced her to how deeply human genetics can influence a patient’s well-being, it was cut short unexpectedly by the Great Hanshin Earthquake—Japan’s second strongest in the 20th century. This coming before the age of social media, her survival was confirmed only after a nail-biting wait. “My mother couldn’t eat for a few days, because she didn’t know if I was alive or dead,” she recalled. She decided instead on coming home, to develop her knowledge elsewhere. Cutiongco-de la Paz was accepted soon after for a fellowship in clinical genetics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. She said her initial plan was to study the genetics of infectious diseases, which seemed logical given the country’s needs. But it was in this hospital that she got fully exposed to the grim consequences of what she called dysmorphology—the study of congenital anomalies, more commonly known as birth defects. “‘Morph’ means form,” she explained, “and ‘dys’ means a deviation from usual form.” Dysmorphic children, therefore, tend to possess genetic abnormalities that give them altered appearances when compared even to family members. “I got exposed to the clinics and I saw how the families needed help. With an appropriate diagnosis, you could actually provide them with the proper management.” Homecoming Upon finishing her fellowship, Cutiongco-de la Paz came home and joined UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, a geneticist herself, who actually served as her inspiration to get into the field of Genetics, in setting up comprehensive genetic services needed by the country. Together, they established a Clinical Genetics Fellowship Training Program at the PGH. This is the first and only one of its kind, teaching and training program in the subspecialty of Genetics in the country. The program is designed to provide the knowledge, understanding and skills required for the competent evaluation, management, genetic education and counseling of patients with genetic disorders and their families. Dr. Cutiongco-de la Paz (center) at the Malacañang Palace to receive her award. “And what we did, because Dr. Padilla was trained in Australia and I trained in Canada, was to put our training programs together to get the best of both”. They began opening the program to physicians willing to be trained in different clinical genetics sub-areas, from the laboratory to the counseling room. To date, they have graduated twelve clinical geneticists, with four more in training. Around the same time, she made it a point to do research on more complicated illnesses that more commonly afflict Filipinos. Together with colleagues like Dr. Rey Garcia of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UP Diliman, they set out mapping genes and mutations in the population associated with colon cancer. “Why do we need to study our population?” she asked. “Because we’re seeing in research that even if we’re all part of the human race, our genetic makeup is unique compared to other population groups such as Chinese, Japanese and Americans. So we need to understand our uniqueness, ‘genetically speaking’ to gain a better understanding of diseases that our common to our people.” A poignant condition highlighting our specificity is that of X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (XDP), locally known as lubag. This condition is, like DMD, caused by a mutation in a single gene in the X chromosome, and causes involuntary muscle contractions, dystonia, later on progressing to Parkinsonism. Dr. Cutiongco-de la Paz provides genetic education, testing and counseling to patients with XDP and their families. She teaches patients and their families about the genetic basis of XDP, counseling them on how it is passed on from one generation to the next, and finding support mechanisms for them to cope better. “What we want,” she added, is to see families and help them deal with the diagnosis. Hopefully we can reach a diagnosis with the help of genetic tests. Then we can tell them what caused the condition. That it’s not about what they did or did not do.” “This is important,” she said, especially here, where knowledge of genetics could be improved, “because some mothers, they blame themselves for birth defects that their children have.” An empowered course This year, Cutiongco-de la Paz can make this vision a reality. In addition to being recognized as an exemplary and ethical government employee via the Dangal ng Bayan Award, she also recently received a multi-million grant to set-up a shared genomics core laboratory at UP’s Philippine Genome Center (UP PGC). This next generation sequencing facility establishes a base for her and her colleagues to do more genomics research and provide affordable genetic screening services that tackles the diseases mentioned above and more. Dr. Cutiongco-de la Paz explains the process of precision medicine at the recent launch of the UP PGC’s Shared Genomics Core Laboratory (SGCL). Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. She used Angelina Jolie’s story as an example of the power of genetic information. “Her mother died of breast and ovarian cancer. Her mother’s sister died of breast cancer, and her grandmother of ovarian cancer. They were all diagnosed with what we call hereditary breast-ovarian cancer before the age of 50.” “She had herself tested even before a cancer diagnosis and found she carried the gene. And she took an empowered course in life; she had a prophylactic mastectomy, so the cancer would not have tissue to grow on. That dramatically drops her risk of developing breast cancer.” Popularizing translational medicine, the science of bringing laboratory innovations to the bedside, is what she hopes this grant will enable her to do. “That means creating tools from what you find from research that ordinary Filipinos can use. Right now, the test for breast cancer genes, when sourced abroad, costs around US$3,000. But if we have the machines here, and the trained personnel to use them, we can offer those at an affordable price. And that’s what we want to do!” This year the Civil Service Commission is already accepting nominations for its Honors Award Program–Lingkod Bayan, Dangal ng Bayan and Pag-asa ng Bayan awards. Deadline is end of March 2019. Related: UP inaugurates Genomics facility |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-partnerships-to-achieve-the-goals/ | UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals – University of the Philippines | UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Promoting Partnerships under UPLB’s AGORA for Sustainability as a Way of Life A delegation from the UP Los Baños, headed by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., participated in the Sustainable Foods London Conference held on March 30-31, 2022 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. The high-level conference featured leading speakers from across the foods industry, as well as an exhibition showcasing the next generation of sustainable F&D brands, products and services. At the conference, Chancellor Camacho promoted UPLB’s research and extension agenda called “AGORA” or Accelerating Growth through One Research and Extension in Action in a presentation titled “Sustaining food innovations under a strong university research and extension agenda”. This marked the first time the Chancellor brought UPLB’s AGORA before an international audience. His presentation gave a snapshot of a few of UPLB technologies and knowledge products for “a resilient, food-secure, and future-proof nation and to promote sustainability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN”. He mentioned seven SDGs that UPLB has aligned itself with through AGORA: SDG 2 or Zero Hunger; SDG 4 or Quality Education; SDG 7 or Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 11 or Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 12 or Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 13 or Climate Action; and SDG 15 or Life on Land. “We must take advantage of technologies that facilitate the paradigm shift toward sustainable living. Ideally, this change must occur at all levels of society—from the private individual to the governments, big businesses, and international bodies,” Camacho said. UPLB was the lone university that participated in the conference and exhibit that brought together over 400 senior food and beverage executives across the UK and the world. The UPLB exhibit also showcased UPLB technologies and knowledge products and activities, such as: the PCR-based DNA detection kits; rapid test kits for pesticide residue; biofertilizers, seeds and planting materials; postharvest technologies; quick tests for soybean meal and rice bran product quality; plant genetic resources; IPB Quality Protein Maize Variety 6; and Sinta papaya. Also featured were: simple nutrient addition program or SNAP Hydroponics; the UPLB Bee Program; UPLB’s own brand of dressed chicken called “manok galâ”; processed meat and dairy products; fruit wines; calamansi fruit juice; and, purple yam or ‘ubi’ powder. The National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory, where UPLB develops new and improved crop varieties, was featured as well. The 2021 ProSPER.Net Webinar on Sustainability in Higher Education The COVID-19 pandemic was identified by the UNDP to be the “defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced since World War II”, a health crisis that triggered an equally dire global socioeconomic crisis. The pandemic’s impact on the environment has been varied, however. On one hand, medical and hazardous wastes increased, and plastic and packaging wastes imposed a burden on the environment; on the other hand, research has shown that GHG and other air pollutant emissions have decreased, and the reduced anthropogenic activity has allowed ecosystems to recover. All of these emphasize the connections between COVID-19, climate change, and the environment, which was the focus of the ProSPER.Net Webinar on Sustainability in Higher Education 2021 held on October 22, 2022. This was organized jointly by the University of the Philippines Diliman and the Ateneo de Manila University, in collaboration with the UN University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability. With the theme “Planetary Health Perspectives: Lessons from COVID-19 towards Climate Action”, the webinar shared insights on our experiences of the pandemic, and reflected on what these meant for higher education institutions seeking to lead social and environmental transformations towards a more resilience society and a healthier planet. UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo delivering this remarks online during the webinar. “We need to think about transformations that will benefit not just our own campuses, but the rest of our communities and the entire planet,” UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo said in his closing message. “Our universities need to do research to advance our understanding of environmental issues and inform public policy, and introduce the values of sustainability in our curricula to promote awareness of our world and the consequences of our decisions and ways of doing.” Emphasizing the importance of the academic community in creating new mindsets, new ways of looking, and new ways of living, Nemenzo added: “We need to train a new generation of graduates who understand the connections between economics and ecology, social science and environment, urban development and planetary health—the kind of people who know that the comforts of living should not be at the expense of our planet.” UPD and WHO Philippines on Vaccination Inequities The University of the Philippines Diliman’s COVID-19 Task Force, which deploys volunteers from the UP Diliman community, collaborated with WHO Philippines and other organizations in a consortium to vaccinate more than 650 individuals from the National Capital Region’s at-risk populations. The beneficiaries were vaccinated at the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics gymnasium on September 24 and 25 and October 22 and 23, 2021. Individuals of at-risk populations include the homeless, the survivors of gender-based violence, the severely marginalized constituents such as those belonging to the informal sectors, and people at risk of sexual exploitation and abuse. Volunteers verify information with senior citizens wanting to avail of vaccines at the UP Diliman Vaccination Hub. UP MPRO file photo. The activity hit SDG targets, particularly those under 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages), 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), 10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries), and 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable). The organizers primarily wanted to address vaccine inequity among the NCR’s poor and vulnerable communities and “gender inequities in vaccine rollout.” According to Prof. Maria Dulce Natividad of the UPD COVID-19 Task Force: “UPD COVID-19 Task Force was also part of the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) initiative on vaccines and gender equity. A roundtable (discussion) was organized in April 2021, ‘What’s Gender Got to Do with Vaccines?’ We were a co-organizer then and this led to our partnership with the consortium on the project to vaccinate the homeless/street dwellers and survivors of gender-based violence from Manila and Quezon City.” The vaccination sessions in UPD were implemented by relaxing documentation requirements and allowing advocacy groups to register them. The other organizers of the vaccination activity were the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP), the Kalinga Foundation, the Kariton Coalition, and the Australian Aid. UPOU in Global Campaign for SDG 4 The UP Open University (UPOU) joined a global campaign that could significantly contribute in policy and practice to SDG 4, which involves ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. UPOU Chancellor Melinda dP. Bandalaria co-launched the Asia leg of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Global Advocacy Campaign (GAC) on July 29, 2022 in Penang, Malaysia. The launching of ICDE GAC Asia was one of the highlights of the High-Level Roundtable Discussion for Vice Chancellors and Senior Officials of ODL Institutions organized by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and Asia eUniversity. ICDE GAC Asia is composed of five working groups, namely: Policy, Capacity Building, Sharing Best Practices and Resources, Development of Digital Platform, and Future Collaboration. Among the other member institutions of the ICDE GAC Asia are: University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE), Bangladesh Open University, Southeast Asian Ministries of Education Organization Secretariat, Virtual University of Pakistan, Asia eUniversity Malaysia, Anadolu University, Open University of Sri Lanka, Open University of China, Open University of Japan, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Universitas Terbuka, Mehr Alborz Institute of Higher Education, and HELP University Malaysia. Launching the ICDE GAC Asia together with Chancellor Bandalaria were Professor Dato Dr. Ahmed Ansary, co-chair of the ICDE GAC Asia and founding president of Asia eUniversity, and ICDE Secretary General Torunn Gjelsvik. Bandalaria presented the campaign website which will be the digital hub for the activities to be implemented in Asian countries covered by the campaign. The Global Advocacy Campaign aims to enable ICDE members to develop deeper understanding of regional challenges and construct key OFDL (Online, Flexible, Distance Learning) messaging within organized working groups around the world. UPLB, NEDA and the Philippines’ SDG Aspirations The University of the Philippines Los Baños included in a webinar series the topic, Philippine Macroeconomy and its Sustainable Development Goals Aspirations, offering an opportunity for dialogue between the top Philippine economic planners, environmental scientists and managers, and the public on a number of SDGs. The webinar, held on February 8, 2022 at the UP Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM), featured National Economic Development Authority Undersecretary for National Development Policy and Planning Dr. Rosemarie Edillon. Aside from upholding the importance of stakeholders’ assignment and commitment, financing and implementation plans, and data monitoring for attaining SDGs, Dr. Edillon updated concerned SESAM scientists and managers on the SDGs. She said that under Outcome 1 or the economic, social and environmental impacts of production and consumption processes valued, NEDA had conducted an urban carrying-capacity assessment of the cities of Tagaytay and Baguio. She also shared the progress of the Philippine Nationally Determined Contributions (PH-NDC) in implementing SDG 13, particularly on climate change. “Our country committed to avoid 75 percent of future greenhouse gas emissions between 2020 to 2030,” Edillon reported. The Undersecretary enumerated achievements made in protecting the marine environment, such as implementing policies under Fisheries Administrative Order 263 Series of 2019 for establishing Fisheries Management Areas (FMAS) that conserve Philippine waters. She also mentioned the release of a Department of Agriculture-Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Department of Interior and Local Government Joint Memorandum Circular, containing the guidelines on establishing and managing Marine Protected Area Networks. Ninety-four participants joined the Zoom webinar, while the Facebook live broadcast garnered more than 300 views from all over the globe. “Our aim here is to have an active platform for more profound discussions on environmental problems, as well as the solutions,” SESAM Dean Rico Ancog said. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-climate-action/ | UP on Climate Action – University of the Philippines | UP on Climate Action Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts UPV Forum on Disaster Resiliency The College of Management of the University of the Philippines Visayas organized an event titled “Global Forum on Iloilo Disaster Resiliency: The Role of Diaspora in Building Back Safer Communities” on February 4, 2022, via Zoom. The College hosted the forum in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, USA, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Golden Gate University. The forum provided insights on disaster resiliency drawn from empirical data and shared experiences. The topics covered all the major phases of emergency management, from disaster preparedness and response to post-disaster assessment and recovery. The event officially opened with welcome messages from UPV Chancellor Clement C. Camposano, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, and Chelsea Cooper, Project Assistant at IOM Washington. Consul General Neil Ferrer of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco delivered his keynote lecture, “The Role of US Diaspora in the Prevention and Preparation for Climate Change Disasters”. The discussion on disaster management and related issues featured three panelists who gave short presentations: “Update on Super Typhoon Odette, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Assessment–Iloilo City and Guimaras” by Ms. Donna Magno, Chief of the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction Office and Teresita Galleto-Siason, Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer at Guimaras PDRRMO; “IOM Philippines: Build Back Safer (BBS)” by Mr. Conrad Natividad Jr. and Mr. Red Atenor of IOM Philippines; and, “LifeBank Iloilo: BBS Financing” by Mr. Alner Camocon, Division Manager at LifeBank Microfinance Foundation Inc. The presentations centered on innovative approaches to disaster preparedness, post-disaster recovery, and building community resilience. The presenters also highlighted the importance of ‘shared responsibilities’ between governments, private institutions, and local communities in addressing the gaps in disaster management. They focused on how a holistic, multi-sectoral, and multidisciplinary approach is vital for implementing emerging long-term strategies. UP Partnerships with Local Governments for DRRM and Environmental Governance In light of the urgent and persistent threat brought by climate change and its effects, the University of the Philippines is fully committed to supporting and advocating for the ongoing efforts, both national and international, in addressing this issue. UP actively engages in research, education, extension activities, and other initiatives aimed at taking practical and innovative measures to effectively tackle the problem of climate change and mitigate its consequences. By leveraging its academic expertise with real-world applications, UP contributes to the fight against the challenges and threats posed by climate change. To fulfill its public service mandate, UP provides technical assistance and expertise to local governments, communities, and other stakeholders in the co-creation and development of climate-resilient plans and strategies, particularly on flood management and prevention, disaster risk reduction, environmental governance, and climate change adaptation. Through its active involvement in climate action, UP and its constituent universities play a pivotal role in advancing the collective effort towards enhancing the resilience of vulnerable populations to the impacts of climate change, and building an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Employees of the City of Mandaue in Cebu, undergo a training by experts from UP Cebu. Contributed photo. From August 3 to 5, 2022, the UP Cebu Center for Environmental Informatics (CENVI) City-Wide Urban Flood Hazard Modeling (CUrb Flood) Project took part in the Mandaue City Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Planning Workshop from 2023 to 2027. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office organized the workshop to update the local DRRM plan of Mandaue City and ensure the safety and protection of local communities, businesses, and critical infrastructure from extreme weather events and potential climate-related risks and hazards, such as severe flooding. During the workshop, CENVI’s CUrb Flood Project representatives shared their expertise and provided technical advice on flood hazards and spatial data requirements. The UP Cebu CENVI, established in 2018 as a regional research and development center for Central Visayas, focuses on pressing environmental issues through computing techniques. Meanwhile, the City-wide Urban Flood Modeling (CUrb Flood) Project is one of the components of the CENVI-led Smart City Solutions to Urban Flooding (Smart TUrF) program, funded by the Department of Science and Technology. Like UP Cebu, the UP Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management (UPLB-SESAM) offers technical assistance to provincial and local government units in formulating their respective environmental codes and plans. As part of its public service efforts, UPLB-SESAM signed a Letter of Commitment (LOC) with the Municipal Government of Los Baños (MGLB) for the implementation of the “Environmental Governance in the Municipality of Los Baños” during the Earth Day celebration on April 22, 2022. A screenshot of the home page of the UPLB SESAM showing some of its recent projects. This academe-government partnership signifies the commitment of UPLB-SESAM to provide technical assistance and expert advice to the MGLB in formulating environmental plans required by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The project also aims to enhance the capacity of MGLB officers and staff and equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge in environmental governance. These activities align with the advocacy of UPLB-SESAM in fostering sustainable practices and taking positive action toward environmental protection and climate change resilience through education, upskilling, and knowledge sharing. UPLB-SESAM’s dean Dr. Rico C. Ancog and SESAM Research Division head Dr. Patricia Ann J. Sanchez represented UPLB-SESAM, while Municipal Mayor Antonio L. Kalaw and MENRO Focal Person Lizette D. Cardenas represented the MGLB during the signing ceremony. UPLB-SESAM university researchers For. Sofia A. Alaira, Dr. Yusuf A. Sucol, and MGLB Environmental Consultant (former SESAM faculty member) Dr. Antonio J. Alcantara also participated in the signing ceremony. Launch of the UP Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health Center The University of the Philippines Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (UPM DRRM-H) Center was officially launched on June 8, 2022 to conduct state-of-the-art disaster simulation trainings and evidence-based research. “The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Through the Center, we seek to conduct training and seminars that will prepare our responders, even ordinary employees, in disaster preparedness through our state-of-the-art facilities. We can finally hold disaster preparedness training virtually, and mistakes could be prevented in actual situations,” said Dr. Carlos Primero Gundran, lead investigator and UPM DRRM-H Center Head. The Center envisions itself to be “the center for excellence of the academe” when it comes to disaster risk reduction and management in health. It also embodies three primary objectives, specifically in its training: to develop necessary skills such as command and control, collaboration, and coordination; to identify those who need psychosocial interventions in evacuation camps; and, to efficiently allocate available resources immediately in disaster-stricken areas. Little over a month later, from July 27 to 28, the UP Manila DRRM-H Center conducted a two-day Disaster Simulation Training for a diverse group of emergency responders from different fields and sectors. The training consisted of lectures centered around Command, Communication, and Collaboration during emergencies, followed by immersive disaster simulation activities in which participants were challenged to respond to simulated emergency scenarios. The UPM DRRM-H was first envisioned by the Health Emergencies and Disasters (HEAD) study group of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) back in 2016. Its creation was inspired by Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, an emergency medicine expert, and Dr. Anna Tuazon and Dr. Hilton Lam, both part of the UP Manila and UP Diliman team who trained in Sweden in 2018 on the Emergo Train System. Its partner organizations include the DOST, Department of Health, and the UP System. The UP Manila DRRM-H Center also offers state-of-the-art Capacity Building Trainings, as well as evidence-based research and consultancy services. For inquiries, email upm-drrmh-list@up.edu.ph or ping the UPM DRRM-H Center on Messenger. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-sustainable-cities-and-communities/ | UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities – University of the Philippines | UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable UP Diliman Community vs Disruptively Bright Streetlights The University of the Philippines Diliman campus is widely known for its lush vegetation that offers a breath of fresh air for people who are coming from the bustling cities. The UP Wild, an online community dedicated to appreciating the flora and fauna in UP Diliman and to raising awareness on the importance of maintaining and preserving the campus’s urban green spaces, deemed the University’s newly installed outdoor lights used around its Academic Oval to be a little too bright. This can potentially harm both humans and animals within the campus. “The lamps around the Academic Oval have way too many bulbs, and their design scatters light to all directions,” the group said in a Facebook post on October 27, 2021. The resulting light pollution creates a negative impact on the campus’s fauna, which includes owls, fireflies, frogs, and other animals. “The lights can confuse them and alter their natural behavior,” the post went on to state. Other members of the community expressed their concerns by pointing out how excessive night light can disrupt the plants’ photosynthetic activity. According to the International Dark-Sky Association, an organization combating light pollution worldwide, artificial light can disrupt wildlife ecosystems in a variety of ways. Small insects can be drawn to the intense light, making them more visible for predators and thus drastically affecting the balance of the food chain. Stark lighting can also disturb birds’ migration patterns, which can be detrimental for UP Diliman, known to serve as a home for various avian species. Brights lights shine along the Academic Oval in UP Diliman in this contributed photo by Jediael Neri. The UP Wild came up with ideas to combat the high-intensity lighting by fitting the streetlamps with downward shades to diffuse light. “If their design allows, maybe the number of bulbs per post can be reduced or selectively turned on,” the group added. The UP community showed just how dedicated they are to preserving the environment by pointing out several issues, from as simple an issue as streetlights being too bright. The UP Wild even went the extra mile by showing various research towards this problem and thought of a possible solution to fix it out of respect for the environment and non-human residents of the campus. UP CFA’s Art Rehab and Conservation The famous artworks, “Captivity” and “Contemplation”, were moved to the College of Fine Arts in the University of the Philippines Diliman from their original spot on the corner of University Avenue and E. Jacinto St. Both sculptures, a part of the art conservation project by the Project Management Office under the UP Office of the Vice President for Planning and Development, were created by a CFA alumnus, Idelfonso Cruz Marcelo, back in the 1960s. The conservation project was headed by June Mercy P. Dalisay, who said the reason priority was given to these sculptures was their aesthetic and symbolic value. As time went on, it became more apparent that both “Captivity” and “Contemplation” were vulnerable to natural elements and that deterioration was bound to happen if nothing were to be done about this. The Captivity statue being moved with a forklift from its location for the restoration work. UP MPRO file photo. In 2020, tests were conducted during the rainy season to observe the effects of constant exposure to both light and very strong rains. “It was observed that the stone had been so weakened that its grains would crumble and fall off the surface with a slight touch,” Dalisay said. “The pressure generated by very strong downpour over the years eroded the surface and has abraded the skin of the two sculptures.” The arts conservation project commenced on Aug 31, 2020. Under Dalisay’s supervision, the two sculptures were covered in bubble wrap to prevent further exposure to the harmful elements and possible damage. To prepare the hauling, the sides or the perimeter area of the sculptures were also excavated involving jackhammers. The smaller sculpture, “Captivity”, was arranged to be hauled on September 1, while the bigger artwork, “Contemplation”, was to be hauled the following day. This was pushed to later dates as the heavy rains got in the way. Finally, on September 13, “Captivity” was lifted using a forklift truck. It was then transferred from its original location on the left side of University Avenue and carefully hauled and transported to the CFA. The same procedure was observed during the hauling and transfer of “Contemplation” on September 15. Presently, both significant artworks remain in UPD’s CFA. They continue to be preserved and handled carefully so that it continues to stay strong and proud for many Filipinos and art enjoyers to marvel and to be inspired. UPV Lecture-Workshops in History Writing and Cultural Heritage Tourism in Western Visayas Acknowledging the importance of local histories and cultural heritage to national development and social cohesion, the “Tourism Studies on Island-Based Opportunities for Growth in Western Visayas” (TSIBOG) program, funded by the University of the Philippines Visayas and the Commission on Higher Education, collaborated with the Municipal Government of Ibajay, Aklan, and the Department of Education Division of Aklan in launching the project “Bridging the Past, Sailing Toward the Future: History to the (and by the People)” on November 3, 2021. The project trained elementary and secondary school teachers, tourism and planning officers, and cultural workers in conducting historical research and promoting cultural heritage tourism in the Municipality of Ibajay. During the first three days of the six-day event, several experts in history, cultural heritage, education, and environmental management shared their knowledge and insights through a series of lectures. The speakers included Dr. Michael Pante from the Ateneo de Manila University, UP Visayas Chancellor Clement Camposano, National Museum of the Philippines Deputy Director-General Ana Maria Theresa Labrador, and Dr. Jurgenne Primavera, National Scientist. Participants of UPV’s TSIBOG workshop pose with theri certificates after completing the short course. Contributed photo. The last leg of the event focused on providing training workshops about cultural heritage documentation, writing learning modules, and creating promotional materials for education and sustainable tourism. Prof. Marie Joy Sumagaysay of the UP Visayas Division of Humanities guided the participants during the food-mapping activities and cultural heritage exhibit. Meanwhile, Joar Concha of Assumption San Lorenzo Makati and Yan Esquivel of the UP Visayas Teaching and Learning Resource Center assisted the participants in preparing their final outputs. The participants are expected to utilize their outputs to educate people about local history in schools and universities, promote local knowledge, sustainable tourism, and environmental protection, conserve tangible and intangible heritage assets, and respond to the developmental needs of their communities. Roll-Out of Modern Electric Jeepneys in UPLB The Academic Oval at the core of the UP Diliman campus finally reopened in November 2021 with the easing of pandemic restrictions. This 2.2 kilometer-long loop, lined with a canopy of acacia trees, has always been a haven for the UP community and the wider public. Whether taking a relaxing stroll, brisk walking for light exercise, or jogging to really get heart rates up, people of all ages were welcomed back, regardless of their vaccination status. Masks were still required and unidirectional movement around the Oval was advised. Groups of ten people or less were also allowed to use various open spaces within the Academic Oval and in areas around the Philippine Association of University Women (PAUW). They could now have picnics in the Lagoon, Amphitheater, or PAUW; play games and leisure sports in the Sunken Garden; or simply lounge around on benches along the Oval or in the Promenade. Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts could go back to exploring the campus center’s green spaces following years of absent physical human activity. While biking at the Academic Oval was still prohibited at the time, campus biking routes were provided to regulars and first-time visitors so they might still enjoy what UP Diliman had to offer. As pandemic protocols and restrictions were further loosened in 2022, members of the UP community, students, faculty, staff, and residents, and people outside of UP Diliman have come back to recover what they had to give up during the lockdowns: the opportunity to be outdoors in one of the remaining patches of greenery in the concrete jungle that is Metro Manila. A space that is free and open to all. Reopening of the Academic Oval The Academic Oval at the core of the UP Diliman campus finally reopened in November 2021 with the easing of pandemic restrictions. This 2.2 kilometer-long loop, lined with a canopy of acacia trees, has always been a haven for the UP community and the wider public. Whether taking a relaxing stroll, brisk walking for light exercise, or jogging to really get heart rates up, people of all ages were welcomed back, regardless of their vaccination status. Masks were still required and unidirectional movement around the Oval was advised. Groups of ten people or less were also allowed to use various open spaces within the Academic Oval and in areas around the Philippine Association of University Women (PAUW). They could now have picnics in the Lagoon, Amphitheater, or PAUW; play games and leisure sports in the Sunken Garden; or simply lounge around on benches along the Oval or in the Promenade. Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts could go back to exploring the campus center’s green spaces following years of absent physical human activity. While biking at the Academic Oval was still prohibited at the time, campus biking routes were provided to regulars and first-time visitors so they might still enjoy what UP Diliman had to offer. As pandemic protocols and restrictions were further loosened in 2022, members of the UP community, students, faculty, staff, and residents, and people outside of UP Diliman have come back to recover what they had to give up during the lockdowns: the opportunity to be outdoors in one of the remaining patches of greenery in the concrete jungle that is Metro Manila. A space that is free and open to all. UP Baguio’s Indigenous Cultures Program and MOA with NCIP on IPRA and Intangible Cultural Heritage The recognition, study, preservation and promotion of indigenous culture and indigenous studies are an integral part of UP Baguio’s identity at both the academic and the community level. UP Baguio’s Program for Indigenous Cultures (PIC) is a significant avenue for research and activities that promote indigenous cultural vibrance and awareness. The PIC’s main objectives are: to take the lead in the discussion and promotion of issues and concerns of the Philippines’ indigenous people (IP) within UP Baguio and the larger community; to coordinate projects and activities on IPs in relation to instruction, student-led research, and extension; and, to enhance the institutional capacity of UP Baguio to sustain its initiatives on IP concerns. The PIC is made up of several important components: the Indigenous Peoples’ Studies, such as integration in the curriculum, student-led research, and extension; the Learning and Resource Center that provides educational space for all, community life for IP students, space for interaction for IP and non-IP in the University; and, Capacity and Awareness Building and Living Traditions that count as a cultural component. Lastly, the Tanggyuob, the PIC’s monthly newsletter that is named after a local Filipino instrument made from carabao horns, provides multidisciplinary information on IPs, as well as a venue for interested faculty, students, and university employees to submit their articles, essays, and studies that cover indigenous knowledge systems and practices. In related news, in late July 2022, UP Baguio entered into a partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Cordillera Region (NCIP-CAR) through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by UP Baguio Chancellor Corazon L. Abansi and NCIP-CAR Regional Director Atanacio Addog. The MOA facilitates the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process and research collaboration with the DOST’s National Research Council of the Philippines-funded research on “IPRA and Intangible Cultural Heritage”, a research project led by Dr. Analyn Salvador-Amores of the UP Baguio College of Social Sciences. UP Baguio remains committed to the preservation of indigenous culture and, through its programs and initiatives, encourages more Filipinos to learn and appreciate the beauty that comes from lesser known local traditions. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-gender-equality/ | UP on Gender Equality – University of the Philippines | UP on Gender Equality Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran: Filipino Women Overseas Workers in France The University of the Philippines regularly engages in affirmative action to encourage wider participation and equitable representation of women within and outside the University. It takes pride in being a strong advocate for giving equal opportunities and treatment to all, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. In line with the 2022 National Women’s Month banner theme, “We Make Change Work for Women,” UP created a platform where women across the world can share their experiences living and working abroad as well as their initiatives in creating a supportive environment. A webinar titled “Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran: Filipino Women Overseas Workers in France Women’s Forum,” was held on April 07, 2022. It was organized by the University of the Philippines Open University Office of Gender Concerns (OGC) in coordination with the Social Work and Women Development academic programs of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies. The webinar’s resource speaker was Therese Mae C. Aviles-Debayle, a registered social worker, and a student of Master in Social Work in UPOU. She shared information about and challenges of Filipino women overseas workers in France, where she is currently based. Among the challenges she mentioned are adjusting to a different culture, language, food, beliefs, norms, and physically adapting to the seasons and way of life. Ms. Therese May C. Aviles-Debayle sharing her experiences at the webinar. Contributed photo. Aviles-Debayle added that, while women receive family support and maternity benefits that regular employees are entitled to receive from the French government, it is still important to hear the side of women working abroad. Despite the entitlements that they are receiving, Filipino women working and living abroad need further assistance, particularly, maternity benefits, family support, and reliable system and policies from the government. Dr. Finaflor F. Taylan, Director of the UPOU Office of Gender Concerns facilitating discussions during the webinar. Contributed photo. The forum gave the participants a picture about the lives, experiences, and journeys of women in their communities. Dr. Finaflor Taylan, UP Open University OGC director, was inspired to create social protection structures and programs for OFWs. She emphasized the need for a support and advocacy group for Filipino women working and living in other countries and encouraged the participants to be part of it or to start creating one. Recognition of the “Lived Identities” of UP’s Graduating Students The University of the Philippines takes pride in being a safe space for everyone from all walks of life, regardless of age, social or economic status, and gender orientation. No matter how big or small an event is, in UP one can freely express themselves in their most authentic way without judgment. And that includes one of the biggest milestones of every Iskolar ng Bayan: their graduation. On July 10, 2022, the UP Cebu and UP Cebu University Student Council (UPC USC) officially announced and posted that they were “allowing ALL graduates who will march on the 83rd Commencement Exercises to wear their preferred attire in accordance to their lived identities in terms of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. All graduates will not be obliged to conform to heteronormative standards and there is also no need to ask permission from the administration or prepare a letter when doing so.” A graduating student flashes a rainbow-themed fan while waiting for the start of the graduation ceremonies in UP Cebu. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. “As long as the graduation guidelines for academic costumes, such as color schemes and lengths, are still observed, graduating students may dress themselves how they see fit.” Similarly, the UP Manila Student Council (UPM USC) lobbied to do the same. After dialogues with the student body and administration, UP Manila followed suit with other constituent universities in recognizing the importance of letting their graduates express themselves through gender-affirming attire during their commencement exercises. The UP Manila memo specifically states: “Students will now be allowed to express themselves through clothing as reflected by their gender identity and expression; and use their lived names and preferred pronouns in the university graduation slide deck and procession as long as parental consent is documented.” This is a huge win for transgender, gender non-conforming, and all other gender identities. Graduating students from the UP College of Law flash their pride fans upon being called up during the UP Diliman graduation ceremony. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. True to its mantra of “honor and excellence”, the University extends its support to programs that see and hear the LGBTIA+ community and opens its doors to dialogues to further end discrimination, ostracism, harassment, and violence. Various activities throughout the year are spearheaded by student councils, organizations, and UP offices, such as pride marches, gender sensitivity trainings, and other initiatives that highlight the University’s diversity and freedom of expression. Educational Campaign on the Expanded Maternity Leave Benefits of UP Employees In the Philippines, the month of March is widely recognized as Women’s Month. The occasion serves as a venue to highlight women’s significant contributions to the society as well as to discuss gender equality challenges and commitments. The University of the Philippines has implemented various programs and activities across its constituent units to commemorate Women’s Month. From gender-related discussions to street fairs, UP actively promotes gender equality to ensure that the rights and privileges of women are observed not just during the month of celebration but throughout the year. One of UP’s significant activities held on March 18, 2022 via Zoom was the discussion on the Amendment to Omnibus Rules on Leave (CSC MC No. 31 series of 1998) and its alignment with Republic Act No. 11210, popularly known as the 105-day Expanded Maternity Leave Law. Under RA 11210, women are entitled to 105 days of maternity leave with full pay and an option to extend for 30 days without pay, regardless of whether she gave birth via cesarean section or natural delivery. On top of the 105 days, solo parents are entitled to 15 more days of maternity leave. Meanwhile, women who suffered miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy, or who delivered stillbirth, can avail of 60 days maternity leave with full pay. The UP Manila Human Resource Development Office conducted a one-day virtual training with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Director of UP Field Office Hans Alcantara as the resource speaker, aimed at empowering participants by enhancing their comprehension of the law, promoting employee welfare, celebrating women’s achievements, and recognizing their invaluable contributions. The webinar was attended by 85 participants. Director Alcantara provided the employees with a deep understanding of the legal foundations of expanded maternity leave benefits. The session covered essential topics such as the updated definitions under Rule I, which clarified the improved coverage and benefits available to expectant employees. Also, Rule XVI highlighted the differences between old and new regulations, addressing the revised frequency of maternity leave and ensuring the protection of employees’ rights, even after termination. The webinar also focused on fair allocation of maternity leave credits and mechanisms to resolve disputes, facilitating a seamless process for employees. UP is committed to ensuring that their pregnant employees are fully equipped with the necessary knowledge about their benefits and entitlements. The webinar played a pivotal role in fostering a more inclusive and supportive work environment. UP employees and expectant mothers should be provided with support, protection, and benefits during their maternity leave to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy and a smooth transition when they return to work. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-quality-education/ | UP on Quality Education – University of the Philippines | UP on Quality Education Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all UPOU’s Free and Accessible Online Educational Resources The University of the Philippines has been providing free access to its online open educational resources (OERs) via the UP Open University (UPOU) Networks website since 2010. Literature such as books, journals, and monographs; podcasts; and videos covering a wide range of subject areas are available to all learners and educators who are looking for additional teaching materials. UPOU Networks also has resource-based course packages available for download. For calendar year 2022, almost a hundred videos of livestream events, webinars, lectures, and public fora were uploaded to the online repository. Apart from UPOU Networks, the University also has the UPOU Massive Open Distance eLearning (MODeL). In operation since 2013, it is UPOU’s official platform for the delivery of massive open online courses (MOOCs). In 2022, MODeL offered 25 MOOCs that were free and open to the public. Among those were courses on ODeL, technology for teaching and learning, scriptwriting, understanding children better, child rights protection and promotion, social entrepreneurship, blended teaching and learning using OERs, basic animation, business analytics, and the development and production of interactive educational video materials. A screenshot of the UPOU Networks website showing some of the materials and features available for the public. Click through to visit their website. Changes to the higher education landscape brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic remain significant driving forces in the University’s reimagination and recalibration of its approaches to the delivery of education—not only to its students in the Philippines and abroad, but also to the wider population who aim to be lifelong learners. A deeper focus on learner-centered education allows UP to adapt to the technology-driven world and the shifts it creates in learning demands. In times when retooling and upskilling of the current and future workforce is greatly needed, UP responds with the best of its resources. At the heart of its operations is the commitment to perform public service by offering free quality learning resources to all who wish to avail. Capacity-Building in Fisheries and Aquaculture The University of the Philippines Visayas College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) and its institutes had been actively conducting training and other capacity-building programs for fisherfolk, people’s organizations, local governments, and educators before the pandemic. While face-to-face activities and engagements may have slowed down during the COVID-19 lockdowns, 2022 saw these activities coming back in full force. The CFOS Public Service Program led the “Fisheries Training Needs Assessment in the Municipality of Leganes, Iloilo and Its Environs” for the members of the mayor’s office, municipal council, and captains of the coastal barangays of the municipality. The Institute of Fisheries Policy and Development Studies gave lectures on fishery resources, laws and ordinances, climate change issues, effects of microplastics, and resource conservation and protection to the fisherfolk of the Municipality of Miagao, Iloilo. Recognizing education’s role in promoting aquaculture sustainability to enhance the country’s food security, the Brackishwater Aquaculture Center’s (BAC) annual Aquaculture Summer Institute conducted online lectures for senior high school teachers in the Science, Technology and Engineering strand of the Leganes National High School. The BAC is the Institute of Aquaculture’s (CFOS-IA) research facility located in the municipality. The topics included basic principles of aquaculture, aquaculture systems, and basic fish diseases detection. On a much larger scale, CFOS-IA mounted its three-week public service program for university and college teachers, Training of Educators in Aquatic Mainstream Science (TEAMS), with participants from Ilocos Norte, Zambales, Capiz, Zamboanga, and Maguindanao. TEAMS is intended to further strengthen research and instruction capabilities of higher education institutions offering fisheries and allied programs. Hands-on training sessions were conducted in partnership with the UPV National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and the UPV Museum of Natural Sciences. A group photo of some of the participants in one of the trainings conducted by the UP Visayas College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (UPV CFOS). Contributed photo. Apart from the training programs for educators, CFOS-IA also had the “Training Course on Catfish Breeding, Nursery, and Management” for Miagao fisherfolk, who had some knowledge about catfish farming but were alarmed by the low survival rate of fingerlings. The course encouraged local fishing communities to maximize their resources. After their hands-on training, the catfish larvae produced during the activity were distributed to the participants to stock and culture. Team Scallops from the Institute of Fish Processing Technology (CFOS-IFPT) went to Islas de Gigantes, a group of islands off the northernmost part of Carles, Iloilo, to provide training on value addition and good manufacturing practices for scallops, which is abundant in the area. Islas de Gigantes is considered one of the most productive fishing grounds in the Philippines and known for bivalve fishery. It was participated in by members of the Gigantes Federation of Fisherfolks Sector (GIFFS) Fishermen Cooperative. CFOS-IFPT went back months later to conduct “Training on Entrepreneurship: Sustainable Management of a Community-Based Enterprise for Seafood Products” to a much larger audience composed of those already engaged in the processing of value-added scallop products. CFOS-IFPT then proceeded to Tibiao, Antique to conduct lectures and hands-on training on fish processing technologies to agrarian reform beneficiaries in the municipality. The participants were taught how to make the most use of their catch during peak season, a considerable volume of which was wasted—simply thrown back to the sea or buried—because of the lack of know-how in fish processing techniques. The back-to-back “Training-workshop on Packaging and Labeling of Priority Products and Introduction to Basic Entrepreneurship” and “Training-Workshop on GMP/SSOP for Small-Scale Production of Fishery Products and Introduction to Cooperative Development and Management” were given to fisherfolk from Ajuy and Concepcion, Iloilo who process sardines, squid, and blue swimming crab wastes, among others. The first was conducted in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region VI and with assistance from the Department of Science and Technology Region VI and the UPV College of Management. It was intended to equip the participants with the basic concepts of packaging and labeling requirements of Philippine regulatory agencies, the hows of choosing appropriate packaging materials and labels, and ways to develop marketing plans for their products. The second was still in partnership with BFAR Region VI and with added partners, Provincial Fisheries Office-Iloilo, and the local governments of Ajuy and Concepcion. It was on good manufacturing practices/ sanitation standard operating procedures for small-scale production of fishery products, and cooperative development and management. With the ease of travel having almost gone back to the pre-pandemic normal, CFOS is expected to continue to provide its training programs within Western Visayas and across the country beyond 2022. Pahinungod’s Educational Enhancement Programs The Ugnayan ng Pahinungód/Oblation Corps of the University of the Philippines Los Baños has continuously provided for 27 years various volunteer service opportunities for over 5,000 UP students, staff and alumni, while assisting more than 20,000 individuals in remote areas and from marginalized sectors. Pahinungod is an integral public service arm of UP Los Baños; and it maintains various programs in: educational enhancement; environmental management; technical assistance; disaster resiliency; and, sectoral development. Pahinungod’s educational enhancement programs are functional literacy interventions that aim to supplement formal school instruction through participatory seminars, workshops and tutorials for underserved elementary and high school students. Public school teachers in rural areas also benefit from Pahinungod’s PAGTUTURO initiative. The Gurong Pahinungod Program (GPP) primarily caters to fresh graduates and alumni who are deployed for as long as a year as full-time volunteer faculty members of underserved elementary schools. The GPP is implemented in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), in recognition of the shared aspiration among public schools and state universities and colleges of making basic education work for Filipinos. Volunteers of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod in UP Los Baños pose for a photo in the campus. Contributed photo. Pahinungód’s Affirmative Action Project (AAP) helps students of public schools in rural and disadvantaged areas to become more confident to take entrance exams, pursue college education, take courses needed in their communities, and assume leadership roles in their hometowns. Pahinungód hopes to provide underserved students with better chances to access quality tertiary education, and to improve their skills as future community leaders through the AAP’s 1-2 week leadership training and college preparatory review program for incoming grade 12 students. The program is also consistent with UP’s aim to democratize access to quality education services. Another initiative is the PAGTUTURO (Pagpapatalas ng Talino at Talento ng mga Guro). Teachers need constant updating of competence in education technology and policy. Since teachers and many faculty members of remote public schools often have limited means to access professional growth opportunities, Pahinungod provides two to three days of interactive retooling workshops on creative teaching strategies, content updates and other enrichment activities to improve their teaching capacities. Pahinungód also has a special program that provides a review once a week on selected difficult subject areas in the basic education curricula. The LINGAP ARAL Special Tutorials program aims to help boost the indigent students’ school performance and improve their accomplishments in national scholastic aptitude tests. Sponsor LGUs or support organizations identify these students; and they also provide resources, such as scholarships and stipends, to give the scholars sustained education support. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/up-on-good-health-and-well-being/ | UP on Good Health and Well-Being – University of the Philippines | UP on Good Health and Well-Being Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Six-Day DOST-NEWTON AGHAM Researchers Link Workshop in One Health Omics The University of the Philippines Mindanao collaborated with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UK, in conducting a week-long free online bioinformatics workshop, otherwise known as the One Health Omics Project, from October 11 to 16, 2021. The One Health Omics workshop capacitated Filipino researchers in Mindanao on omics technology, tools and techniques in the surveillance, management, and control of infections in a One Health setting. This was attended by 40 selected faculty members, clinicians, and researchers from different regions in Mindanao. The project can help them in their research work in the region. Due to restrictions during the COVID-19 surge, the workshop was done via Zoom. The One Health Omics Project was funded by the DOST-Newton Agham Researcher Links Workshop grant from the British Council in partnership with LSHTM and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)–Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD). The workshop is also co-sponsored by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao. Workshop facilitators included bioinformatics experts from LSHTM: Dr. Taane Clark, Professor of Genomics and Global Health; Dr. Jody Phelan; Julian Libiseller-Egger; Daniel Ward; Anton Spadar; and, Paula Josefina Gómez González. Workshop participants included: researchers from the PGC Mindanao; faculty of San Pedro College Davao; doctors from the Department of Health (DOH) XI; and, researchers from UP Mindanao. Bioinformatics is a new field in health research. With the use of computers, it allows researchers to further examine and understand the characteristics of an organism or a microbe through its genome, such as a virus like the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the COVID-19 disease. For instance, bioinformatics allowed scientists to quickly develop diagnostic test kits and vaccines for COVID-19 “Bioinformatics and genomics techniques, as well as conducting related molecular investigations, are important skills for the participants to become genomics and genomic epidemiological experts and will contribute to improving the health of the Philippines population,” Prof. Taane said. Facilitators from UP Manila conduct a workshop under the Social Innovation for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights project. Contributed photo. Social Innovation for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights The University of the Philippines Manila, as Philippine hub of the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI), conducted its Social Innovation for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights project from 2020 to 2022. The Social Innovation for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) project, jointly conducted by the UP Manila School of Health Sciences and Maastricht University School of Health Professions Education (SHE), strengthened the capacity of UP Manila as Social Innovation in Health Initiative Philippine Hub and representatives of partner institutions. The project helped them to be trainers to frontline health professionals and facilitated their design of innovative, multi-stakeholder-driven, community-based interventions in response to SRHR problems. Dr. Meredith Del Pilar-Labarda of the Department of Medicine at the UP Manila School of Health Sciences served as the leader for the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) Philippine Hub, together with Jana Mier-Alpano and Abigail Mier. According to Dr. Del Pilar-Labarda, this particular project trained the trainers for faculty, medical students, health officers of local government units, and leaders of communities such as the Sangguniang Kabataan. They can help co-create a comprehensive sexual education and gender issues program that would help adolescents in their communities. Another output would be the publication of a manual for trainers. This was the first face-to-face workshop since 2020 when the first series of trainings were done online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants availed of: an introduction to gender and sex; a workshop on intervention mapping; a short workshop on social media; and, a workshop on gender issues and comprehensive sexuality education. In the context of the “new normal”, the participants from different communities and sectors shared many of their challenges and innovations, including lessons from SRHR programs done in other countries. Among the goals of the project were: to reduce the high rates of teenage pregnancy and the spread of HIV; to prevent gender-based violence; and, to help the young generation to become happy and healthy adults. The final training, which aimed to integrate all knowledge and skills from previous workshops, was scheduled for Oct. 10-14, 2022. Launched in 2014, SIHI is a global network of individuals, organizations and institutions advocating social innovation in health and advancing research in social innovation. UP GOE Medical Mission 2022 in Brgy. Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna The University of the Philippines’ Grand Order of the Eagles (UPGOE) Fraternity, a duly recognized socio-civic organization in UP Los Banos, held a medical mission in Barangay Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna on June 26, 2022. The health outreach mission was done in cooperation with a medical team from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and was supported by UPGOE alumni and partner organizations. Medical services for a total of 644 patients included: 167 general check-ups; 158 ophthalmologic services; 150 dental services; 117 blood chemistry tests; 47 circumcisions (tuli); and, five minor surgeries. Patients-beneficiaries in the community also received a total of Php40,000 worth of medicines. Co-sponsors of the health outreach included: Gardenia Philippines, a food company that provided Gardenia products to all volunteers and patients; the Bay local government and Art Relief Mobile Kitchen that provided the lunch of volunteer medical workers; Ms. Mayette Estacion who provided shirts to volunteers; and, the family of UPGOE member, Brod Marvin Raymundo. UP students huddle to talk about the challenges they face in the university. UP MPRO File photo. UP’s Financial Aid for Students’ Mental Health Expense The University of the Philippine Los Baños, as with the other UP constituent universities, champions mental well-being by providing Php7,500 cash aid per semester to eligible UP students to support their mental health-related expenses. This is made possible through the UP Student Wellness Subsidy Program (UP SWSP) contained in Memorandum RAG 2022-13 issued by the Office of Student Development Services (UP OSDS) on June 7, 2022. The grant aims not only to reduce the cost of prescribed medication and other mental health services but also to encourage students to seek professional help. Apart from the lack of student spaces for conducive learning environments, inadequate manpower to address mental health issues, and financial challenges of students, there is still stigma in seeking professional help. The UP SWSP strives to address that. The wellness subsidy program is implemented by the UPLB Office of Counseling and Guidance (OCG) and the Office of Scholarships and Grants (OSG). Currently enrolled and financially challenged UPLB students with mental health concerns are eligible for the grant. The University has been strengthening its mental health programs, especially since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students may check out the various initiatives of the OCG, from support training programs to emotional pet support to art-based and other intervention therapies. Faculty and students are also encouraged to refer or reach out to the OCG through their landline at (049) 536-7255, via email at ocg.uplb@up.edu.ph, or through their Facebook page, “UPLB Office of Counseling and Guidance.” More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP’s Quality Policy Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/green-up-a-up-system-action-plan-for-environmental-sustainability/ | Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability – University of the Philippines | Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability A lotus flower blooms in the lagoon in UP Diliman. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO. The University of the Philippines’ eight (8) constituent universities (CU) span 17 geographically disparate and ecologically unique campuses. These campuses are socio-ecological systems in which education, research, and service are enabled by the environments in which human activities take place. These campuses are also situated within the broader socio-ecological system battered today by climate change, environmental pollution, and the vast environmental impacts. As the premiere national university, the University must lead in building, nurturing, and embodying sustainability practices that enhance and revitalize the environment, reduce environmental impact, and promote eco-education and sustainable development. It must gear efforts toward developing sustainable habits for optimized environmental utilization in its students, faculty, staff, and community. The University wholly commits to environmental sustainability as a guide to human rights principles, democratic participation, non-discrimination, gender equity, social justice, and ecological balance. These shall be upheld in the following areas for/of action. Green Spaces and Biodiversity. The University shall protect and promote green spaces and campus biodiversity. It shall adopt low-impact development and management plans to improve or incur no net biodiversity loss. This involves developing an environmental management protocol that monitors the health of the campus environment, promotes green spaces and biodiversity, documents and studies campus flora and fauna, and exercises proper campus animal management. Built Environment. Sustainable design should be incorporated into the University’s built environments to reduce its carbon footprint. Green technologies must be used whenever possible, and eco-friendly materials and methods must be integrated with construction and development plans. Utilities Management. The University shall regularly monitor the environmental impact of its energy usage and set reasonable targets to reduce energy and water consumption. In utility management, it shall promote energy and water conservation, periodically monitor consumption, and shift to sustainable technologies and materials in utilities upgrading or augmentation. Transportation and Mobility. The University shall ensure the availability of a reliable network of transportation and road infrastructure whose construction and maintenance are integrated with natural ecosystems. To maintain good air quality and well-protected ecosystems, UP promotes non-motorized transport and enhances pedestrian movement, ensuring compliance of public-use vehicles to emission standards; and adopting environment-friendly vehicles. Waste Management. The University’s waste management program shall adopt the UN Environmental Programme’s waste management hierarchy: prevention, reduction, recycling, recovery, and disposal, in decreasing order of importance. It shall enable individuals to embrace and realistically adopt a low- to zero-waste lifestyle by providing scientific information and support services for correct waste disposal practices. Contingent to this, the University shall proactively reduce plastic use and develop policy guidelines to transition into plastic-free campuses feasibly and equitably. The transition must be guided by a democratic and participatory process that addresses the economic and socio-cultural dimensions of rampant plastics use. Research. The University shall proactively encourage and support research and development relating to environmental sustainability and its multiple facets, whether ecological, social, cultural, behavioral, economic, moral, or political. It shall enable cross- and interdisciplinary approaches to address environmental concerns on the campus and the nation. It shall strengthen support, financial or otherwise, for sustainability research, programs, projects, and initiatives. Education. The University shall integrate principles of environmental sustainability in teaching and learning through its General Education program and different academic curricula. Such would facilitate cultural and behavioral changes toward sustainable living in students and faculty. Extension Services. The University shall encourage extension services and programs that promote and mainstream environmental sustainability principles to stakeholders and communities outside the University. Personnel Management. The University shall establish and activate appropriate offices or standing committees toward concrete, strategic sustainability goals. Some of its initiatives include building the capacity of staff and personnel through relevant training and certificate programs. Mainstreaming. The University shall adopt the month of April as UP’s Environmental Sustainability Month and facilitate inter-CU and inter-university collaborations toward the goals articulated in this Manifesto. This month shall turn the community’s attention to environmental sustainability projects and campaigns and engage students, faculty, and staff in environmental sustainability initiatives. “Green UP” is articulated here as both imperative and vision. Through the unified efforts of all constituent units, UP shall become a model of human rights-based, participatory, and inclusive environmental sustainability. The sunflowers bloom in the University Avenue in UP Diliman, Quezon City, in time for the graduation season. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP UP at a Glance UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/up-and-the-sdgs-up-at-a-glance/ | UP at a Glance – University of the Philippines | UP at a Glance Early morning joggers take a break while on the Academic Oval in UP Diliman, Quezon City. UP MPRO file photo. UP Campuses 8 Constituent Universities 17 Campuses 5 Future Campuses UP College Admissions (UPCA) 2023 111,128 Total applicants 74,280 (66.8%) Female 36,848 (33.2%) Male 17,527 Total qualifiers 11,330 (64.6%) Female qualifiers 6,197 (35.4%) Male qualifiers Students 64,144 Total Students 38,172 (59.5%) Female Students 25,972 (40.5%) Male Students Faculty 7,105 Total Faculty 4,172 (58.7%) Full-time or Regular Faculty 2,972 (40.5%) Part-time or Non-Regular Faculty UP Philippine General Hospital Service Recipients 473,385 Total patients served 43,433 (9.2%) In-patient patients 386,204 (81.6%) Out-patient patients 43,748 (9.2%) Emergency cases patients UP Landholdings 26,304.5416 hectares – Total Land Holdings 2,618.9986 hectares – Campus Sites 4,980.39 hectares – Research Areas 2,705.78 hectares – Mangrove Areas 9,093.44 hectares – Land Grants 6,900.00 hectares – Under UP Stewardship 5.933 hectares – Other Properties More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President About UP Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/message-of-the-president/ | Message of the President – University of the Philippines | Message of the President President Angelo A. Jimenez. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. On September 14, 2023, I was granted the singular honor of being invested as President of the University of the Philippines. At a meeting with our vice presidents, chancellors, executive directors, and strategic advisers—as we began charting the course of our administration for the next six years—we made the significant decision to add one word to UP’s long-standing motto of “Honor and Excellence.” That word was “Service.” It is a simple yet deeply meaningful reminder of UP’s true calling and guiding principle: service to our people and to humanity as a whole. Service is a sacred vow, one made by each member of the UP community the moment we step into the University’s hallowed halls. We each learn to fulfill our responsibility as Iskolar ng Bayan with faithfulness, courage, and compassion. In the 21st century, in a world that is becoming increasingly turbulent and difficult to navigate, the call for UP to serve has expanded well beyond the nation’s geopolitical borders. UP is called on to be a regional and global player. To paraphrase Konstantin Stanislavski, we cannot be small actors attempting to play small roles anymore. And I am proud to see that, as evidenced by the case studies presented in this UP Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report for 2021-2022, UP is doing precisely that. Our academic units, our research institutions, our students, alumni and community organizations continue to develop, implement, maintain and strengthen research programs and initiatives targeted at solving the most pressing challenges of our time. Our lofty aims include: climate change adaptation and disaster resilience; hunger alleviation and poverty reduction; expanding access to quality education and healthcare; building sustainable cities and communities; conserving biodiversity and the environment; and creating a society anchored on peace, security, justice, equality, and the protection of human rights for all. These goals cannot be accomplished without facilitating partnerships with other higher education institutions, local governments, and civil society, and require a holistic, grassroots approach to ensure genuine inclusiveness and community- and country-level ownership of all implemented projects and achieved outcomes. I commend every one of the units and individuals mentioned in this report for the innovation and dedication necessary to achieve this breadth of vision. Your efforts affect lives for the better, and ensure that UP and the Philippines are a positive force for change in the world. I would also like to thank the UP System Committee on University Rankings, the administrators and advisers and research and creative staff who made this UP SDG Report for 2021-2022 possible. Thank you for continuing to build upon UP’s database of SDG-related programs and projects, thus enabling us to monitor, understand, and improve the University’s contributions to our country’s success in meeting our targets under the UN SDGs. My administration is committed to supporting and magnifying these efforts. I affirm the UP System’s strong commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which serve as a global blueprint for addressing the most pressing challenges of our time. Our administration’s commitment to achieving the SDGs, however, goes beyond mere words; it is a firm pledge to take meaningful action. In this period of global crisis, we recognize the historical urgency of the SDGs, and thus are working to integrate them into the very fabric of our University. The core of our commitment lies in the field of education. Access to quality education is a cornerstone of sustainable development and a prerequisite for achieving all other SDGs. In UP, we firmly believe that our academic programs should reflect this commitment. It is not just about including SDGs in specific courses; it is about making the values and knowledge latent in the accomplishment of these goals an integral part of our curriculum. In every course offered by the university, we will ensure that the principles of sustainability are embedded deeply within our educational framework. But education is only our starting point. Research and development are also vital aspects of the SDGs, and universities like UP play a central role in advancing these goals. UP’s researchers are at the forefront of addressing the complex challenges posed by the SDGs, and our administration pledges to enable them to continue conducting action-oriented research that not only helps us better understand the costs and implications of implementing the SDGs at the local and national level, but also provides innovative solutions to real-world problems at the regional and global levels. Furthermore, universities serve as repositories of knowledge, fulcrums of cooperation, and drivers of innovation within their countries, regions, and in the global community. Recognizing the necessity of acting collectively with other stakeholders, UP is vigorously engaging with other state universities, governments, the private sector, and civil society to promote and implement the SDGs. By working together, we will provide a supportive environment and create a broad network of resources that will enable our students, researchers, and academics to actively participate in projects that contribute to building the knowledge and tools needed to achieve the SDGs. The tenets of sustainable development align with our mandate as the national university. We have a long and distinguished history of producing leaders, innovators, and changemakers in various fields. We have always recognized our duty to serve the people and contribute to progress and development in our country. Now, we are extending that same sense of service and commitment to the global community. Mabuhay tayong lahat! More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals About UP Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP at a Glance UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/announcements/ | ANNOUNCEMENTS – University of the Philippines | Announcements Statement of President Angelo Jimenez on the Bombing of Mindanao State University – Marawi The University of the Philippines stands in solidarity with Mindanao State University (MSU), after an explosion at the... Read More UP Para Sa UP: The UP System kicks off Mental Health Awareness Month with launching of the UP Sanctuary University of the Philippines (UP) President Angelo Jimenez, together with the UP Office of the Assistant Vice President for Student... Read More UP fetes “Mr. Shooli” with Gawad Plaridel The University of the Philippines Diliman College of Mass Communication will be awarding actor, satirist, and advertising creative Manuel Urbano... Read More UP invites the public to join Day of Remembrance commemoration The University of the Philippines (UP) invites the public to join this year’s Day of Remembrance commemoration on September... Read More UP to hold noise barrage on Day of Remembrance Raise your voice, break the silence! 📢 Join us in commemorating the Day of Remembrance, as we use symbolic... Read More 1st UP-SUC Summit to launch four programs for SUC engagement On September 15, four University programs aimed at promoting engagement between UP and other Philippine state universities and colleges (SUCs)... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/up-and-the-sdgs-about-up/ | About the University of the Philippines – University of the Philippines | About the University of the Philippines The Oblation, signifying the University’s commitment to serve the nation, dominates the plaza fronting Quezon Hall, UP Diliman. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. The University of the Philippines is the country’s national university, as mandated by Republic Act 9500 or the UP Charter of 2008. Established on June 18, 1908, in the heart of Manila, UP was meant to provide studies in medicine, law, engineering, and arts to every qualified student regardless of “age, sex, nationality, religious belief, and political affiliation.” As its first president Murray Simon Bartlett envisioned it, a “University for Filipinos.” Over its 115-year history, UP has grown into a system of eight constituent universities and 17 campuses throughout the Philippines. It offers 586 undergraduate and graduate programs, of which 248 are in the sciences and engineering, 31 in agriculture and fisheries, and 100 in the social sciences. It also offers 93 programs in the arts and letters, 83 programs in management, and 29 programs in education. As of December 31, 2022, the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has declared 41 academic units of the University as Centers of Excellence (COE), while five units were declared as Centers for Development (COD). With around 1,747 International Publication Awards and a lot more locally, UP continues to achieve groundbreaking research in medicine, engineering, agriculture, fisheries, and disaster risk reduction and management. It also inspires its artists to pursue works that elevate human consciousness and move societies. UP continues to play a vital role in shaping the nation’s consciousness and identity, always anchored in honor and excellence. UP Diliman UP Diliman in Quezon City hosts most of the programs of the University. Its sprawling campus, which features a lagoon and an open field, has fueled the creativity of faculty and students in its various programs. Its National Science Complex hosts several units and institutes that have produced unique and innovative research and studies that contribute to the advancement of several scientific and technological fields. Among these is the UP Philippine Genome Center (UP PGC). Instrumental in detecting COVID-19 in the Philippines, the UP PGC was also involved in developing a local COVID-19 testing kit. UP Diliman also houses the Resilience Institute (UPRI) and its disaster risk reduction and management program, UP NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards). Partnering with communities, UPRI has conducted training programs that prepare these areas for possible disasters. Beyond the sciences and the arts, UP Diliman is also home to the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UP CWGS), a pioneering research and advocacy institution in the country to advance women’s and LGBTIA+ rights and empowerment. UP Los Baños Farther south in the province of Laguna is UP Los Baños (UPLB). At the foot of Mt. Makiling, UPLB is a recognized leader in agriculture, forestry, environmental management, and veterinary medicine. It hosts the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPLB BIOTECH), which has continuously pursued agricultural, environmental, and health biotechnology research, resulting in alternative technologies and products that are proven useful to farmers. UPLB is a founding member of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), aimed at fostering collaborative efforts with partner institutions to enhance graduate education in agriculture, environment, and natural resources in the region. UP Manila In the country’s capital is the nation’s leader in health sciences studies, UP Manila. Home to the National Institutes of Health, (UP NIH), its experts conduct research that has resulted in innovations in public health, emergency response, and medicine. Hosting the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP PGH), the Philippines’ largest tertiary government hospital, the campus provides medical care to Filipinos from all walks of life. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, UP PGH served as a COVID-19 referral center, exerting its utmost to save lives. Consequently, its groundbreaking Stop COVID Deaths webinar series, the country’s first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series, was honored by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) with the 2022 Gold Quill Award of Merit. UP Manila is also home to the College of Nursing, the World Health Organization’s Regional Collaborating Center in Nursing Development. At the same time, its College of Public Health hosts TROPMED Philippines, which is the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization’s (SEAMEO) Regional Centre for Public Health, Hospital and Environmental and Occupational Health. UP Visayas Spread across three campuses in islands across central Philippines is UP Visayas. An acknowledged authority in fisheries, aquaculture, and marine science education and research, it is home to several units that conduct studies in support of the archipelagic nature of the Philippines. These are the Brackishwater Aquaculture Center, Freshwater Aquaculture Station, Batan Mariculture Station, and Marine Biological Station. Aside from marine research, UP Visayas is also active in efforts to preserve and enrich the Visayan cultural heritage. Recently, UP Visayas inaugurated the UP Philippine Genome Center-Visayas, allowing for the training of locals in the collection of specimens necessary for COVID-19 detection, as well as the conduct of testing in the region. UP Open University Situated near UPLB is the UP Open University (UPOU), the country’s pioneering virtual university. The UPOU provides quality distance education to students both in the Philippines and abroad who cannot attend the conventional in-person classroom setting due to personal or professional reasons. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UP Open University shared much of its experience in conducting virtual classes with other UP units and educational institutions. The UP Open University has ten learning centers nationwide, as well as a virtual learning center, with over 31 academic programs for both graduate and undergraduate studies. UP Mindanao Affirming the University’s presence in the country’s second-largest island, UP Mindanao was established by law to provide equitable access to quality education. The campus offers various programs in the humanities and the sciences, as well as in architecture, the food sciences, the humanities, and social, natural, and computing sciences. With the addition of sports science, medicine, and engineering to its program offerings, UP Mindanao is envisioned to produce graduates who will become leaders in the region UP Mindanao is also the home of the UP Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao, contributing to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Philippines. UP Baguio Nestled in the Cordillera Region, north of Manila, atop a pine-clad hill in the heart of a mountain city, is a leading institution in science, mathematics, social sciences, and humanities—UP Baguio. Through its Cordillera Studies Center (CSC), UP Baguio is steadfast in pursuing research in governance and development, local literature, biodiversity conservation, and ethnicity. These studies, hosted in the campus’s Museo Kordilyera, contribute to the preservation and appreciation of the cultural traditions and heritage of the indigenous communities of Northern Philippines. UP Cebu UP Cebu is the UP System’s flagship university in Central Visayas. It was established ten years after the founding of UP in 1908. In 2010, the Board of Regents elevated its status to an autonomous unit, and in 2016, to a constituent university, making it the eighth unit of the University. Located in a region that is aggressively asserting itself as an area for direct and foreign investments, UP Cebu has focused on strengthening its business and information technology programs. In 2007, the Commission on Higher Education recognized UP Cebu as a National Center of Excellence in Information Technology. More on UP and the SDGs UP and the Sustainable Development Goals Message from the President Green UP: A UP System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability UP at a Glance UP on Good Health and Well-Being UP on Quality Education UP on Gender Equality UP on Sustainable Cities and Communities UP on Climate Action UP on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals |
https://up.edu.ph/the-roots-of-angelo-a-jimenez/ | The Roots of Angelo A. Jimenez – University of the Philippines | The Roots of Angelo A. Jimenez The Roots of Angelo A. Jimenez June 6, 2023 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Jimenez symbolically takes his oath as UP President in the mountains of a conflict-ridden place called Mahayahay in Butuan. “I was always there as a little boy. I took my oath before the children of the Lumad. I wanted to, in my own little way, remind UP where its ultimate loyalty belongs,” he says. Photo courtesy of Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Strategic Communications Office. Angelo Azura Jimenez has the distinction of being the first UP Student Regent to be elected UP President and the first Mindanaoan to hold the position. He brings to the table a lived understanding of sectoral representation and the hope and the pride of the people of Mindanao. Having worked in government, he has also developed expertise in the protection and development of migrant workers. Family, community, and identity “Growing up in Butuan, you are close to family, close to church, and close to your friends on a day-to-day basis. We grew up in a very supporting, nurturing environment where there is much trust and very little distrust or suspicion of each other’s motives,” Jimenez described his life in his hometown. His Mindanao life embodied a unity of cultures, that supported trust in the other. “My family has been there for over a hundred years, and I am a native of the city itself. I am a Manobo and a Christian lowlander at the same time,” Jimenez said. “We grew up trusting each other. “We grew up playing with our neighbors. We grew up with close-knit communities and families together,” he remembered. “My mother was a high school principal and my grandmother was an elementary school principal. My mother was also a church leader,” Jimenez, who was an altar boy himself, speaks about the many other families connected to their own families through such involvements. The Catholic school boy, several years later, would also be named a tribal datu by the city elders, who conferred on him the name, Datu Mankalagan or “Great Spirit”. He recalls that ceremony fondly. “It’ll be a great source of strength and inspiration as I face this awesome, awesome job of becoming the twenty-second president of the University of the Philippines,” Jimenez said. He realizes that his Mindanao line is integral to his UP presidency. “It was when I got elected that people reminded me that I’m the first UP president who came from Mindanao, and I was amazed, actually surprised, maybe a little bit shocked,” he said. “It’s something significant to our people. I never realized that my election would resonate in Mindanao. “Finally, one of their own has become a UP president,” it has dawned upon him. “I wanted to, in my own little way, remind UP where its ultimate loyalty belongs; and, I couldn’t imagine a more marginalized community than our IPs in the mountains where there has been an ongoing conflict and there still is right now.” “I was roundly criticized then. I had to just grit my teeth and decide in favor of the students so that they could graduate.” – Jimenez The rise of the student leader Having lived in a harmonious but diverse Mindanao community, Jimenez did not dream of being involved in campus politics when he passed the UPCAT and moved to the Big City. “I just loved to write, actually. So when I was in my sophomore year, I joined the Philippine Collegian where I was a feature writer, and probably the longest serving features editor in the Collegian.” Aside from features, he wrote poetry, and many of his poems were published in the Collegian and the Collegian Folio Magazine. He would become the paper’s associate editor in 1987-1988. Inevitably, he became active in the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), of which the Collegian was a founding member and which had turned militant during the First Quarter Storm. “One time I attended a session among campus writers in Metro Manila, and they decided they wanted me to run as CEGP national president. That was in 1987, and since it’s an organization of writers, I agreed. I won rather overwhelmingly,” Jimenez said about how he started on the path of national youth leadership. As a national leader, he got very involved with the youth and students outside UP. By then he was a freshman in Law school. “I was always traveling. And I almost neglected my law school [studies]. It was a very challenging time. But after that, now I was in the radar of student politics, particularly student electoral politics,” Jimenez recalled. After his term as CEGP national president, he was asked to run for councilor in the UP Diliman student council. “I started to speak in the streets, in public fora, and it went naturally from there.” As chair of the traditionally militant University Student Council in 1991-1992, he remembers facing the burning issue of the renewal of US military bases in the country. “We were against it, and I would lead rallies. [UP] would be the largest contingent. It went as far as 5,000 students in UP from all political spectrum and diversity. We were very united then.” Jimenez, in one of first ceremonies of this presidency, leads the conferment of a Doctor of Law, honoris causa, on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim, whom he cited for, among others, the advocacy of the concept of an Asian Renaissance and a devoted study of the life, works, and teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque, UP MPRO. The Regent and the dilemma of representation Having been elected Student Regent in 1992, he had to deal with the more complicated issue of sectoral representation. “You have a sector that does not speak in just one voice. And then when you come to the meeting of the Board, you have to come to terms as well with what you call your personal agency, your own structure of beliefs, your ethical and moral structure that you have deep inside you as well,” Jimenez said. He remembers going against a popular opinion concerning medical students who were refused graduation by the college on the basis of moral fitness. The students and the University Council of UP Manila agreed with the position of the College, Jimenez recalls. He agonized over his vote. “Upon graduation, they imposed moral fitness and I was a little worried because, number one, it was not in the rules. Number two, I was worried about standards. Who sets moral standards? How do we comply with a particular standard? And what are fair standards that are acceptable to all. And we are a secular university… Whom do we allow to make judgment of our moral fitness to be in the profession?” Jimenez recalled his thoughts back then. “I was roundly criticized then. I had to just grit my teeth and decide in favor of the students so that they could graduate.” Jimenez would go back to the Board of Regents as a Malacañang appointee, representing the Republic of the Philippines in the University, from 2016 to 2021. “And to strengthen the institution, I feel that we have to build trust — trust in institutions and trust in each other.” – Jimenez President Angelo A. Jimenez. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. Lessons for UP from his experience From 1993 to 2007, Jimenez was in government in mostly labor-related posts. He held positions in Malacañang, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. From 1999 to 2003, he was the labor attaché, first to Japan, then to Kuwait, and then to Iraq, too. “I am a practitioner of international labor markets and the area of expertise I have developed over the last decades is the protection of migrant labor, especially overseas Filipino workers. I was on the opposite end of the educational system because I was receiving finished products,” he said, talking about OFWs as end products of the educational system. “And I have familiarity with the needs of international industries. I saw where the Filipinos are strong, based on our educational system, and where they’re weak.” “I realize certain things: Some of our professionals are not recognized abroad, or not recognized as we do recognize them. For example, I’ve seen architects who are hired as mere draftsmen, or dentists who are hired only as dental hygienists. We lack certain units or academic units. In the Middle East, for example, many of them observe British standards.” “At that time we didn’t have K-12. And that was one of the major weaknesses in terms of international recruitment and especially when it came to benefits pay rate, and opportunities, not just from job entry, but also job promotion,” he said. Jimenez talks about acquiring lessons from a global experience of crisis management. “When Saddam fell, I was sent as well to Iraq. I spent two years there protecting Filipinos in a war zone. There was civil war there, and it gave me a lot of insights. First, on how important it is to strengthen institutions because I’ve seen the country where there was no government, there were no laws.” “I saw the country implode before my eyes,” Jimenez went on. “I realized that when institutions fall, nations fall or social systems fall. And so perhaps, the greatest insight I have is the importance of strengthening our institutions, not just in the country, but more specifically today in the University as well.” “And to strengthen the institution, I feel that we have to build trust—trust in institutions and trust in each other. Because I’ve seen how the lack of trust in many places in the world kills societies, how societies degenerate into civil war, fratricidal war, because there was no trust in the community,” the UP President from Mindanao spoke. Read more stories from the UP Forum Read the latest News from UP Read UP’s Announcements |
https://up.edu.ph/a-datu-in-diliman/ | A Datu in Diliman – University of the Philippines | A Datu in Diliman A Datu in Diliman August 1, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Commencement Address of President Angelo Jimenez 30 July 2023 UP Diliman University of the Philippines President Angelo A. Jimenez delivering his Commencement Address to the graduating class of UP Diliman on July 30, at the Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO. Madiyaw nga hinaat kaniyo nga tanan! Honorable Members of our Board of Regents, UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan, the Chancellors of our other Constituent Universities, our University officials, faculty members, staff members, workers, students, distinguished guests, and above all our graduating students today and their proud parents: A very pleasant albeit rainy morning to all of you, and thank you all for coming today despite the weather. I am sure that we will not allow a steel gray sky and a rush of rain to dampen our spirits, like the sunflowers along University Avenue that remain radiant as ever. I did not know until recently, when I was approached by Chancellor Vistan, that I was to be your commencement speaker. It is uncommon—if not unprecedented—for the UP President to fill that role, which we usually reserve for an academic, cultural, or political luminary, none of which I consider myself to be. But having been your President for less than half a year, I thought that this would be a good opportunity to introduce myself to our community, that you might know me and my ideas beyond my standard CV. This morning, I want to tell you a story. I am being introduced to you by my formal Christian name. Ako nga po si Angelo Azura Jimenez, abogado at ikadalawampu’t dalawang Pangulo ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas. Subalit may isa pa po akong pangalan na nais kong gamitin ngayong araw, bilang pagpapakilala sa inyo ng aking pinagmulan, at ng aking kabuuan. Ako po si Datu Mankalagan. Isa akong Manobo mula sa Agusan Valley. Isinilang ako at lumaki sa isang sinauna at makasaysayang lunsod sa wawa ng Ilog Agusan, sa Mindanaw. Ito ang lunsod ng Butuan, na bantog sa Silangang Asya bilang isang mayamang kaharian bago pa man dumating ang mga Kastila. In my city, we say: “Before there was the Philippines, there was Butuan.” And what a great pre-Hispanic city it was, home to skillful artisans of gold and builders of mighty, ocean-going boats called balangays. Many elements that now form part of the cultural tapestry of our island entered through the Agusan River’s estuary. Its sheer length, one of the longest in the country, ensured that cultural and social exchanges with a larger world penetrated deeply into the heart of Mindanaw centuries before our nation was born. I love my city. It is my legs, my arms, my mind, my heart. It is the cradle of my deepest affections. It is who I am, today and forever. The title of “datu” was conferred on me by my people in a solemn ceremony in 2007. A ritual dagger was plunged deep into the heart of a live boar. I heard its vertiginous squeal of pain as it spurted blood and began to die. A priestess scooped the blood that gushed straight from the heart of the boar before it fell to the ground, and proceeded to paint it on the palm of my hands and soles of my feet, to the drone of her own incantations. I thought I was going to faint and I never fully realized it then but now I think I know why—life was being ritually offered to give birth to a new one, a new identity. It was an overpowering sensation. On that same occasion, our elders gave me the name “Mankalagan.” In our local language, it means “great spirit.” I do not know if I deserve the name, and my title as a Manobo datu may be honorific, but the tremendous pride I draw from it gives me the courage I need to speak before you today. It was not always so. I grew up taking it for granted. I never took the time to officially register as one, nor find the need for it. All I knew growing up was that I had Manobo blood. That was enough. Or so I thought, until something I never dreamed of happened to me—I became UP President, which reminded me of the duality of my character, and why it is important to accept and embrace. Alam ko pong hindi lamang ito aking istorya, kundi istorya rin ng marami sa inyong kaharap ko ngayon. Malalayo ang inyong pinanggalingan, mga munting pook na minsa’y atin nang nakakalimutan. Naging bagong tahanan na natin ang kalunsuran, ang Diliman. Like Butuan, I love UP Diliman. It is not always easy to love you, Diliman, but I do. Because like Butuan, I was raised here, too. Like Butuan, UP Diliman is my arms, my legs, my mind, my heart—the cradle of my deepest affections. Like Butuan, UP Diliman is who I am, today and forever. When I attained the presidency of this national university, I knew I had to reconcile these two halves of me. They were not in conflict with each other, but were rather the two legs on which I would find my way forward. Early this year, I woke up one morning and had an epiphany. I would reclaim my Manobo identity, and view the world from its perspective, to seek both courage and clarity of vision. And it came. My region, CARAGA, is the poorest in our country, next only to our neighbor, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM. So, on February first, ten days before I took office, I went up the mountain to a place called Sitio Mahayahay. In the early morning, in Mahayahay, I took my oath of office as the 22nd UP President before the children of the Lumad. It was a symbolic act. But it was important to me. Oddly enough, in Bisaya, Mahayahay means comfortable, but life there is tough. It is a poverty-stricken, conflict-ridden hamlet located north of Butuan City. I was told, in fact, that a few days before I came, a firefight occurred in that area between government and communist forces. There could be worse places in the country, but I personally know of no place that symbolizes marginalization from the life of the nation—politically, economically and socially—more than the life of the Lumads in Mahayahay. Jimenez symbolically takes his oath as UP President in the mountains of a conflict-ridden place called Mahayahay in Butuan. “I was always there as a little boy. I took my oath before the children of the Lumad. I wanted to, in my own little way, remind UP where its ultimate loyalty belongs,” he says. Photo courtesy of Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Strategic Communications Office. I wanted to remind UP, by taking my oath there, where its loyalty should ultimately lie. I needed to take that powerful lesson to heart. Despite the early morning chill, I had never felt so warm. I was, after all, among my people. Despite the fog that covered the hills, I had never felt such clarity. There, high up in those lovely hills, among the poorest of our people, from the outside looking in, I grasped what I had long suspected about our beloved university. And it came in the form of three great moral paradoxes. The first paradox is that the University of the Philippines was founded to provide leaders for the nation. And indeed we have, among the 300,000 alumni who preceded you today. We have produced the most Presidents, the most number of Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, Senate Presidents and Speakers of the House. Throughout the government bureaucracy, you will find our graduates in responsible positions. In the private sector, you will find captains of industry among our alumni. In fact, among the richest Filipinos, you will find UP graduates. No other University in the country comes close to our dominant position in national life. And yet, after over a hundred years since our founding as the national university, and still today the only national university in the broadest sense, we find ourselves in one of the most inequitable societies in the world. We would be blind not to see that poverty, poor health, homelessness and hunger still stalk most of our people. This is an outrage and a ringing accusation against our own self-conceit as the best and the brightest, Iskolar ng Bayan, and University of the People. This is an existential threat to Filipino nationhood. No nation can long endure under the extreme inequalities we are witnessing today. The second moral paradox is that access to our university, which we love to call the University of the People, is very difficult for the people. Dedicated in our mind to the highest ideal of equality, are we, in fact, reinforcing and institutionalizing inequality? I estimate that about 60 percent of our students today come from private schools, as I did. And we all know that while our public secondary schools have produced some of our best students and alumni, there is a yawning gap today between the quality of public and private basic education, in favor of the latter. Our UPCAT is designed to select only the best, the elite among our high schools. What are the chances of the children of the lumad in Mahayahay of entering UP? Or of the children of Aetas and other lumads? Of the teeming masses of the poor huddled in cramped, under-invested public schools in the country today? There’s more. There are around 114 state colleges and universities today and one of them gets 20 percent of the national budget for higher education. You guessed it! That’s our UP. I have long stopped bragging that we are the nation’s top university. With that share of the budget, we might as well close down if we were not Number One. One might argue—and some have—that there is no moral justification for just one school, UP, to have such an inordinate share of the budget. Some even say it is because we are simply powerful. But there is actually one. As the national university, we are mandated under Republic Act 9500, the law revising the UP Charter, to lead in higher education. Have we? We all know that there is a huge gap overall between the quality of UP education and the rest of the SUCs. In fact, no other public tertiary educational institution in the Philippines has ever landed among the top 1000 in in global rankings. Have we simply run away with the biggest share of the national budget for higher education without doing what we could for others? I believe in democratic access to UP education. And I believe that it is best done by helping improve the quality of education in other SUCs. Would this not be more equitable? Would this not be more democratic access? Does one have to be in UP to have access to a UP-level education? At the same time, we can review UPCAT and our equity-excellence formulas to give our disadvantaged a better fighting chance. Finally, the third paradox is that the free education you enjoyed in UP today was not actually free. It was paid for by other people who might have needed it more. Every peso that was spent on your education was one peso less for another Filipino who might have been sick and could not afford to buy medicines. It was one peso less for housing for another Filipino who could not afford decent shelter. It was one peso less for a hungry Filipino who could not afford to buy food. It was one peso less for the education of another student your age who may have had to drop out of school entirely for lack of money. The free education you got from UP came from many people who needed it just as much if not more, and paid for it by enduring a lower quality of life. Dear graduates, throughout your UP years, the words “Honor” and “Excellence” have been drummed into your heads. For over a hundred years, we have pledged fealty to these two very personal ideals. But I ask you now—are these enough? All of us in UP bear a heavy moral burden to serve the Filipino people. Unless we do, honor and excellence are only for self-aggrandizement, and will mean little to our suffering compatriots. 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. When I look out my office in Quezon Hall at our green campus—and looking at you today—my heart swells with pride at what we have achieved. But when my thoughts go back to being that lumad on the mountain, gazing past the horizon to far Manila, I recall, with great trepidation, the great challenges and responsibilities that lie ahead of us. I did not mean to cast a pall on your graduation day but to reflect on what it means to be UP. I actually wanted to speak of hope. And a hopeful story is unfolding right this very instant. As you all know, last Tuesday, the Philippines National Women’s Football Team, better known as the Filipinas, beat host-country New Zealand 1-0 in the first round of this year’s FIFA World Cup. The whole world is talking about it now. The New Zealand Team, nicknamed the Ferns, ranked 26th in FIFA world standings, was way above our current rank of 46. In the game, they dominated with 70 percent ball possession. They were touted to win, we were not. In fact, as World Cup debutante, we were not expected to win at all. It took the Ferns 6 World Cup appearances to win their first match ever against former World Champions Norway last week. How did our team do it? There are three important lessons for all of us. First, by making the most of their chances. The Ferns dominated the game with 70 percent ball possession against our 30. They had 16 shots at goal, with 4 on target. We had 4, with only one, only one, on target. But that one hit the back of the net, to give us our first ever goal, our first ever win, and in our first ever appearance on the world’s biggest stage, the World Cup. I’ve watched that magical clip of Sarina Bolden’s four-against-one winning header. The exhilaration I felt could only be matched by the one I felt two decades ago when, as a hostage negotiator in Iraq, I finally, physically grabbed Filipino hostage Robert Tarongoy into freedom and safety right in the middle of the bloody streets of war-torn Baghdad. It was my own little, personal World-Cup-like moment. But the true prize for me was not a cheering crowd. It was way more precious. Mission accomplished for our nation, I could go back home to the loving arms of my wife and kids, alive. In Wellington a few days ago, the Filipinas tried to create many chances but, in the end, they managed to produce only one real chance. And that one chance was all they needed. In life, there will be precious few great chances. Maybe only one. Maybe none at all, if you will simply wait for it. We should strive for own World Cup moment. When it comes, grab it by the scruff of the neck. Second, by making themselves invincible. The Ferns never scored against us. So, another way of looking at 70 percent possession by the other side is that our defense was under pressure 70 percent of the time, and withstood the withering fire. I have no doubt that your UP education has made you strong, resourceful, and resolute. Yours is a generation that survived the ravages of the first ever truly global pandemic in human history. For over two years, you were all isolated from each other. That was not easy. Humans are essentially social beings, and their social nature has been key to the survival of the species throughout history. Isolation is the enemy. We have never survived serious challenges alone. Your generation has broken the isolation brought about by the pandemic by your mastery of technology that enabled us to keep our connection with each other. Social media and information technology may have redefined social interaction, but you have made it achieve its social purpose. It has also enabled all of you not only to graduate but prepare for life in the digital age. Against the challenges of the COVID pandemic, your defense held, like the Filipinas on world’s greatest sporting stage. Third, the Filipinas wanted to win more. Against a stronger side, this is absolutely required. The Filipinas had the proper motivation. One of the most competitive elements of an athlete is mental toughness. The most amazing part of the Filipinas victory is that they just came in from a 2-0 loss in their first game against a strong Swiss team. They quickly put that behind them, adjusted, and came out more determined in the next game. And won. This is perhaps the most important lesson we can learn from the Filipinas. We will always have our losses in life. But we take our defeats, learn our lessons, and move on to the next challenge trying to do better. These are not new insights. In fact, this is ancient wisdom. Be strong, take risks, be motivated. Most of all, succeed not just for yourself, but for the many others whose lives and spirits will be uplifted by the good you do. Di lang tayo dapat Iskolar ng Bayan kundi Iskolar Para sa Bayan. Serve the people. Wala nang mas tatayog pa sa adhikaing ito para sa ating lahat: paglingkuran ang sambayanan! Mabuhay kayo, mabuhay ang UP, at mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Ato ini, kadiyawon ta! |
https://up.edu.ph/welcome-and-introduction-by-president-jimenez-of-malaysian-prime-minister-anwar-ibrahim/ | Welcome and Introduction by President Jimenez of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim – University of the Philippines | Welcome and Introduction by President Jimenez of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Welcome and Introduction by President Jimenez of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim March 2, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Welcome and Introduction by UP President Angelo A. Jimenez for the Honorary Degree Conferment Ceremony of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim 2 March 2023, UP Theater, UP Diliman University of the Philippines President Angelo A. Jimenez delivering his welcome address and introduction of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UPMPRO). Your Excellency Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Charge d’Affaires Mr. Mohammad Fareed Zakaria, Esteemed Members of the Board of Regents, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo and Chancellors of our Constituent Universities, To the Presidents of the State Universities and Colleges, Members of the Faculty, Administration, Students, Ladies and Gentlemen: I feel deeply honored to welcome you to the University of the Philippines—our country’s first and only national university to be so designated. That is because UP, as we call ourselves, represents the noblest of our people’s aspirations. It is home to the minds that shape our nation, and today those minds open themselves to yours—as we open our hearts as well to your party, who have so graciously chosen to visit us. Of course we are pleasantly aware that for Your Excellency, this is a kind of homecoming, having come to visit UP as a young student leader to seek the counsel of the late and beloved University Professor Emeritus Cesar Adib Majul, our foremost expert in Islamic studies. This campus would have been quite different then—a bit less crowded perhaps, given the many new buildings and facilities we have since erected. But what has not changed is the strong and unquenchable spirit of liberal and nationalist education that you would have found in UP then. That spirit has survived many challenges throughout the decades, as you yourself, Excellency, have survived and prevailed over the many vicissitudes of your political life. And thus we feel bound in spirit to your own youthful idealism, your courage, and your lifelong quest for freedom, justice, and prosperity—not just for Malaysia but for a renewed, aware, and vibrant Asia. The Philippines and Malaysia share a long and special kinship—one of blood and culture—beyond the politics and economics of the present. Our countries both emerged from colonial rule determined to claim our rightful place in the community of modern and progressive nations. We each have met with our own successes and our own setbacks. And while we cannot easily prescribe one’s solution for the other, given the differences in our societies and historical experience, it is clear that we are beset by many of the same problems—corruption in government, selective justice, socioeconomic inequality, food security, and environmental destruction, among others. There is much room and reason for our political, business, and academic leaders to engage in fruitful dialogue, and I hope that your visit today will result in new modes of cooperation between our countries and our universities. And now it is my great privilege to introduce our guest of honor to the UP community. Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia—a position for which his prior exposure to a broad range of government positions and responsibilities has prepared him well. Previously, he served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998 and Minister of Finance from 1991 to 1998, before which he served as Minister of Education in 1986, Minister of Agriculture in 1984, and Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports in 1983. Respected for his unyielding stance against corruption and his management of the Malaysian economy during the turbulent financial crisis of 1997, Anwar has been internationally recognized for his bold and dynamic leadership. Euromoney named him one of the world’s top four finance ministers in 1993, and in 1996 Asiamoney named him Finance Minister of the Year. In 1998, Newsweek voted him Asian of the Year. The awards reflect the effectiveness and impact of Anwar’s financial stewardship. During his tenure as Finance Minister, Malaysia enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and economic growth despite the instability rocking the regional economy. He backed free market principles and highlighted the issue of the proximity of business and politics in Malaysia. He advocated greater accountability, declined to offer government bailouts, and instituted widespread spending cuts. Anwar was Chairman of the Development Committee of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in 1998. During his tenure, he strongly endorsed debt cancellation initiatives and reprieves for emerging countries, particularly Africa. Sadly, he has been made to pay a steep personal price for his unflinching principles. His calls for further reform in 1998 led to his dismissal from government. Subsequently he was tried and imprisoned on charges that were eventually overturned by the Malaysian Supreme Court, and he was finally released from solitary confinement in 2004. Imprisoned once more in 2015 on what were widely deplored to be political grounds, Anwar was pardoned by King Sultan Muhammad V in 2018. Anwar Ibrahim stood and won as a Pakatan Harapan coalition candidate in the general election of 2022, and was sworn in as Prime Minister by King Al-Sultan Abdullah on November 23, 2022. He has lectured at many of the world’s leading universities, and is an internationally renowned expert on Jose Rizal and on economics, democracy, freedom, governance, Islam and democracy, and the need for accountability in government. He was appointed Honorary President of the London-based group AccountAbility and Chairman of the Beirut-based Foundation for the Future. Anwar is also an advisor to the People’s Justice Party (Keadilan) in Malaysia. May I add, however, that this brief political biography hardly does justice to the intellectual and visionary within the politician. For beneath Anwar Ibrahim’s sharp sense of financial management lies a deep well of moral rectitude, a belief in right and wrong that seems to have deserted many of today’s political pragmatists. Much of that derives from his strong religious faith—which, unlike the West, he does not see as being incompatible with the needs and priorities of modern society. To him, this is a native strength that can be harnessed toward an Asian Renaissance. Like Jose Rizal, who self-identified as “Malayo-Tagalog” and who was a keen student of the cultural and linguistic connections between Malays and his own countrymen, Anwar appreciates the West as a source of knowledge but cautions against neglecting or yielding our cultural specificity. At the same time, he has championed a more inclusive and pluralistic Malaysia, arguing—and here I quote from his book on The Asian Renaissance—“not for mere tolerance, but rather for the active nurturing of alternative views. This would necessarily include lending a receptive ear to the voices of the politically oppressed, the socially marginalized, and the economically disadvantaged. Ultimately, the legitimacy of a leadership rests as much on moral uprightness as it does on popular support.” When I accepted the presidency of this great university not one month ago, I said that in addition to our most cherished ideals of Honor and Excellence, I wanted to add “kindness,” at least under my administration, as a measure and manifestation of our shared humanity. I am encouraged to find in his book that Prime Minister Anwar also seeks to foster “Justice, Virtue, and Compassion.” This is the humanist at the core of the man speaking—the young activist and sometime student of literature who never forgot that at the heart of all our efforts toward development lies the most human yearnings for freedom, happiness, and dignity. Ladies and gentleman, I give you His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) and UP President Angelo Jimenez (center) share the stage alongside the members of the UP Board of Regents during the conferment ceremony. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UPMPRO). For more photos of the Conferment of the Honorary Degree on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, please click here. |
https://up.edu.ph/honor-and-excellence-in-a-digital-national-university/ | Honor and Excellence in a Digital National University – University of the Philippines | Honor and Excellence in a Digital National University Honor and Excellence in a Digital National University February 23, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Angelo A. Jimenez 22nd President University of the Philippines 10 February 2023 UP President Angelo A. Jimenez delivering his speech at the Turnover Ceremony for the Presidency of the University of the Philippines on February 10, 2023, at the Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. President Danilo Concepcion, members of the Board of Regents; and the officials of our University; the faculty, staff, and alumni present; the students of our eight constituent universities; distinguished guests; magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Please allow me to begin by extending my gratitude to President Danny and the officials of the University who have graciously assisted myself and my team for the past few weeks as we have prepared for this day. Our goal is to hit the ground running from Day One, and I believe we are in a position to do that because of your help. To all of you, daghang salamat, and thank you for your service to the University. I am especially grateful to President Danny — or Danny the Builder as I like to call him — for all the work you have done in your six-year tenure as UP President. All of us are challenged to leave this world a little better than we found it; when President Concepcion assumed office six years ago, he took this to heart — and he will leave the University much, much better than when he found it. Walk around this campus and that is self- evident. Thank you very much, Mr. President; and thank you, Gabby, for sharing him with us these past six years. Our country has just weathered a global pandemic that has triggered massive disruptions in business, technology, labor, and education. These have upended conventional thinking and compelled humankind to hurriedly adapt to and accept new realities. In this day and age, higher education institutions (HEIs) cannot be parochial and self-absorbed. HEIs need to acquire a global consciousness in carrying their mandates. We need to look at the developments of the immediate past and prepare ourselves for a future in which the pace of innovation is — as AI is teaching us — faster than the speed of thought. With this as background, the University of the Philippines is envisioned in the next six years to be at the forefront of transformative scientific, cultural, and artistic pedagogy, research, and public service in local and global communities. Our mission is to foster efficacy, effectivity, and efficiency through transdisciplinary engagements in teaching, research, and public service. Ang UP ay mananatiling bulwagan ng dangal at ipagpapatuloy natin ang simulain nito tungo sa husay at dangal. But honor and excellence are not enough. Aanhin ang husay at dangal kung walang malasakit at kung walang pakikipag-kapwa tao? A transformative UP means no individual or small group effort would probe enough to offer a sound alternative to the complexities we are facing. Though coming from various backgrounds and enjoying disparate privileges, UP has provided and will always provide its constituencies with a common ground to overcome our differences. A passion for knowledge production brought us together and has given us a sense of belonging, which is a strong ground to negotiate between the legacy we share and the future we envision, to better serve our academic community and the world we live in. This is the cornerstone of our first line of action: pumailanlang, pumalaot. Pumailanlang, Pumalaot is pakikipag-ugnayan, which entails a call for communion. It is a commitment to recognize and respect each other’s worth. And in this sense, we will champion the following: First, engagement in Transdisciplinary Research, which is also an attempt to end the silo mentality. We must conduct more collaborative research and creative projects among disciplines and among constituent universities, with an agenda of creating translational research that will benefit the country and our people. At the end of the day, the general public should and will always be the target audience of our research. It is our obligation to convert scientific, social scientific, and artistic research into practical programs that will uplift the lives of the Filipino people. We have to build strong bridges within and between CUs. In our current reality, no single discipline nor single campus is able to provide holistic and comprehensive solutions to the problems confronted by an ever- changing world. We have to promote and encourage greater interaction and dialogue among UP constituents, such as institutionalization of research programs or curation of creative projects that engage the sciences and the arts in solving social concerns and critically interrogating social issues. Second, let us also build a stronger pakikipag-ugnayan with our alumni because they are an integral part of the UP community. Their role in providing resources to UP is invaluable. However, they are more than a source of much-needed funds; they are role models for our students. They may also serve as mentors to our students or they can be co-facilitators in extension programs and public services. Our alumni are also our international ambassadors — showing the world what “Honor” and ‘Excellence” with compassion means. Third, UP must also move forward towards the direction of the 21st century education by building and crossing bridges towards digital technology. UP needs to digitally transform learning in order to be responsive to the period of rapid change in an increasingly globalized environment. In this regard, UP in the next six years will critically participate in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and we will journey towards the transformation of a learner-centered digital University. To make this a bit more concrete, digital transformation in the UP context means: Differentiated and personalized learning: the tailoring of learning content, processes and activities to match each learners ability level. Digital learning resources: the creation of digital resources that engage students in learning activities and support students’ learning goal. Global and remote learning: learning from anywhere and at any time. Administrative efficiencies: the greater use of data science in decision making. I imagine our CUs and campuses enjoying high-speed networks and the enhanced digital competence of our faculty and staff. One of the goals of digital transformation is to create compelling digital content in education that include current, relevant, and accurate information that are aligned to the highest quality standards. These user- friendly digital content will be made available to all UP students, regardless of what CU they are enrolled in. As part of our extension service, we will happily share the digital course content that we will develop with other SUCs. Our digital transformation initiative will also expand and make it easier for our students to cross-enroll in other CUs. Fourth, as a national university, we must also help the nation by reaching out to the state universities and colleges in the regions. With its resources, UP is better armed as a teaching, research, and public service university as compared to its fellow SUCs. As such, we must extend “honor and excellence” to the SUCs by ways of consortium or by assisting in capacity buildings or by sending our experts to aid them in academic program development. Fifth, reaching out to our administrative staff members is also a very important aspect of this agenda of pakikipag-ugnayan. We will review the benefits our staff members receive. We will also sit down with the Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service Commission to address personnel and regularization issues on an institutional level. The second major plan of action is a take on pride of place. We have to envision a UP where spaces are safe, nurturing, shared, connected, and sustainable. This is an opportunity to think of UP as a means to transform spaces into places with meaning and memories. Emplacement is historically and culturally wired; our existence is embodied in space and time. A place has history. It also articulates cultural memory, and in the case of UP, it is an extension of a long history of intellectual, scientific, and artistic traditions. Pride of place plays an important role in identifying and supporting place- based policy, which includes environmental governance mechanisms. Pride of place entails community spirit, confidence in an area, and standing up for the community in the face of adversity. The ultimate goal is to involve everyone in the disposition of, “I care, and I want to improve this place.” We have to maintain UP as an ideal space of learning. Our digital national university will not only be an ideal place to learn, it will also be an ideal place to live and play. Our campuses will be green oases — the lungs of the communities that host them. We will set targets towards carbon neutrality, and in developing our campuses we will abide by the International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure. Our campuses will also serve as refuge for weary souls that will be rejuvenated though art and culture. UP campuses will be arts hubs. We have to maximize the use of spaces. Our campuses are good venues of found-space performances, site-specific exhibitions, community gatherings and socializations. With our sense of paglulugar, pagpopook, we are able to craft a system- wide arts and culture policy that will cement UPs place as the leader in arts education, culture promotion, and cultural centers in communities that hosts our campuses. Consequently, paglulugar, pagpopook will also develop a work environment that lead to fulfilling professional lives and improved well- being. It is also about the provision of resources that the faculty and staff members need to deliver excellent results. Hence, we will continue to invest in our human resources — our most important asset. Immediately, we will create a more transparent and accountable selection process for incentives and rewards; work to increase faculty and staff non-wage benefits; and develop a program to help our retirees transition to the new lives. In the end, paglulugar, pagpopook is also pride in people and pride in their contribution no matter how big or small. Finally, UP has molded and shaped its students. Its faculty and researchers have innovated and constructed new knowledge. At the same time, UP continuously gives back to the communities. We will continue to perform its unique and distinctive leadership in higher education and national development. The hallmark of UP in the next six years will be service to the nation. I sincerely believe that service to the nation is not simply on top of what we do, nor is it something that we should do on a voluntary basis. Service to the nation is constitutive of who we are and what we do. Together, we will work towards a UP that is more engaged with the nation. As a national university our responsibility is to meet the needs of society in order to help create sustainable and inclusive human development. We will continue to be focused on the development of an enlightened and engaged citizenry and a more specialized, practical education for development. We cannot be satisfied with knowledge for knowledge’s sake. Our role does not end in producing graduates with 21st century skills. We need to go beyond undertaking research and policy advice on improving national governance, making the economy stronger, or creating a sustainable ecosystem. In this sense, we will work to intensify: Knowledge co-creation or the joint production of innovation with the private sector, civil society organizations, and communities themselves; and Service learning: “An educational approach that combines learning objectives with community service in order to provide a pragmatic, progressive learning experience while meeting societal needs.” We will embrace our national identity but aspire to be a global university that asks the consequential questions of our time and, acting locally, strives to address the serious issues confronting the country and the world. UP will remain a bastion of academic freedom for the simple reason that we cannot achieve excellence without it. And part of it is a commitment to continue honing and supporting all forms of knowledge productions: scientific, social-scientific, creative or artistic, professional, and local or indigenous knowledge. The usual knowledge produced by the sciences and the humanities in the formal “Western” education paradigm must not be conceived as the pinnacle of learning. Engagement with indigenous knowledge or what we call the kaalamang bayan is an opportunity to understand that the world is more complicated than how these traditional classroom subjects provide. We are global yet we are very rooted to our indigenous worldviews. We are shaped by the challenges and crises that confront us. Our recent crises have tested our pedagogical modalities, our creative practices, our research projects, and even our physical and mental health. Nonetheless, these have also forced open windows of opportunities for our faculty and students to survive, to strive, and to thrive. And UP will continue to be an enabler so that they continue to do just that. In the end, UP will continue to be strong, courageous, critical, and nurturing because we are guided by our vision, our mission, and our values. Our UP Nating Mahal will continue to ensure diversity, inclusivity, and respect as driving forces towards honor, excellence, kindness, and compassion. The Filipino people deserve no less. Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang UP; mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan! Watch some the highlights of President Angelo A. Jimenez’s speech via the video above. Video shot and edited by Al Nikko M. Nagutom, UP MPRO. |
https://up.edu.ph/philippine-transparency-seal/ | Philippine Transparency Seal – University of the Philippines | Philippine Transparency Seal The University of the Philippines complies with the conditions of good governance as set by Section 106 of the General Provisions of the FY 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA), Section 94 of the General Provisions of the FY 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA), Section 96 of the General Provisions of the FY 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and Section 102 of the General Provisions of the FY 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA). Available below are the information required of the University under the said directives. I. Mandate, Function, List of Officials, and Contact Information II. Annual Financial Reports III. DBM Approved Budget and Corresponding Targets for FY 2022 IV. Projects, Programs and Activities, Beneficiaries and Status of Implementation V. Annual Procurement Plan VI. Quality Management System Certificates VII. Guidelines in Determining the Eligibility of Delivery Units and Individuals VIII. Agency Review and Compliance Procedure of Statements and Financial Disclosures IX. People’s Freedom of Information X. Compliance to Republic Act No. 11032: An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 9485, otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, and for Other Purposes XI. Accountability Report Cards I. Mandate, Function, List of Officials, and Contact Information A. Mandate and Functions, Vision and Mission B. Officials, Designations and Contact Information To view the Transparency pages of the constituent units of the University, please click the links below: UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Manila UP Visayas UP Open University UP Mindanao UP Baguio UP Cebu UP PGH II. Annual Financial Reports Financial Accountability Report (FAR) No. 1 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Summary Report on Disbursements 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Budget Accountability Report (BAR) No. 1 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Financial Accountability Report (FAR) No. 5 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Financial Plan (BED) No. 1 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Financial Accountability Report (FAR) No. 1-A 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Financial Accountability Report (FAR) No. 1-B 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Financial Accountability Report (FAR) No. 1-C 2022 2021 2020 Financial Accountability Report (FAR) No. 2 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Financial Accountability Report (FAR) No. 2-A 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Financial Accountability Report (FAR) No. 3 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Financial Accountability Report (FAR) No. 4 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Financial Accountability Report (FAR) No. 6 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 III. DBM Approved Budget and Corresponding Targets 2023 A. General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2023 B. GAA Performance Targets for FY 2023 2022 A. General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2022 B. GAA Performance Targets for FY 2022 2021 A. General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2021 B. GAA Performance Targets for FY 2021 2020 A. General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2020 B. GAA Performance Targets for FY 2020 IV. Projects, Programs and Activities, Beneficiaries and Status of Implementation for FY 2020 • Balik-PhD Research Grants • Emerging Interdisciplinary Research (EIDR) • Enhanced Creative Work and Research Grant (ECWRG) • Implementation of the Free Tuition Law V. Annual Procurement Plan FY 2019 Consolidated Indicative Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2019 Indicative APP-nonCSE) of all UP CUs FY 2019 Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan for Common-Use Supplies and Equipment (FY 2019 APP CSE) for all CUs FY 2019 Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2019 APP-nonCSE) for all UP CUs FY 2020 Consolidated Indicative Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2020 Indicative APP-nonCSE) of all UP CUs FY 2020 Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan for Common-Use Supplies and Equipment (FY 2020 APP CSE) for all CUs FY 2020 Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2020 APP-nonCSE) for all UP CUs (Updated) FY 2021 Consolidated Indicative Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2021 Indicative APP-non CSE) of all UP CUs FY 2021 Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan for Common-Use Supplies and Equipment (FY 2021 APP CSE) for all CUs FY 2021 Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2021 APP-nonCSE) for all UP CUs FY 2022 Consolidated Indicative Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2022 Indicative APP-non CSE) of all UP CUs FY 2022 Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan for Common-Use Supplies and Equipment (FY 2022 APP CSE) for all CUs FY 2022 Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2022 APP-nonCSE) for all UP CUs FY 2023 Consolidated Indicative Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2023 Indicative APP-non CSE) of all UP CUs (large file) UP Systemwide Summary, UP System Administration and UP Diliman UP Los Baños, UP Manila, PGH, UP Open U, UP Visayas, UP Baguio, UP Mindanao and UP Cebu FY 2023 Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan for Common-Use Supplies and Equipment (FY 2023 APP CSE) for all CUs FY 2023 Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2023 APP-nonCSE) for all UP CUs FY 2024 Consolidated Indicative Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2024 Indicative APP-nonCSE) for all UP CUs FY 2024 Consolidated Annual Procurement Plan for Common-Use Supplies and Equipment (FY 2024 APP CSE) for all CUs FY 2024 Consolidated Indicative Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2024 Indicative APP-nonCSE) for all UP CUs – UP System FY 2024 Consolidated Indicative Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2024 Indicative APP-nonCSE) for all UP CUs – UP Diliman FY 2024 Consolidated Indicative Annual Procurement Plan (FY 2024 Indicative APP-nonCSE) for all UP CUs – UP Baguio, UP Los Baños, UP Tacloban, and UP Visayas VI. Quality Management System Certificates ISO Certificates Philippine General Hospital (PGH): | Renewal 2018-2021 | Renewal 2021-2024 | NIH-Institute of Human Genetics (IHG), UP Manila: | Renewal 2018-2021 | Renewal 2021-2024 | NIH-IHG-Newborn Screening Center (NSC), UP Manila: | Renewal 2018-2021 | Renewal 2021-2024 | Newborn Screening Reference Center (NSRC), UP Manila: | Renewal 2017-2020 | Renewal 2020-2023 | UP Law Complex, UP Diliman: | 2020-2023 | Philippine National Collection of Microorganisms – National Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (PNCM-NIMBB), UP Los Baños: | 2018-2021 | Renewal 2021-2024 | Other Certificates Human Resource Development Office (HRDO), UP Diliman: PRIME HRM Assessment Open University (UPOU): ICDE PRIZE OF EXCELLENCE College of Medicine (CM), UP Manila: Basic Medical Education Program – PAASCU – Level IV Re-accredited Status College of Pharmacy (CP), UP Manila: Pharmacy Program – PAASCU – Level III Re-accredited Status College of Nursing (CN), UP Manila: Nursing Program – PAASCU – Level II Re-accredited Status VII. Guidelines in Determining the Eligibility of Delivery Units and Individuals Guidelines in Ranking of Delivery Units for the Grant of Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Guidelines in Ranking of Delivery Units for the Grant of Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Guidelines in Determining the Eligibility of Delivery Units and Individuals for the Grant of Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Guidelines in Determining the Eligibility of Delivery Units and Individuals for the Grant of Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Guidelines in Determining the Eligibility of Delivery Units and Individuals for the Grant of Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 VIII. Agency Review and Compliance Procedure of Statements and Financial Disclosures Review and Compliance Procedures in the Filing and Submission of Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN) and Disclosure of Business Interest and Financial Connections for 2018 UP Sytemwide 2018 SALN Review and Compliance Committee Review and Compliance Procedures in the Filing and Submission of Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN) and Disclosure of Business Interest and Financial Connections for 2019 UP Sytemwide 2019 SALN Review and Compliance Committee Review and Compliance Procedures in the Filing and Submission of Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN) and Disclosure of Business Interest and Financial Connections for 2020 UP Sytemwide 2020 SALN Review and Compliance Committee Review and Compliance Procedures in the Filing and Submission of Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN) and Disclosure of Business Interest and Financial Connections for 2021 UP Sytemwide 2021 SALN Review and Compliance Committee Review and Compliance Procedures in the Filing and Submission of Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN) and Disclosure of Business Interest and Financial Connections for 2022 UP Sytemwide 2022 SALN Review and Compliance Committee IX. People’s Freedom of Information The Final People’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Manual Modified One-Page FOI Manual Freedom of Information (FOI) Reports Assessing Information Disclosure Practices for FOI Compliance (AID-FOI Tool) X. Compliance to Republic Act No. 11032: An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 9485, otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 and for other Purposes Certificate of Compliance to Republic Act No. 11032: An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services (2019) Certificate of Compliance to Republic Act No. 11032: An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services (updated: 2020) Certificate of Compliance to Republic Act No. 11032: An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services (2021) Certificate of Compliance to Republic Act No. 11032: An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services (updated: 2021) Certificate of Compliance to Republic Act No. 11032: An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services (2022) Certificate of Compliance to Republic Act No. 11032: An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services (2023) UP System and Constituent Universities Committee on Anti-Red Tape (CART) To view the Citizen’s Charters of the UP System and the Constituent Universities, please click the links below: UP System Administration UP Diliman UP Los Baños UP Manila UP Visayas UP Open University UP Mindanao UP Baguio UP Cebu UP Philippine General Hospital XI. Accountability Report Cards 2021 Performance-Based Bonus Scorecard 2020 MFO Accountability Report Card (MARC-1) Management Accountability Report Card (MARC-2) 2019 Congratulatory Letter MFO Accountability Report Card (MARC-1) Management Accountability Report Card (MARC-2) 2018 Congratulatory Letter MFO Accountability Report Card (MARC-1) Management Accountability Report Card (MARC-2) |
https://up.edu.ph/covid-19-updates/ | Online Portal of University of the Philippines COVID-19 News and Information – University of the Philippines | Online Portal of University of the Philippines COVID-19 News and Information This portal serves as a compilation of verified information and resource materials on UP’s actions during this public health situation. Please bookmark and refresh this page to get the latest updates on UP’s response to COVID-19. Share this site and help us prevent the spread of misinformation. Thank you. Messages from the UP President About COVID-19 UP-PGH Bayanihan Na! Operations Center UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team Policy Papers News, Memos, and Announcements Information on Constituent Universities Resources on Remote Learning, Teaching, and Working Tributes Messages from the UP President 26 March 2020—Message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion to the PGH community To the Staff and Administration of UP-PGH, On behalf of our community at the University of the Philippines—indeed, on behalf of the Filipino people—let me thank you, first of all, for your courageous, selfless, and outstanding service in these very trying times. Our nation and our people are suffering from a devastating scourge, and those of you at the frontlines are performing a heroic and unenviable function. [Read full text] 20 March 2020—UP president addresses the university community Dear members of the UP community: I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to you all for your amazing response to this crisis—a global situation the likes of which we have not seen in our lifetimes. We have been forced to suspend classes, work and all other campus activities, and to stay inside our homes and practice social distancing, all to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and to keep our healthcare system from being dangerously overwhelmed. For some of us, the effects of these measures on our finances, work, and social lives, and on our mental and physical health, have been devastating. [Read full text] 20 March 2020—Actions on academic matters 11 March 2020—UP’s response to COVID-19 About COVID-19 Health Advisory Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Advice for the UP Community [Read full advisory] | [ version of infographics] What to do while at home on enhanced community quarantine: COVID-19 Test Kit What does the NIH-PGC test kit contain? What does the locally produced COVID-19 test kit contain? These are explained by Dr. Raul Destura of the University of the Philippines Manila National Institutes of Health and Philippine Genome Center to members of the media during the press conference on March 12. While the kit can be dependably used as it is, it does contain a component that allows for a quality control mechanism with the aid of the experts at the PGC. For Dr. Cynthia Saloma of the PGC, the samples that will be derived from the kit will allow them to analyze the origin of the COVID-19 virus circulating among patients with the disease. It would also allow them to compare this with those found in other countries. With the test kit and analysis, UP Manila Chancellor, Dr. Carmencita Padilla is confident of the University’s capability, as it does have the necessary equipment to get the job done. The Philippine Genome Center: Stockpiling for COVID-19 [Learn more] 10 March 2020—As the world grapples with the spread of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 or COVID-19, countries such as the Philippines are mobilizing its experts in preparation of its impact on its citizens. Among those actively working to address the public health concern is the Philippine Genome Center of the University of the Philippines. On February 13, 2020, its pharmaceutical partner, Manila HealthTek, Inc. released a photo of a locally-made test kit which is the product of efforts by experts at the PGC and the National Institutes of Health, UP Manila. [Read full story] COVID-19: Dr. Raul Destura explaining the process of collecting samples Collecting samples for COVID-19 is a risky and challenging task. In this video, epidemiologist Dr. Raul Destura of the National Institutes of Health, UP Manila and Philippine Genome Center, explains how it is carefully and properly done. According to Destura, a medical professional who intends to collect samples from a suspected patient should be wearing the following: Personal protective equipment (PPE); N95 mask; gloves; goggles or face shield; water resistant or waterproof laboratory gown. All of these must be worn, observing the proper donning and doffing so as to prevent the person collecting samples from patients from getting into contact with any contaminant from the kit. The equipment, he added, must also be disposed of properly, abiding by generally-adopted protocols. What you need to know about the UP-developed coronavirus test kits 7 April 2020—After weeks of field trials, the country’s first locally-developed test kits for COVID-19 detection finally received the green light for public use. The Food and Drug Administration last week issued a certificate of product registration for the GenAmplify™ COVID-19 rRT-PCR Detection Kit, the low-cost test kit invented by a team of scientists from the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health, the Philippine Genome Center, and The Manila HealthTek Inc. [Read full story] 120,000 UP-developed COVID-19 test kits available starting this weekend —DOST 30 March 2020—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Monday announced that at least 120,000 locally-developed test kits for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will be available starting Saturday. [Read full story] DOST: Locally developed COVID-19 test kits ready this week 30 March 2020—The field validation of the locally developed COVID-19 test kits funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and made by scientists at the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health (UP-NIH) is expected to be finished by April 1, DOST’s top official announced on Monday. [Read full story] UP-PGH Bayanihan Na! Operations Center UP PGH Bayanihan Na! Operations Center for patient queries and donations Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH launches COVID-19 Ops Center 31 March 2020-155-200 is the number to call. And it’s open 24/7. The UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) launched its Bayanihan Na! COVID-19 Operations Center on March 30 to answer queries related to COVID-19, including how to volunteer and donate. [Read full story] UP officials discuss the establishment of UP PGH Bayanihan Operations Center UP President Danilo Concepcion, UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, and UP Philippine General Hospital Director Gerardo Legaspi discuss the establishment of a formal system and structure to facilitate the University’s reception of support for its frontline workers. While UP has the financial capability to readily procure personal protective equipment for its health and medical personnel, the challenge has been on the supply end. [See photo story] Isang Pagsaludo sa mga Intern ng Philippine General Hospital UP-PGH launches ‘Tele-kumusta’ UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team launches new features on endcov.ph The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team (UP PRT) launches new features in endcov.ph, a web portal created to provide the public with vital information and tools in the fight against COVID-19. [Read full story] UP Resilience Institute EndCOV Dashboard The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team has created a web portal (http://endcov.ph/) mapping out COVID-19 cases in the country in clear, useful detail. [Read full story] Addressing the Immediate Needs of All, Especially the Most Vulnerable Sectors: Analysis and Recommendations Social, economic, and political inequalities are starkly manifested in times of disasters. Read the full report here. ECQ doing good, ‘graduated activation’ recommended after April 30—UP pandemic response team The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed over Luzon, along with other interventions, has indeed slowed down the spread of COVID-19 virus, based on “the best available data”, according to a team specially formed by the University of the Philippines to help government make informed interventions against the pandemic. Read the story here. Estimating Local Healthcare Capacity to Deal with COVID-19 Case Surge: Analysis and Recommendations The rising number of cases of COVID-19 infections on a daily basis is a serious concern as there are limits to hospital care capacity for patients with serious symptoms (e.g. difficulty in breathing). Should the number of infected people rapidly rise, there may come a time when the hospital care resources will be overwhelmed. The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, in its latest model run, estimates the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to reach 9,000 to 44,000 by the end of April 2020. As of April 16 DOH reports a total of 5,660 confirmed cases. Download the report here. Modified Community Quarantine beyond April 30: Analysis and Recommendations The extension of the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) raises the question on how effective the ECQ has been to contain the spread of COVID-19. If it is, how should it be implemented after April 30 without unnecessarily paralyzing local economies over a long period of time? Download the report here. Preparing for a Post-ECQ Scenario: Analysis and Recommendations The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team releases the results of its projections, analyses, and recommendations to aid decision-making. Here’s what they have found: The peak of the “curve” is estimated to be seen by the end of April to June As many as 140,000-550,000 people are projected to be infected in Metro Manila, including undetected, mild and asymptomatic cases comprising probably 80% of the total Hospital bed capacity and other healthcare metrics can be projected based on the proportion of severe cases (5%) School and work lockdown, requiring PPEs, hand-washing, and social distancing are projected to help flatten the curve A modified, location-specific community quarantine strategy can be explored in light of different realities on the ground There is a need for more open, transparent data and sharing of information so we can apply the best science available Download the report here. UP Resilience Institute introduces COVID chatbot Meet Yani, the newest AI member of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team! Yani, short for baYANIhan and named in honor of our heroes in the fight against COVID-19, is ready to help you find the information you need. If you’re looking for the nearest hospitals, psychosocial support, or policy information, Yani has got you covered: m.me/YaniEndCovBot Yani is ready to chat every time you visit https://endcov.ph/ and can converse both in English and Filipino (dapat!) LGBT slang or the Beki language option is now available when you converse with Yani! If you’re looking for COVID-19 statistics, the nearest hospitals, links to therapy and counseling, or information on policies, you can talk to Yani through Facebook messenger: m.me/YaniEndCovBot. Read more: Yani, the EndCovBot, learns LGBT slang Policy Notes Preparing for a Post-ECQ Scenario: Analysis and Recommendations (7 April 2020) Modified Community Quarantine beyond April 30: Analysis and Recommendations (13 April 2020) Estimating Local Healthcare Capacity to Deal with COVID-19 Case Surge: Analysis and Recommendations (20 April 2020) Addressing the Immediate Needs of All, Especially the Most Vulnerable Sectors: Analysis and Recommendations (26 April 2020) Social Interactions and Post-ECQ School Opening and Mobility of Older People: Analysis and Recommendations (7 May 2020) Prevailing Data Issues in the Time of COVID-19 and the Need for Open Data (12 May 2020) Post-ECQ Job Risks: Analysis and Recommendations (22 May 2020) Policy Papers Preparing for a Post-ECQ Scenario: Analysis and Recommendations (7 April 2020) Modified Community Quarantine beyond April 30: Analysis and Recommendations (13 April 2020) Davao City should consider extending community quarantine beyond April 19 and conduct more tests for COVID-19—UP Mindanao Researchers (16 April 2020) Estimating Local Healthcare Capacity to Deal with COVID-19 Case Surge: Analysis and Recommendations (20 April 2020) A Sectoral View of Lifting the Lockdown and the Use of Sample-based Random Testing (27 April 2020) Surviving the Lockdown and Beyond (27 April 2020) Addressing the Immediate Needs of All, Especially the Most Vulnerable Sectors: Analysis and Recommendations (26 April 2020) Modified Community Quarantine Public Health Framework In Reponse To Covid-19 For Iloilo And Western Visayas After April 30: Data Analysis And Recommendations (28 April 2020) Public Health Data Analysis and Recommendations for COVID-19 in Western Visayas as of 30 April 2020 (7 May 2020) Social Interactions and Post-ECQ School Opening and Mobility of Older People: Analysis and Recommendations (7 May 2020) Briefer on “Flattening the Curve” (9 May 2020) Prevailing Data Issues in the Time of COVID-19 and the Need for Open Data (12 May 2020) Post-ECQ Job Risks: Analysis and Recommendations (22 May 2020) Briefer on How an Epidemic Happens and What is an Epidemic Wave (22 May 2020) News UP offers educational materials to the public 17 August 2020—The University of the Philippines serves as the country’s premier community of scholars, experts, academics and researchers, and a rich reservoir of knowledge, information, cutting-edge research, innovations and technologies. [Read full story] UPOU-Kaagapay+ launched 10 September 2020—In consonance with the UP System’s Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan Fundraising and Resource Generation Campaign (Kaagapay UP), UP Open University (UPOU) launched its own UPOU-Kaagapay+ program on September 1. [Read full story] UPLB graduates ready to take on the challenge of a post-COVID world – Regent Laurel 8 September 2020—“The year 2020 is the year that will forever be remembered as the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a daunting challenge to say the least. This is where the UP education comes into play.” [Read full story] Enrolling in UP this semester? Here’s what to expect 26 August 2020—Aside from gadgets and financial assistance, UP will be implementing two additional programs for the student’s health, dignity, and welfare. [Read full story] COVID-19 cases in PH could hit over half a million by end of 2020, UP forecast says 2 September 2020—The coronavirus tally in the Philippines could average at around 585,000 before the year ends, based on a forecast by researchers from the University of the Philippines. [Read full story] Social scientists give insights on the COVID-19 pandemic 24 August 2020—Faculty members of the UPLB Department of Social Sciences (DSS) gave their take on the COVID-19 pandemic using the lenses of their respective disciplines at the inaugural edition of USAP PH webinar series on Aug 20. [Read full story] UPLB CMDL aims to double its testing target per day 18 August 2020—The University of the Philippines Los Banos COVID-19 Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory (UPLB CMDL) is aiming to double its target number of testing per day through employing two shifts. [Read full story] SiM opens 18 August 2020—The newly-renovated Molave Residence Hall is in an acceptable distance from the various communities inside UPD, including Barangay UP Campus. [Read full story] COVID infection and inflammation highlighted in UP’s next online medical grand rounds this Friday 12 August 2020—Infection and inflammation are both processes that come into play in COVID-19. Most patients will battle the infection over two weeks and only have a mild case of the disease. In some patients, however, inflammation may be severe, leading to cytokine storms and organ failure that are difficult to manage. [Read full story] UP-backed genome center on the trail of coronavirus 1 August 2020—Researchers at the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) are working round the clock to trace the “route” of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that has been ravaging populations around the Philippines since March. [Read full story] #KaagapayUP project to bring hope to financially challenged UP students 23 July 2020—The word kaagapay is typically associated with being at one’s side. Its constituents, the affix, ka-, which indicates relation, and its root, agapay, or support, together connote mutual assistance, trust, care, and respect from individuals who desire that others become fully functional persons. [Read full story] UPOU shares tutorials for creating video lectures 28 July 2020—The shift to remote learning because of COVID-19 brings the possibility of using video materials for teaching. Video lectures by teachers will be an important tool, especially in asynchronous learning, where lessons are discussed without the constraint of having all students together at the same place or at the same time. [Read full story] UP-developed test kits ready for commercial use: DOH 19 July 2020—The Department of Health said the test kits developed by University of the Philippines scientists are now ready for commercial use. [Read full story] UP webinar takes on the mental and emotional impact of COVID-19 22 July 2020—The COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat not just to people’s physical health, but perhaps more insidiously, to their mental, emotional and psychological health as well, with uncertainty and fear of the unknown causing and exacerbating worry and stress. [Read full story] UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team tracks PH cities’ road to recovery 23 July 2020—How are cities in the Philippines faring in the fight against COVID-19? Where are they now on the road to recovery towards the goal of zero cases? [Read full story] UP CoPES helps build psychosocial resilience of self and others 14 July 2020—Times of crisis can inflict not only physical and economic, but also psychosocial harm. These psychosocial hazards take a toll on both individuals and families, compromising the safety and productivity of those involved. [Read full story] Long road to recovery for survivors of critical COVID-19 cases 14 July 2020—“We want our patients to be able to go back to the lives they had before being critically ill.” This is the end goal of physiatrists in providing rehabilitative care and treatment, as emphasized by Dr. Celso Bate of The Medical City and the Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center, in the eleventh episode of UP’s STOP COVID DEATHS webinar series on July 3. [Read full story] COVID-19 cases in Philippines may rise to 85,000 by end of July —UP experts 16 July 2020—Experts from the University of the Philippines have projected that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country may reach more than 85,000 by the end of July. [Read full story] UPLB inaugurates its COVID-19 testing center 15 July 2020—The UPLB-CMDL will serve as a subnational testing center for Laguna and nearby provinces, thereby helping ease a major bottleneck in the COVID-19 response in the country. [Read full story] Devcom prof joins scicom in COVID-19 talk 15 July 2020—“Today, more than any other time, science communication plays an integral part on how science can become more relevant in overcoming the challenges we face in this pandemic.” [Read full story] PGH says can no longer accept critically ill coronavirus patients 15 July 2020—The Philippine General Hospital said Wednesday it could no longer accept critically ill coronavirus patients from other health facilities because its beds were almost full. [Read full story] Social protection should be sector-specific – UP experts 14 July 2020—The experts from the University of the Philippines (UP) have recommended that the government should take into consideration the sector-specific needs of the vulnerable and marginalized to be able to survive the coronavirus pandemic. [Read full story] UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team launches new features on endcov.ph 7 July 2020—The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team (UP PRT) launches new features in endcov.ph, a web portal created to provide the public with vital information and tools in the fight against COVID-19. [Read full story] UP webinar to tackle the challenges of staying safe while serving in the line of fire 7 July 2020—Anesthesiologists, doctors who provide perioperative care to COVID-19 patients, are among medical workers who serve at the frontlines in the battle against the viral pandemic. As such, they face health risks due to their exposure and close proximity to COVID-19-positive patients in enclosed spaces. [Read full story] ‘Be visible. Be available.’ 6 July 2020—Ma. Rita Villanueva-Tamse teaches in the UP Open University (UPOU) Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN) program and at the UP Manila College of Nursing, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She is a former chief of the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Division of Clinical Nursing Operations and a former deputy director for Nursing at the same hospital. She has almost 40 years of experience in nursing administration. [Read full story] Know the risk of getting COVID-19 at your workplace 6 July 2020—You can calculate this using job and workplace risk calculators developed by UPLB biomathematicians based at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics (IMSP) of the College of Arts and Sciences. [Read full story] UPLB alumna is behind COVID-19 testing tech in Switzerland 7 July 2020—An alumna of UPLB and native of Los Baños leads the development of a mass testing technology in Switzerland that is considered a breakthrough in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read full story] Biochemist stresses agri biotech’s role in COVID-19 fight 7 July 2020—At first glance, the field of agricultural biotechnology (agri biotech) does not seem to have any relation at all to fighting a pandemic. But according to Dr. Flerida A. Cariño, professor of biochemistry at UP Diliman, agri biotech has a bigger role in countering the current COVID-19 crisis than most people realize. [Read full story] Next Edu-Hack Podcasts targets Students’ Perspectives on Learning amidst the Pandemic 6 July 2020—The next episode of “Edu-Hack: Navigating a Turbulent Educational Landscape” targets students who will be enrolling this academic year, with the gloom of the pandemic on their shoulders. [Read full story] UP BadAss hits a serve for IP communities 6 July 2020—Even with COVID-19 putting a strain on the country’s healthcare system and economy, experts have found that the world’s indigenous peoples have been disproportionately affected. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs recently cited that their relatively poor access to healthcare, higher rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and lack of access to essential services make indigenous communities especially vulnerable to the ravages of a global pandemic. [Read full story] PH starts Covid-19 vaccine trials 10 July 2020—The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the collaboration with five coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine manufacturers from China and Taiwan to be used in clinical trials in the country. [Read full story] UP-PGH’s COVID-19 admissions exceed 130-bed capacity 9 July 2020—The University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital on Thursday said it has exceeded its initial 130-bed capacity for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. [Read full story] Plans, Possibilities and Progress: UP academics moving into the “next normal” 2 July 2020—The University of the Philippines (UP) is coming to terms with the fact that we can no longer go back to the traditional modes of teaching and learning. However, this “next normal”is also opening up new prospects, platforms, and possibilities for teaching and learning, which UP is set to explore within the next two months. [Read full story] UPRI launches Policy Sourcebook on COVID-19 3 July 2020—With the barrage of news, information, and social media posts coming from all sides, it can be a challenge for ordinary Filipinos to stay up-to-date with the national government’s efforts to fight COVID-19. In light of this, the University of the Philippines (UP) has come up with a way to keep track of the government’s latest policies and measures to defeat the viral pandemic in the country. [Read full story] Off-label drug therapies in COVID-19 may lead to arrythmias 2 July 2020—The use of antivirals and antimalarials as off-label therapies in the treatment of COVID-19 may result in arrythmias or heartbeat irregularities, according to Dr. Chito Permejo, a UP Manila College of Medicine 2001 graduate who is a cardiology intensivist at the Philippine Heart Center. [Read full story] UP Prof. Emeritus Pernia talks COVID-19 and the Economy at UPAA Kapihan 3 July 2020—An enriching discussion titled “COVID-19 and the Economy” on the intersection of human and economic health took place on June 16, 2020, as former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary and UP School of Economics Emeritus Professor Ernesto M. Pernia was the guest and resource speaker at the UP Alumni Association’s (UPAA) Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP program. [Read full story] UPLB epidemiologist situates pandemics in ecosystem status 29 June 2020—A molecular epidemiologist from UPLB explained how pandemics, such as COVID-19, are caused by declining biodiversity. [Read full story] UPLB COVID testing center is now certified! 29 June 2020—The UPLB COVID-19 Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory (UPLB-CMDL) received today, June 29, its certification as a molecular laboratory that can perform independent testing for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) by Realtime PCR from the Department of Health-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH-RITM). [Read full story] UP BadAss sells face masks for IPs 1 July 2020—The UP Badminton Association in Diliman (UP BADASS), in coordination with Abra Indigo-Manila, is selling hand-embroidered face masks by the Itneg community in Abra to raise funds for the indigenous peoples (IPs) community in Namarabar, Peñarrubia, Abra. [Read full story] URUGUP para han Jipapad 30 June 2020—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. [Read full story] Self-reliance needed in country’s response to COVID-19 30 June 2020—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. [Read full story] University students help rice farmers sell their produce 26 June 2020—Among these are the farmers who have lost their market due to transport constraints. Seeing the plight of the farmers, a group of university students decided to act and help the farmers gain a market in the metro. [Read full story] Sisters launch fundraiser for UP’s Ikot, Toki drivers 29 June 2020—But what began as a hobby and at times, a source of additional income, has now turned into a way for the trio to give back to the jeepney drivers on the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus in Quezon City who have been jobless since March due to the Metro Manila lockdown. [Read full story] Masks reveal history of Cordillera fabrics 28 June 2020—Masks made of indigenous fabric have retained some level of value both for producers and their clientele. This is because of the time, effort and history behind the fabric woven the traditional way in many parts of the city and other Cordillera towns. [Read full story] COVID-19 cases in Philippines may reach 60,000 by July 31 —experts 30 June 2020—The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines may reach more than 60,000 by July 31, according to a study made by a group of experts. [Read full story] 332 COVID-19 patients in PH now participating in WHO Solidarity Trials 26 June 2020—There are now 332 patients afflicted with the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country who are participating in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global Solidarity Trial, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Pena said on Friday, June 26. [Read full story] How the pandemic impacts healthcare 28 June 2020—The art of medicine is almost as old as civilization itself. Advances in science have increased the reliability of treatments we use to help our patients feel better. The way we deliver care, however, has remained the same. A doctor still needs to examine a patient. [Read full story] UP Mindanao, DOST XI to help set up COVID-19 testing facility in Davao de Oro 26 June 2020—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. [Read full story] UPOU offers free online bridge courses 23 June 2020—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. [Read full story] 10th UP-PhilHealth webinar will be about children’s health during COVID-19 pandemic 24 June 2020—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. [Read full story] “Bawal lumabas.” 23 June 2020—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). [Read full story] CSC@40 Anniversary Lecture: “Katatagan at Pagbangon sa Panahon ng Pandemya” 24 June 2020—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. [Read full story] Surviving COVID-19, becoming a better nurse 23 June 2020—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). [Read full story] Univ Lib expands online services during the pandemic 23 June 2020—In this time of a pandemic, the UPLB University Library (UL) aims to move “closer” to its users by intensifying its online services. [Read full story] With forensics, COVID-19 dead can tell fresh tales on pandemic 24 June 2020—A forensics-based approach to managing the dead due to COVID-19 will help policymakers better understand the disease as they navigate the country through the pandemic, a member of the academe said Wednesday. [Read full story] DOST, UP-PGH to conduct convalescent plasma transfusion as possible cure for COVID-19 24 June 2020—The project called “Convalescent Plasma as Adjunctive Therapy for Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19″ will provide adjunctive therapy which is a treatment used to support the main or primary treatment of diseases. [Read full story] Philippines wants equitable access to vaccine 21 June 2020—The Philippine representatives to the WHO Solidarity clinical trial are led by Dr. Marissa Alejandria of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. [Read full story] Record 1,150 new cases sets total near 32k, UP team cites relaxed lockdown for surge 24 June 2020—The relaxation in quarantine restrictions has brought about a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections nationwide, a University of the Philippines math professor said Tuesday. [Read full story] UP Baguio opens arts and crafts market at Oblation grounds 22 June 2020—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. [Read full story] UPVTC URUGUP distributes 2nd batch of alcohol 17 June 2020—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. [Read full story] UP webinar highlights Lung Center’s innovations in fighting COVID-19 18 June 2020—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. [Read full story] Is there more to a zero in disease statistics? 17 June 2020—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. [Read full story] COVID-19 Clinical Management: The Cebu Experience 17 June 2020—To help Filipinos courageously face the COVID-19 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. [Read full story] UP freshmen told to expect remote learning under new normal 16 June 2020—Incoming freshmen entering the University of the Philippines (UP) are told to expect remote teaching and learning under the new normal. [Read full story] Bucoy ‘monovlogs’ pay tribute to COVID-19 frontliners 16 June 2020—The latest literary works of Layeta Bucoy, UPLB’s lone UP Artist, homegrown playwright, and faculty member at the Department of Humanities, is a story about life, struggles, and love for family amid the pandemic and community lockdown. [Read full story] Catastrophic Loss in Jobs and Work Hours: Save the MSMEs and Protect the Workers 17 June 2020—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. [Read full story] UPCAT qualifiers enrolling in UP can expect the “new normal” of remote learning 15 June 2020—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. [Read full story] UPV Tacloban College maps the COVID-19 outbreak in Eastern Visayas 16 June 2020—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. [Read full story] Gender inclusion, appreciative resilience vital to crisis response 16 June 2020—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. [Read full story] Remote learning resources now available 15 June 2020—Resources for remote learning are now available to assist educators shifting from traditional classroom instruction to blended learning when the new school year opens on August 24. [Read full story] Oplan Hatid makes 1000th mark in students served 15 June 2020—UPLB’s Oplan Hatid has made it to the 1,000th mark in the number of students it has served since the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was implemented in Luzon on March 16. [Read full story] Oplan Hatid embarks on biggest international operation 12 June 2020—Twenty four Sri Lankan graduate students from UPLB were able to fly home to their country today, June 11, through an embassy-coordinated operation of various UPLB offices and Oplan Hatid. [Read full story] PAF flies stranded UPLB students home to Western Visayas 12 June 2020—UPLB Oplan Hatid, a program under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA), partnered with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to fly home students who were stranded in the UPLB campus during the series of community quarantine implemented in Luzon from March 16 to date. [Read full story] UP webinar takes on COVID-19 and its impact on heart disease 11 June 2020—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? [Read full story] UPV community takes care of UPD students 11 June 2020—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. [Read full story] UP Alumni Association to hold Kapihan ng Bayan sa UP on “COVID-19 and the Economy” 11 June 2020—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. [Read full story] UPOU sets more online lectures and discussion 11 June 2020—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. [Read full story] Virgin coconut oil trials for COVID patients OK’d 9 June 2020—Virgin coconut oil trials on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) are finally underway, according to Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña. [Read full story] Telepresence device enables health workers at PGH to communicate with patients remotely 7 June 2020—A telepresence device that can enable health workers to connect with their patients without physically being present in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wards can now be used at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). [Read full story] COVID-19 test booth project reaches 100th mark 5 June 2020—A partnership that sought to help the medical community in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic has fulfilled its promise. [Read full story] Opening soon: UPHS telemedicine specialty clinics 5 June 2020—Seven UP Health Service (UPHS) specialty clinics will be available through telemedicine and will tentatively serve on Monday. [Read full story] UPLB makes upgraded COVID-19 swabbing booth 5 June 2020—Swabbing booths for COVID-19 testing have become imperative to protect the lives of medical frontliners who collect sample specimens from suspected and probable patients. [Read full story] 5 more stranded UP Mindanao students return home 4 June 2020—Five more students from the University of the Philippines in Mindanao were able to return to their hometowns in Davao region after being stranded due to the lockdown brought by the coronavirus disease. [Read full story] DIY face shields initiative continues in UPV 24 May 2020—Students of UP Visayas may be considered as trail blazers in the creation of the ‘Do It Yourself’ face shields in the country. [Read full story] UP Mindanao, SPMC to train more medical personnel for Covid-19 testing facilities 3 June 2020—The Mindanao campus of the University of the Philippines and the Southern Philippines Medical Center would soon start a series of training for medical personnel to handle the human resource demand of the emerging testing centers across Mindanao for Covid-19 cases. [Read full story] UP Mindanao launches online platform to track COVID-19 cases in the Davao Region 3 June 2020—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. [Read full story] UP researchers develop VR prototype of stay-homecare for behavioral and psychological conditions 3 June 2020—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. [Read full story] Lessons from the San Lazaro experience 3 June 2020—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. [Read full story] The pivotal role of Noel Ferriols and PGC-Visayas in the WV fight against COVID-19 2 June 2020—Heroes emerge during times of crisis. [Read full story] How epidemics start and end: COVID-19 spread in PH analyzed 23 May 2020—Dr. Mary Grace Dacuma of the UP Pandemic Response Team has released findings from a recent study on how an epidemic happens and what an epidemic wave is. [Read full story] Quarantine facility sa UP College of Human Kinetics, handa na para sa mga gumaling sa COVID-19 1 June 2020—Handa na ang Kalinga Center quarantine facility sa College of Human Kinetics annex gym sa University of the Philippines-Diliman sa lungsod ng Quezon para sa mga pasyenteng gumaling na sa COVID-19 at nangangailangan lang ng karagdagang quarantine period. [Basahin ang buong istorya] Yani, the EndCovBot, learns LGBT slang 26 May 2020—LGBT slang or the Beki language option is now available when you converse with Yani! If you’re looking for COVID-19 statistics, the nearest hospitals, links to therapy and counseling, or information on policies, you can talk to Yani through Facebook messenger: m.me/YaniEndCovBot. [Read full story] Medical eLearning at the time of COVID-19 29 May 2020—UP College of Medicine, DOH, and APMC to hold month-long Medical eLearning: Behind the Screens Virtual Conference on June 2020. [Read full story] Frontliners at the forefront of the 6th UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar, May 29 26 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UPVTC reflects on MHPSS in COVID-19 crisis 29 May 2020—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. [Read full story] 23 stranded UP Mindanao students return to hometowns through inter-agency efforts 29 May 2020—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. [Read full story] More UPV students reunite with families 29 May 2020—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. [Read full story] Doing the math in a pandemic 27 May 2020—“Our decision will be based on science.” The science community must have heaved a collective sigh of relief when a top government official said this about the way forward for the country in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read full story] UPLB ready to open COVID-19 laboratory 21 May 2020—The University of the Philippines Los Baños’ (UPLB) molecular diagnostic laboratory for COVID-19 is now on its way to the final stages of obtaining approval from the World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health (DoH), and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). [Read full story] P4.7M allotted for research, development of disinfection pods for health frontliners 25 May 2020—Dubbed the “SANI-POD,” the research and development project is a partnership among doctors of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila and engineers of UP Diliman, President Rodrigo Duterte’s report to Congress on Monday said. [Read full story] LRT-1 operator invests in disinfection technology 28 May 2020—Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), has partnered with the University of the Philippines-Diliman’s National Engineering Center for the use of an ultraviolet technology to disinfect its train sets. [Read full story] UP women’s basketball team creates masks to help indigent members 29 May 2020—The UP Women’s Basketball Team is launching a fundraiser to help indigent team members amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. [Read full story] UP Baguio puts up farmers market to aid food growers 30 May 2020—A farmers market will be open to the public every Friday at the University of the Philippines Baguio, to help widen access to food during the quarantine. [Read full story] Lopez Group helps PGH expand testing capacity 30 May 2020—The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) has accepted an offer from the Lopez Group to help the state university hospital increase 10 times its capability to test for the virus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19). [Read full story] 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 22 May 2020—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. [Read full memorandum] UPVTC turns 47 22 May 2020—What to do when mass gatherings are not allowed to celebrate an occasion because of a pandemic? Take it online. [Read full story] Kidney patients more vulnerable to COVID-19 21 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UP Cebu CENVI presents “a timeline in maps” of Cebu City’s battle against COVID-19 21 May 2020—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. [Read full story] Negrense students of UPV go home 21 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UP Beta Sigma Fraternity – UP Visayas Chapter ramps up COVID-19 response, distributes medical supplies, sends relief in southern Iloilo 21 May 2020—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. [Read full story] IMSP FabLab makes medical accessories for frontliners 21 May 2020—Fighting the COVID-19 pandemic has made UPLB colleges and institutes step up to do their part. [Read full story] Save a life. Make a face shield. 20 May 2020—To continue providing frontliners protective gear to battle COVID-19, the UPD Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) is making a clarion call for volunteers to assemble face shields. [Read full story] 14 stranded UP students to arrive in Naga City 20 May 2020—At least 14 students of the University of the Philippines (UP), who were stranded at the school campus in Quezon City since the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine last March, were expected to arrive in Naga City on Wednesday afternoon. [Read full story] UPD continues to help 19 May 2020—Here is an update on the initiatives or projects of various UPD units, student organizations and an alumni group. [Read full story] CHED chair, HEI heads discuss grad educ amid COVID-19 8 May 2020—Issues surrounding higher education institutions (HEIs) amid the COVID-19 pandemic are often associated with the undergraduate level, with this sector comprising majority of students. [Read full story] CoVcheck develops Quarantine Buddy: a patient care management system 15 May 2020—In these extraordinary times, speed is of the essence. To further accelerate our LGUs’ CoVID-19 response, CoVcheck developed the Quarantine Buddy (QB). [Read full story] UPV facilitates going home of students 14 May 2020—UP Visayas is continuously endeavoring to assist its students who are stranded in Miagao and Iloilo City campuses who wish to return to their places of residence now that the Second Semester has ended. [Read full story] LOOK: Palma Hall opens its doors as isolation unit for UP Diliman 19 May 2020—Dubbed as Kanlungang Palma sa Panahon ng Pandemya, the social sciences and humanities hub of University of the Philippines Diliman takes on the responsibility of housing suspected and probable coronavirus cases in the area. [Read full story] UP CHK opens annex as step-down iso facility for COVID-19 cases 18 May 2020—In support of the government’s drive to curb the effect of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, University of the Philippines opened the annex of the College of Human Kinetics Gym as a step-down isolation facility. [Read full story] NIMBB trains 54 medical technicians under DOH-RITM 15 May 2020—The National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) helped the Department of Health-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH-RITM) train 54 medical technicians. [Read full story] UP Diliman looking for volunteers to help assemble frontliner gear 17 May 2020—The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (UPD-OVCAA) of the University of the Philippines-Dilman is asking for volunteers to help assemble face shields for frontliners. [Read full story] Tsikiting Stories addresses children’s mental health amidst COVID-19 15 May 2020—While adults are adjusting to the arrangements required by the COVID-19 crisis, children are likely having a hard time understanding the sudden changes going on around them. [Read full story] STAT: Finding solutions for COVID-19 12 May 2020—Like most UP Diliman units, the UP School of Statistics (STAT) has projects addressing the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis. [Read full story] Relaxed quarantine measures in PH not ‘coming-out party’: disease expert 14 May 2020—An infectious diseases specialist cautioned the public against keeping their guard down as the Philippine government is set to reduce quarantine restrictions to revive the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. [Read full story] Philippines in a global race to find a treatment for COVID-19 13 May 2020—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. [Read full story] Yani the EndCovbot has unlocked a new skill! 12 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UP to provide its workforce additional emergency allowance 14 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UPLB ensures adherence to biosafety reqts in COVID-19 testing lab 11 May 2020—As UPLB stepped up to establish its own COVID-19 Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory that shall serve as a subnational testing center for Laguna and neighboring provinces, it sought to equip the said facility with an all-important pre-requisite – biosafety and biosecurity. [Read full story] ECQ alone won’t curb coronavirus, PH needs mass testing – UP expert 12 May 2020—’Mass testing, isolation, and contact tracing – this is where we should invest,’ says Professor Jomar Rabajante of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team [Read full story] The inspiring everyday heroism of PGH’s frontliner moms 9 May 2020—‘Ma, Bakit Hindi ka pa uuwi?’ is a question often asked of the children of these amazing women at Philippine General Hospital. But despite missing and worrying about their own families, they must heed their call to serve. [Read full story] U.P. experts say ‘open data’ is part of fight vs COVID-19 12 May 2020—The UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, a group of some 200 professors, researchers, alumni, and students, says data sharing ‘must be used to generate knowledge’ [Read full story] UP experts spot ‘alarming errors’ in DOH’s COVID-19 patient data 12 May 2020—The University of the Philippines COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team in their policy note released Tuesday pointed out errors and discrepancies in the Department of Health’s data on COVID-19 patients. [Read full story] Pinoy medical experts, scientists join fight vs virus 13 May 2020—Filipino scientists and medical practitioners who were trained and based overseas have joined the frontliners in Philippine hospitals in the continuing struggle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). [Read full story] ‘Test center gives more hope against Covid-19 in Eastern Visayas’ 10 May 2020—The first accredited molecular laboratory in Eastern Visayas will boost the country’s fight against the deadly coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the region. [Read full story] UP-Diliman’s Palma Hall now a DOH-approved quarantine facility 13 May 2020—The University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD) Palma Hall is now operating as a quarantine facility for suspected and probable cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). [Read full story] Pandemic shines light on country’s brightest minds 11 May 2020—In the battle against COVID-19, Filipino scientists—such as the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team—take center stage. Get to know some of the ways they harness their knowledge and skills to help the country win the war against a deadly virus. [Read full story] UP Concert Chorus conveys peace message in song 11 May 2020—Netizens were treated to a heart-felt cover of the song “Let there be Peace on Earth” by the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus. [Read full story] Metro Manila Council chief sees another lockdown extension 11 May 2020—On Saturday, a team of University of the Philippines (UP) professors recommended that the government extend the ECQ in Metro Manila and other areas, warning that a premature easing could lead to 24,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,700 deaths by mid-June. [Read full story] Philippines now has 26 COVID-19 testing centers — DOH 10 May 2020—There are now 26 testing laboratories in the Philippines that are capable of detecting the SARS CoV-2—the coronavirus that causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). [Read full story] UPD-NIMBB trains med-techs for COVID-19 detection 8 May 2020—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. [Read full story] COVID-19, ECQ, and Crash Landing on You 8 May 2020—Question: How does one explain the COVID-19 crisis from a governance perspective in an easily digestible and palatable manner? [Read full story] UP pays tribute to 22 alumni who died from COVID-19 8 May 2020—The University of the Philippines has released a video paying tribute to its alumni who succumbed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). [Read full story] UP Law faculty proposes use of new tech for ‘smart courts’ during pandemic 7 May 2020—Incorporation of new technologies into the Philippine court system will help dispensation of justice during the COVID-19 pandemic and even after, a study from the University of the Philippines College of Law said. [Read full story] UP scientist: gov’t should reconsider activities with adverse effects on air quality 6 May 2020—To maintain the “good air quality” as the “new normal,” a scientist from the University of the Philippines has appealed to all sectors to use the opportunity to reconsider activities that have adverse impacts on air quality. [Read full story] UP’s “StopCOVIDDeaths” webinar to discuss COVID-19 treatment landscape 7 May 2020—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. [Read full story] #TatagUP: resilience, survival and response post-ECQ 1 May 2020—As the nation looks forward to a post-pandemic scenario, UP Diliman (UPD) is easing the transition to post-ECQ. [Read full story] Maynilad turns over 100 isolation tents 7 May 2020—MAYNILAD Water Services, Inc. has handed over 100 isolation tents and hygiene kits to an alumni association of the University of the Philippines that is setting up a 100-bed quarantine facility for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. [Read full story] 5 tips to maintain psychosocial health amid COVID-19 pandemic 6 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UP pays tribute to COVID-19 fatalities 6 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UP buildings transformed into Covid-19 facilities 1 May 2020—Several buildings within the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City have been transformed into testing sites, a quarantine facility and living quarters for frontliners and health workers. [Read full story] 58 UP Students na Umuwi sa Isabela, Nasa Maayos na Kalagayan! 4 May 2020—Nasa maayos na kalagayan at walang sintomas ng COVID-19 ang 58 estudyante ng UP Los Baños na sinundo ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Isabela. [Read full story] UPCAT 2020 results targeted for release within the month of May 5 May 2020—As previously announced, the release of the UPCAT2020 results has been delayed due to the enhanced community quarantine. [Read full announcement] Elevate air pollution problem in post-ECQ “new normal” agenda – UPD scientist 5 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UPV increases priority of relief to its affected communities 5 May 2020—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. [Read full story] Air quality after ECQ far from ‘new normal’ expectations – UPD experts 5 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UPV to stranded students: “Prepare to go home” 5 May 2020—UP Visayas (UPV) has advised its students stranded in campus and off-campus housing to start preparing to go home. [Read full story] UP Law offers free legal aid online 5 May 2020—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].” [Read full story] UPOU launches “Edu-Hack” podcast series 5 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UP Beta Epsilon Fraternity donates 10,000 PPEs for UPM-PGH frontliners 5 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UPSO, UP musicians come together in “Alay sa Sambayang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Agam-Agam”, a musical tribute 4 May 2020—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. [Read full story] UPLB medical technologists and volunteers train in COVID-19 testing 1 May 2020—In order to prepare for the operation of the UPLB SARS-CoV2/COVID-19 Testing Center, UPLB personnel took the SARS-CoV2 Testing Training Program at the UP Manila -National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) in UP Diliman on April 28 and 29. [Read full story] UP’s graduation tradition of planting sunflowers endures despite COVID-19 4 May 2020—While the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may lead to the postponement or even cancellation of this year’s commencement rites at the state university, it doesn’t mean the end of a cherished graduation tradition. [Read full story] Para sa bayan: U.P. lends expertise, resources in fight vs coronavirus 1 May 2020—As the coronavirus disease continues to spread across the country, the University of the Philippines (UP) has risen to the challenge of lending its expertise and resources to stem the new virus. [Read full story] UP team bares 3 minimum health standards to flatten the curve 2 May 2020—With COVID-19 cases declining in major areas in Luzon, a team of professors from the University of the Philippines said three minimum health safeguards have to be met first to sustain the flattening of the curve if the government intends to relax its quarantine protocols. [Read full story] UP Men’s Basketball players stay fighting amidst COVID-19 3 May 2020—The whole world of sports has come to a halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (UP MBT) stay fighting. [Read full story] DavNor donates P12-M for UP Covid-19 test lab 29 April 2020—The Provincial Government of Davao del Norte donated P12 million to help set up the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP-Mindanao) coronavirus disease (Covid-19) testing laboratory. [Read full story] UP holds “Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates” webinar for healthcare frontliners 30 April 2020—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. [Read full story] Start an EL garden today and have a ready food source 28 April 2020—Whether one has or has no money, food source during the enhanced community quarantine remains a problem. [Read full story] PGC Core Facility for Bioinformatics releases six (6) genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 from Philippine samples between March 22-28, 2020 30 April 2020—The Philippine Genome Center through its Core Facility for Bioinformatics releases today to the global community through the GISAID database six (6) viral genome sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 from COVID-19 cases between March 22-28, 2020 in Metro Manila. [Read full story] More support for UP Cebu’s stranded students 29 April 2020—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. [Read full story] UPV team submits post-ECQ plan to Iloilo City gov’t 29 April 2020—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). [Read full story] UPLB laboratorians complete online biosafety training on COVID-19 28 April 2020—Nine UPLB staff completed the Free Online Biosafety Training for Laboratorians who will be handling SARS-COV-2 or COVID-19, boosting UPLB’s capability to become certified as a COVID-19 testing center. [Read full story] UPV turns over 3D-printed face shields to Western Visayas LGUs 27 April 2020—UP Visayas has started distributing 3D-printed face shields to local government units and its institutional partners in Panay and Negros since last week as part of the university’s contribution to the efforts against COVID 19 pandemic. [Read full story] UPLB retrofits BL2 lab for gold standard COVID-19 testing 27 April 2020—UPLB is now rushing work to retrofit one of its Biosafety Level II laboratories into a COVID-19 testing center. [Read full story] Project ARK can diagnose a combination of rapid antibody testing, PCR screening 28 April 2020—A private sector-led initiative has started to conduct a massive testing for the coronavirus disease to help in the early identification, isolation, and management of the disease at the community level. [Read full story] Telepsychotherapy services offered to frontliners and COVID-19 patients, PUIs, PUMS, and probables 23 April 2020—The Department of Psychology of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) is offering free “telepsychotherapy” services to frontliners, and suspect, probable, and positive COVID-19 patients, including their relatives, and other severely affected by the pandemic. [Read full story] Philippine Genome Center is country’s 18th coronavirus testing hub 24 April 2020—The Department of Health on Friday, April 24, confirmed that the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) is the country’s 18th testing center for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). [Read full story] UP Mindanao eyes opening of COVID-19 test lab by June 24 April 2020—Mindanao will have its second COVID-19 testing laboratory by June this year, University of the Philippines Mindanao said in a press release Friday. [Read full story] UP team favors quarantine extension to check coronavirus transmissions 27 April 2020—Based on its forecast, the UP team said that should the ECQ be continued, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) will not breach the 10,000 mark by May 31. [Read full story] OVP buys 10,000 coronavirus test kits developed by UP scientist 24 April 2020—The office of Vice President Leni Robredo has purchased 10,000 units of coronavirus test kits that were developed by a scientist from the University of the Philippines. [Read full story] UP sets guidelines on proceeding with academic year affected by the ECQ 24 April 2020—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. [Read full story] UPD chemists produce sanitizers 24 April 2020—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). [Read full story] Statement on the Reported Proposal of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team to Delay the Reopening of Schools up to December 2020 24 April 2020—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. [Read full statement] UP united: How the state university is raising head and heart against COVID-19 23 April 2020—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. [Read full story] UP historic building to shelter persons for COVID-19 isolation 23 April 2020—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. [Read full story] UPD department offers free counseling in a time of physical distancing 23 April 2020—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. [Read full story] URUGUP: UPV Tacloban’s call for cooperation amid COVID-19 crisis 23 April 2020—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. [Read full story] UP economics profs recommend sector-based random sample testing 22 April 2020—A group of economics professors from the University of the Philippines (UP) has proposed the use of sample-based random testing for COVID-19 from among the different industries or sectors and localities such as barangays to fully understand and monitor the transmission of the deadly virus. [Read full story] Stranded UPLB students participate in blood donation drive 22 April 2020—Stranded students of University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) participated in a blood donation drive to make purposeful use of their idle time. [Read full story] UP-PGH, PLDT upgrade Action Center with telemedicine program 23 April 2020—Since the establishment of the University of the Philippines Manila-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Bayanihan Na! Covid-19 Action Center on March 30, 2020, PLDT Enterprise has served as its backbone through its connectivity infrastructure, Hotline 155-200. [Read full story] UP AIT houses QC District 6 testing center for COVID-19 22 April 2020—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. [Read full story] Stop COVID Deaths: Clinical Management Updates Webinar Series 22 April 2020—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. [Read full story] COVID-19 heroine was ‘Wonder Woman’: ‘It’s my moral responsibility and obligation’ 22 April 2020—At 5:37 p.m., April 11, Faye Marie Palafox, head nurse with the Hospital Infection Control unit at Philippine General Hospital (PGH), posted on her Facebook: “Finally! Home sweet home!” [Read full story] Millennial ‘bayanihan’: UP-PGH interns’ ‘call center’ 22 April 2020—When the Alliance of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) ordered the pull-out of 350 medical students from the University of the Philippines Manila Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) mid-March, interns Nick Tan, Ino Villlacastin, PA Pangan and Michelle Eala couldn’t help but feel anxious. [Read full story] UP-Min’s Covid-19 diagnostic lab now under engineering planning stage 21 April 2020—The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) diagnostic laboratory proposed by the University of the Philippines (UP)-Mindanao is now in its engineering planning and manpower training stages, said Philippine Genome Center (PGC)-Mindanao director. [Read full story] UPLB publishes free-to-download children’s ebooks on COVID-19 prevention and control measures 20 April 2020—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. [Read full story] Former UPLB researcher who developed a COVID-19 test kit in UK says local research is valuable in a pandemic 20 April 2020—“Local research provides country- or region-specific information and data that are necessary for adoption of a new technology.” [Read full story] UP-NIH begins mass distribution of Pinoy-made COVID-19 test kits that can yield results within 2 hours 20 April 2020—The Manila Health Tek Lab, Inc. has delivered the locally-made coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test to the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH). [Read full story] Get help on how to teach, learn, and work remotely 20 April 2020—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. [Read full story] DILG-endorsed UPOU MOOC begins in May 20 April 2020—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. [Read full story] ECQ doing good, ‘graduated activation’ recommended after April 30—UP pandemic response team 20 April 2020—The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed over Luzon, along with other interventions, has indeed slowed down the spread of COVID-19 virus, based on “the best available data”, according to a team specially formed by the University of the Philippines to help government make informed interventions against the pandemic. [Read full story] Estimating Local Healthcare Capacity to Deal with COVID-19 Case Surge: Analysis and Recommendations 20 April 2020—The rising number of cases of COVID-19 infections on a daily basis is a serious concern as there are limits to hospital care capacity for patients with serious symptoms (e.g. difficulty in breathing). [Read full paper] UP Baguio produces ethyl alcohol 20 April 2020—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. [Read full story] Call for blood donations: Red Cross ‘Love Bus’ goes to UP Diliman dorms 20 Abril 2020—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. [Basahin ang buong pabatid] Meet the Hero Doctor Helping Fight COVID-19 By Developing a Filipino-Made Ventilator 20 April 2020—At least one good thing that has come out of the coronavirus pandemic is the display of bravery and heroism from ordinary people. [Read full story] Palma Hall sa UP Diliman inihahanda bilang COVID-19 isolation facility 19 Abril 2020—Inihahanda na ang gusali ng Palma Hall sa University of the Philippines-Diliman (UP) campus sa Quezon City para magsilbing isolation facility ng mga pasyenteng may coronavirus disease (COVID-19). [Basahin ang buong kwento] UP scientists aim to double COVID-19 test kit output by May 19 April 2020—The team of scientists who delivered the country’s first locally-developed test kits for COVID-19 detection aims to double their production capacity by next month. [Read full story] UP frat alumni send aid to COVID-19 frontliners, set up quarantine facilities at Diliman campus 18 April 2020—Alumni of a fraternity at the University of the Philippines Diliman have come together to send help for frontliners in the battle against the coronavirus crisis. [Read full story] UP students given options in complying with course reqs, safety nets against failing grades 17 April 2020—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. [Read full story] UP CMC battles COVID-19 ‘infodemic’ through fact-checking 17 April 2020—The UP College of Mass Communication Journalism Department is joining the fight against COVID-19 through fact-checking. [Read full story] Filipinos start to ‘flatten curve’ but expert warns vs. ‘resurgence’ of COVID-19 cases if they let their guard down 17 April 2020—As the government-ordered shutdown continues in Luzon, data show the coronavirus curve is starting to flatten, a health expert said Friday. [Read full story] Get Checked! FireCheck develops CoVcheck 8 April 2020—While it’s important to remain socially distant, there’s no stopping our joining of hands to #CombatCOVID. [Read full story] Free Rides, AI-Powered Thermal Scanning, And Grocery Deliveries: How Pinoy Tech Startups Are Fighting COVID-19 16 April 2020—Working with DOST-PCIEERD and UPSCALE Innovation Hub, three Philippine tech startups have started offering new services to aid in the fight against COVID-19. The startups will offer these services and roll out improvements for the duration of the pandemic. [Read full story] “OCG Cares’ Kumustahan” ensures psychosocial support to UPLB students in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic 16 April 2020—Apart from being a health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, is also a psychosocial crisis. [Read full story] A little help with WFH 14 April 2020—WAHM, SAHM – we’ve probably heard of these before. The terms Work-at-home-moms or stay-at-home-moms have been circulating the virtual space for a few years now. Mothers, mostly, are the ones who maintain online jobs to earn while attending to their families. Today, however, forced by circumstances we find everyone staying home while earning. [Read full story] DILG endorses UPOU MPM’s MOOC on Inter-Local Cooperation 15 April 2020—The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has formally endorsed the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Interlocal Cooperation (ILC) of the Master of Public Management (MPM) Program. [Read full story] Iloilo City gov’t receives 1,700 UP-developed COVID-19 test kits 15 April 2020—The city government of Iloilo City on Wednesday received additional COVID-19 test kits bought using donations. [Read full story] No alcohol? UP scientists come to the rescue 15 April 2020—The local supply of alcohol for sanitation has dwindled due to high demand triggered by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. [Read full story] UP athletes initiate online training program to help fund PPEs for frontliners 15 April 2020—A group of athletes from University of the Philippines organized an online training program for the benefit of frontline workers. [Read full story] Dorm frontliners briefed on how to give psychosocial support to stranded UPV students 13 April 2020—“During disasters, the most basic needs are to be attended,” says Dr. Johnrev Guilaran, clinical psychologist and assistant professor of the College of Arts and Sciences, UP Visayas during an orientation for the frontliners of the university’s six dormitories at the Miagao campus. [Read full story] UP COVID-19 team suggests localized quarantine after initial lockdown ends 14 April 2020—The COVID-19 response team of the University of the Philippines (UP) has suggested enforcing localized quarantine measures after the initial enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) deadline ends on April 30. [Read full story] UP rolls out free online courses to train teachers in online teaching 14 April 2020—In light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the limitation of educational institutions to hold physical classes, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) said it will be offering free online courses to train teachers in online teaching. [Read full story] Manila HealthTek aims to produce 8,000 UP-developed coronavirus test kits daily 15 April 2020—Medical research company Manila HealthTek Inc. said Tuesday it aims to produce 8,000 coronavirus test kits per day, which will be distributed to different local government units (LGUs). [Read full story] Luzon lockdown slowed COVID-19 spread: UP institute 14 April 2020—A nearly month-long lockdown of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon slowed the spread of COVID-19, an institute of the University of the Philippines said Monday as it identified areas that might need to sustain quarantine measures beyond April. [Read full story] UPLB mobilizes for COVID-19 R&D and testing center establishment 13 April 2020—UPLB has always stood at the ready to help in the areas of its expertise in the name of public service during times of great calamity, but the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently gripping the nation and the whole world may be its biggest challenge so far. [Read full story] UPV officials and task force members donate allowance and benefits for COVID-19 efforts 12 April 2020—Officials of UP Visayas led by Chancellor Ricardo Babaran are turning over one month of their Representation and Travel Allowance (RATA), honorarium or other additional benefits to UP, Magbubunga Tayo! to sustain the UPDanay donation drive and relief efforts during the current public health emergency. [Read full story] Beyond the call of duty: UP Manila teacher assembles PPEs, distributes food for homeless 14 April 2020—A young instructor from the University of the Philippines-Manila’s College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP) has earned the admiration of netizens for going beyond the call of duty amid the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. [Read full story] 26,000 PH-developed COVID-19 test kits ready for delivery 13 April 2020—The delivery of locally developed COVID-19 real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test kits is finally moving after getting the nod from the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA). [Read full story] UP Vanguard raises P1.8-M for PPEs, other medical supplies for hospitals 12 April 2020—A University of the Philippines group raised some P1.8 million to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies to be donated to some hospitals in Metro Manila. [Read full story] From free masks to free money delivery: Covid-19 Bayanihan in Eastern Visayas 13 April 2020—In Tacloban City, businessman Rhoel Ladera and lawyer Hermie Alcera II are organizing a drive to help the frontliners anywhere in the region through their car club Navara Nation Philippines-Eastern Visayas (NNP-EV) chapter. [Read full story] Drive Manila’s grocery delivery app goes live 13 April 2020—An app that offers grocery delivery service, which was developed with the support of the Department of Science and Technology and the University of the Philippines Sustaining Collaboration in an Advanced Learning Environment (UPSCALE), was launched by Drive Manila. [Read full story] UP creates COVID-19 dictionary for children 3 April 2020—For the young to further understand terms they usually encounter during the COVID-19 pandemic, the faculty of the University of the Philippines College of Education has created a children’s dictionary containing words related to COVID-19. [Read full story] Modified Community Quarantine beyond April 30: Analysis and Recommendations 13 April 2020—Problem situation: The extension of the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) raises the question on how effective the ECQ has been to contain the spread of COVID-19. If it is, how should it be implemented after April 30 without unnecessarily paralyzing local economies over a long period of time? [Read full report] PGH naglunsad ng ‘e-dalaw’ para sa COVID-19 patients 13 Abril 2020—Pinagagamit ng Philippine General Hospital (PGH) ang sistemang “e-dalaw” o electronic dalaw sa kanilang mga pasyenteng may coronavirus disease (COVID-19) para makausap ng mga ito ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay at kahit papaano ay maibsan ang lungkot dulot ng paglaban sa sakit. [Basahin ang kabuuan ng istorya] FASSSTER than COVID-19: The science used to forecast COVID-19 in PH 8 April 2020—Evidence-based forecasts of possible cases and scenarios on the spread of COVID-19 in the country can now be accessed thanks to the Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance using Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler or FASSSTER. [Read full story] UPOU’s Free Online Courses will Train Teachers in Online Teaching 13 April 2020—In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the limitation of educational institutions to hold physical classes, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) continues its offering of free online courses to train teachers in Online Teaching. [Read full story] Schools now safe shelters for frontliners 8 April 2020—The University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City has converted one of its buildings to accommodate around 35 health workers from the university’s health service and the Lung Center of the Philippines. [Read full story] Preparing for a Post-ECQ Scenario: Analysis and Recommendations 7 April 2020—Since Day One, the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team has done simulations on the spread of SARS-COV-2 in the country. Our bioinformatics group—composed mostly of mathematicians from different UP campuses—estimate a peak by end of April to June with approximately 140,000 to 550,000 people infected in Metro Manila. [Read full story] Even in the midst of need, UPLB extends a helping hand 3 April 2020—UPLB may be on SOS mode as it raised an urgent call for donations to provide food and other needs of around 1,500 of its students who are stranded in dorms inside and outside the campus due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). [Read full story] EL Team donates fresh produce, planting materials to stranded dormers 6 April 2020—Nutritious diet with fruits and vegetables has become even more important for survival and better immunity in the midst of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read full story] Dulaang UP is streaming 3 of its plays for free 7 April 2020—Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (DUP) is letting the public watch three of its plays online for free amid the coronavirus-induced quarantine. [Read full story] Lawyers from UP College of Law to aid people discriminated amid COVID-19 scare -Nograles 6 April 2020—Lawyers from the University of the Philippines College of Law have offered to defend individuals who have experienced discrimination amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Monday. [Read full story] PH gov’t to launch contact tracing app for COVID-19 cases 5 April 2020—The Philippine government is beginning the testing of a new contact tracing smartphone app to aid its fight against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). [Read full story] UP scientists lauded for COVID-19 test kits 4 April 2020—Senator Joel Villanueva lauded on Friday the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the University of the Philippines-developed COVID-19 testing kits for public use. [Read full story] UP Tacloban produces alcohol-based hand rub for frontliners 6 April 2020—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. [Read full story] UP PGC-Visayas Satellite Facility shares equipment for COVID-19 testing 6 April 2020—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. [Read full story] Locally-made COVID-19 test kits to cost less: health official 6 April 2020—The Food and Drug Administration last week said it has approved the test kits developed by the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) and the Philippine Genome Center with the support of the Department of Science and Technology. [Read full story] Quarantine extension would flatten COVID-19 curve – UP team 5 April 2020—The University of the Philippines COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team said an extension of the enhanced community quarantine may help control the further transmission of the novel coronavirus. [Read full story] UPLB to open subnational testing lab for COVID-19 5 April 2020—The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) has offered to convert its existing research laboratories to become a subnational testing center for the coronavirus. [Read full story] BREAKING: FDA approves UP-developed COVID-19 test kits for commercial use 3 April 2020—The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Friday that it has approved the test kits developed by the University of the Philippines-National Institute ofHealth (UP-NIH). [Read full story] UP-developed COVID-19 test kits ready for rollout 3 April 2020—The COVID-19 testing kits developed by scientists of the University of the Philippines (UP) have completed field validation, and are now ready for mass production and usage. [Read full story] The low-cost COVID-19 testing kit made by UP scientists is ready for rollout 3 April 2020—A number of testing kits, which can do up to 26,000 tests, will be distributed for field implementation from April 4 to 25. Currently in production are testing kits that can accommodate up to 120,000 tests. [Read full story] DOST to study use of virgin coconut oil as coronavirus treatment 2 April 2020—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is conducting clinical studies on the possible benefits of virgin coconut oil for patients with moderate to severe cases of COVID-19 and patients under investigation (PUIs). [Read full story] DOST gives PGH medical devices that reduce contact between COVID-19 patients, frontliners 2 April 2020—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has delivered 106 units of RxBox, a device capable of simultaneously measuring an individual’s vital signs, to the Philippine General Hospital. [Read full story] UP launches web portal, map for COVID-19 responders 2 April 2020—The University of the Philippines COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team created the web portal http://endcov.ph/ to provide the public with vital information for fighting the coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19 in the country. [Read full story] UPD food tech students produce ginger-calamansi concentrate for PGH and Lung Center frontliners 2 April 2020—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. [Read full story] DOH pins hope on UP-NIH-developed ventilators 1 April 2020—DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire hopes that the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health can soon come out with their locally produced ventilator that is now still in the pipeline. [Read full story] UPLB prepares 80% ethyl alcohol for frontliners 2 April 2020—The University of the Philippines Los Baños Institute of Chemistry (IC-UPLB) produced ethyl alcohol to be given to the frontliners fighting against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). [Read full story] U.P. researchers develop coronavirus dashboard tracker 2 April 2020—The University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI), in collaboration with the UP Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH), developed a dashboard that tracks the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines. [Read full story] UP-produced Covid-19 testing kits ready for deployment, says Nograles 2 April 2020—IATF spokesperson Karlo Nograles announced that the government has allocated 57.2 million pesos for the production of locally-produced COVID-19 testing kits developed by the UP NIH and Manila HealthTek Inc., saying in a press briefing on Tuesday that field validation of the said kits has already been completed and will be rolled out by April 4. [Read full story] DOST allots P53.2-M to fund development of UP COVID-19 test kits 1 April 2020—DOST has allotted P53.2 million as funding for the development of the COVID-19 test kits by the University of the Philippines National Institute of Health in response to the pandemic, a report submitted by President Rodrigo Duterte to Congress states. [Read full story] UPD College of Science responds to COVID-19 1 April 2020—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. [Read full story] UP-PGH begins operating as COVID-19 referral center 1 April 2020—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. [Read full story] How the UP-developed COVID-19 test kits aid hospital work 1 April 2020—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. [Read full story] UP scientists making ventilators as coronavirus cases mount: health dept 1 April 2020—Scientists from the University of the Philippines are designing a more affordable ventilator that will help patients with the novel coronavirus breathe, the health department said Wednesday as cases of the respiratory disease continued to climb. [Read full story] New Clark City polyclinic ready for PUIs 31 March 2020—Isolation rooms set up at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital Polyclinic inside the New Clark City are now ready to take in persons under investigation (PUI) for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), who display mild symptoms, Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan said in a statement. [Read full story] Bayanihan Na! UP-PGH launches COVID-19 Ops Center 31 March 2020—155-200 is the number to call. And it’s open 24/7. The UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) launched its Bayanihan Na! COVID-19 Operations Center on March 30 to answer queries related to COVID-19, including how to volunteer and donate. [Read full story] LOOK: UP-PGH launches COVID-19 operations center 30 March 2020—The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital on Monday launched its operations center for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) concerns. [Read full story] PGH debuts 24/7 COVID Bayanihan Operations Center hotline 30 March 2020—The University of the Philippines Manila-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) on Monday launched a dedicated 24/7 hotline number for its Bayanihan Operations Center that covers cases related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). [Read full story] UPV chemists formulate alcohol to aid hospitals in this COVID-19 pandemic 28 March 2020—Chemists composed of students and alumni of UP Visayas are currently making alcohol to be donated to hospitals and frontliners. [Read full story] UP personnel to receive emergency allowance 28 March 2020—The UP 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. [Read full story] Announcement on the release of UPCAT 2020 results 28 March 2020—The University of the Philippines Office of Admissions is postponing the release of the UP College Admissions Test 2020 results, which was originally scheduled on 30 March 2020. Please wait for further announcement. [Read full story] Salin sa Filipinong mga terminolohiya kaugnay ng COVID-19 28 March 2020—Halaw sa salin ni Prof. Eilene Antoinette G. Narvaez mula sa Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas, Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura, UP Diliman. [Read full story] UP employees get financial aid early 27 March 2020—The University of the Philippines has released additional financial support for its members in light of the enhanced community quarantine implemented in Luzon. [Read full story] UP Visayas lends RT PCR Machine to WVMC for COVID-19 Testing 27 March 2020—The University of the Philippines Visayas through its Philippine Genome Center, transferred its RT Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine to the Western Visayas Medical Center for COVID-19 testing to complement the existing PCR machine of WVMC. [Read full story] SOS for stranded students 27 March 2020—The UP community in each constituent university banded together to give donations and other forms of assistance for UP students who have been stranded in campus and off-campus housing by the enhanced community quarantine. [Read full story] Free Online Biosafety Training for Laboratorians who will be handling SARS-CoV-2 27 March 2020—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 to April 3, 2020. [Read full story] UP-PGH to continue treating non-COVID-19 patients even as a COVID-19 referral center 26 March 2020—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). [Read full story] The bayanihan spirit burns bright in the University of the Philippines 26 March 2020—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. [Read full story] Your 3-D Printer might help save lives in the COVID-19 crisis 25 March 2020—UP’s College of Engineering is working on several initiatives to help solve problems brought about by the coronavirus. Here’s how you can help. [Read full story] Dr. Raul Jara: The Blueprint of a Great Teacher 24 March 2020—On Tuesday, Dr. Raul Jara, a renowned cardiologist and an influential teacher, passed away because of COVID-19. We are republishing this piece, originally written in 2013 and updated in 2019, as a tribute to the legacy of Dr. Jara, with permission from the author. [Read full story] CALL FOR DONATIONS: FabLab is in need of materials to produce PPEs 24 March 2020—FabLab UP Cebu is receiving so many requests for face shields that it is producing. We are producing these for free to the medical frontliners of Cebu. Design work for other types of personal protective equipment (PPE) is also in the pipeline. [Read full story] UP-PGH preparing to operate as COVID-19 referral center 24 March 2020—The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital has been designated by the Department of Health as one of the three COVID-19 referral centers in NCR, with the concurrence of UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla. [Read full story] UP Cebu FabLab creates face shields for frontliners against COVID-19 23 March 2020—A team of faculty members and staff at the University of the Philippines Cebu FabLab has designed and started 3D-printing face shield frames to contribute to the much-needed supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the fight against COVID-19. [Read full story] UP Mindanao Proposes a Diagnostics Program for Free COVID-19 Testing in Davao Region 23 March 2020—The University of the Philippines Mindanao is proposing a diagnostic program that can give free testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Davao Region. [Read full story] In Memoriam: Former UP Asian Center Dean Aileen SP Baviera 21 March 2020—Dr. Aileen San Pablo-Baviera, UP political science professor, former Dean of the UP Asian Center, and one of the country’s foremost experts in international relations and Asian and China studies, passed away at 3:55 a.m. on March 21, 2020, at San Lazaro Hospital. She was 60 years old. [Read full story] ‘China always rose to the front and center of my work’ | Dr. Aileen Baviera (1959–2020) 21 March 2020—Dr. Aileen S.P. Baviera, Professor and former Dean of the UP Asian Center, passed away on the early morning of 21 March 2020. She was 60. [Read full story] UP-PGH is designated as COVID-19 referral hospital for NCR 20 March 2020—The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) has been designated by the Department of Health as one of its COVID-19 referral hospitals for the National Capital Region in line with UP’s mandate as a public service university. [Read full story] Salaries of UP lecturers, teaching assistants and fellows to be released early 20 March 2020—In light of the lockdown of Luzon and provinces in other regions, the UP System administration, through Memorandum No. OVPAA 2020-40 dated March 20, 2020, instructed the constituent universities (CUs) to process the early release of salaries due to lecturers and to teaching assistants (TAs) and fellows (TFs) up to April 15, 2020. [Read full story] Protocols carried out as 2 UP faculty members undergo test for COVID-19 11 March 2020—The University of the Philippines is strictly carrying out protocols following a recent case of two faculty members being declared patients under investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19 or the novel coronavirus disease. [Read full story] Memos and Announcements Memorandum No. OVPAA 2020-38 & 39 on Suspension of Classes in All UP Constituent Universities (except Open University) and Lifting of Deadline for Dropping and Filing of Leave of Absence for Second Semester AY 2019-2020 and Addendum Memorandum from OVPAA: Academic Contingency Plan in Light of COVID-19 Memorandum No. TJH-2020-15 on Payment of the First Tranche of the Annual Incentive Grant (AIG) for the Faculty, REPS and Administrative Staff for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Memorandum No. NGY 20-49 on Guidelines on Release of the First Tranche of Rice Allowance for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 BOR Resolution on 16 April 2020: UP System Policy on the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 in the Time of COVID-19 Implementing Guidelines to the UP System Policy on the Second Semester AY 2019-2020 in the Time 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 Information on Constituent Universities Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 10 Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 9 Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 8 Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 7 Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 6 UPD unfazed by ECQ extension 2 Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 5 Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 2 Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 1 Summary of COVID-19 Responses by Constituent Universities Constituent Universities’ Weekly Bulletins (Updates as of 31 March 2020) Constituent Universities’ Weekly Bulletins (Updates as of 24 March 2020) Diliman [Website] | [Social Media] Los Baños [Website] | [Social Media] Manila [Website] | [Social Media] Philippine General Hospital [Website] | [Social Media] Visayas [Website] | [Social Media] Open University [Website] | [Social Media] Mindanao [Website] | [Social Media] Baguio [Website] | [Social Media] Cebu [Website] | [Social Media] Resources on Remote Learning, Teaching, and Working Tributes IN MEMORIAM: Remembering those we have lost 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. [Read full story] Members of the UP Concert Chorus (UPCC) Batch 90s who are in different countries pay tribute to their co-UPCC alumnus, Dr. Raul Jara, and other UPCC alumni-frontliners. UPSA’s Tribute to COVID-19 Frontliners University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors Founded and Conducted by Dr. Ed Manguiat 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. ALAY SA SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO SA PANAHON NG AGAM-AGAM Nasa aming puso ang lahat ng nagdadalamhati. Nasa aming diwa ang mga bayani ng bagong panahon. Nasa aming kaluluwa ang pakikiisa sa bawat Pilipino. Mula sa mga lockdown na lugar ng Baguio, Leyte, Cebu, Davao, Manila, at iba pa, inaalay ng University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra (UPSO), kasama ang UP Madrigal Singers at ang UPCC, UP Staff Chorale, Auit Vocal Ensemble, at mga artista’t iskolar. In a time as dark as a pandemic, the true heroes shine the brightest: our medical and healthcare frontliners and essential workers, the people who risk each day to save lives, protect our campuses and communities, and keep the world safe for the rest of us. The University of the Philippines System and TVUP offer a tribute video to thank and honor the people who continue to serve despite the gravest odds, featuring an original song titled “I’ll Hold the Line,” composed, arranged and performed by UP Integrated School alumnus Ardie O. Lopez. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-forum/ | UP Forum – University of the Philippines | UP FORUM The Roots of Angelo A. Jimenez Angelo Azura Jimenez has the distinction of being the first UP Student Regent to be elected UP President and... Read More Heeding the Higher Call “I was already set on early retirement. I took a week to decide.” Dr. Leo De Paz Cubillan narrated... Read More VP Iryn’s Perfect Timing So what made you come back to UP? “I’ve been asking myself that question for the past month,” lightly... Read More Simply Nes “I’m Nestor Yunque, the present Vice President for Administration. I started as VP for Administration way back in 2017. ... Read More Coming Home, Giving Back He looked around the College of Engineering Faculty Lounge, trying to recall what the room had been before. And... Read More The Many Facets of VP Wendell Capili If you happen to visit Art Circle Café in the UP Diliman campus, odds are you might see a... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/community/ | Community – University of the Philippines | Community TV@70: UP looks back on 70 years of Philippine television The University of the Philippines Department of Broadcast Communication (UP DBC) closed its year-long celebration of 70 years of... Read More Pamamahayag bilang pagmamalasakit: Ilang tala hinggil sa ‘Some People Need Killing’ Estudyante pa lang si Patricia Evangelista ng Speech Communication sa College of Arts and Letters sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman... Read More AUPAEU: End Terror-tagging of Unionists and Activists! Resume Peace Talks! Statement of All UP Academic Employees Union on the Red-Tagging Spree of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa December 2, 2023... Read More Exploring Korean Studies in Europe The last time I visited Europe, in 2019, was on a personal trip with my family. But this year, returning... Read More Locating barangay elections in the Filipinos’ list of priorities On October 30, 2023, the Philippines held what is arguably the most impactful elections in the country: the 2023 Barangay... Read More UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) 2024 Tips As the University of the Philippines prepares to administer the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) for the first time since... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/aupaeu-end-terror-tagging-of-unionists-and-activists-resume-peace-talks/ | AUPAEU: End Terror-tagging of Unionists and Activists! Resume Peace Talks! – University of the Philippines | AUPAEU: End Terror-tagging of Unionists and Activists! Resume Peace Talks! AUPAEU: End Terror-tagging of Unionists and Activists! Resume Peace Talks! December 5, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Statement of All UP Academic Employees Union on the Red-Tagging Spree of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa December 2, 2023 The All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) condemns the recent terror-tagging of its members in a senate hearing held last November 29, 2023. The said hearing purportedly investigates the alleged recruitment of student activists in universities to take up arms and join the communist insurgency. This kind of theatrics, played, on the one hand, by characters whose names are tainted with their record of human rights abuses and, on the other, by dubious rebel surrenderees, has been staged since the regime of Rodrigo Duterte and has been constantly replayed up to the regime of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. What occasions like this have so far done is to vilify and terror-tag activists and unionists, rather than address the socio-economic and political factors that fuel the raging fire of communist insurgency in the country. The senate hearing last Wednesday only replays the intent to vilify and terror-tag, evidenced by the mention of the names of two academics who also happen to be members of the AUPAEU. The AUPAEU condemns the act of terror-tagging in the strongest possible terms. The hearing last Wednesday was not the first incident where academics from the University of the Philippines are terror-tagged. There have been several instances in the past where union members and academics were terror-tagged, merely because of their commitment to a pro-people and emancipatory scholarship. Not only does terror-tagging dangerously put the lives of activists, unionists, and even academics at risk, but also blur the root-causes of societal problems by identifying convenient scapegoats. The union is deeply alarmed as terror-tagging has often been a prelude to more and intense forms of harassment, including the filing of trumped-up charges, arrests, abductions, and even killings. The AUPAEU reiterates its call to the University of the Philippines to urgently act on the demands of various sectors of the University to create a system-wide Committee for the Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights. As the political situation in the country has continued to worsen, a committee such as this could effectively mobilize the needed institutional support to protect its various stakeholders from harassments and attacks and at the same time take proactive measures to ensure the safety of its researchers, academics, and students whose commitment to an emancipatory and pro-people scholarship has been terror-tagged by the state. An enduring peace is built on social justice. Terror-tagging should not have a place under a principled process of negotiations pursuing a just and enduring peace. The academic union challenges the Marcos Jr. regime to act in good faith in its intent to talk peace with the communists. Just days before the senate hearing, the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines have agreed to resume their peace negotiations. The Marcos Jr. regime cannot pretend to talk peace while continuing the campaign of suppression of supposed state enemies. The AUPAEU strongly supports the opportunity in resuming the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). |
https://up.edu.ph/pamamahayag-bilang-pagmamalasakit-ilang-tala-hinggil-sa-some-people-need-killing/ | Pamamahayag bilang pagmamalasakit: Ilang tala hinggil sa ‘Some People Need Killing’ – University of the Philippines | Pamamahayag bilang pagmamalasakit: Ilang tala hinggil sa ‘Some People Need Killing’ Pamamahayag bilang pagmamalasakit: Ilang tala hinggil sa ‘Some People Need Killing’ December 7, 2023 | Written by Kenneth Roland A. Guda Estudyante pa lang si Patricia Evangelista ng Speech Communication sa College of Arts and Letters sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman nang tumampok ang pangalan niya sa pandaigdigang entablado. Sa edad na 18, noong 2004, sumali si Patricia at nagwagi sa International Public Speaking Championship sa London, United Kingdom. Sa kanyang talumpati, pinamagatang “Blonde and Blue Eyes”, pinagdiwang niya ang mga Pilipinong nasa labas ng bansa, nakakalat sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng “mundong walang hangganan” (“borderless world”). Sa kanyang librong Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country (2023, Random House), binalikan ni Evangelista ang talumpating ito. Sa paghirang niya sa mga Pilipinong nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, aniya, hindi niya nabanggit—o hindi niya alam—na nangingibang bansa ang mga Pilipino dahil sa kawalan ng oportunidad sa sariling bansa. “That many of those laborers had been forced into contracts abroad for the sake of starving families at home was a fact that I glossed over,” aniya. Gayunman, naging hudyat ang katanyagang ito ng isang karera sa midya. Noong 2006, bilang kolumnista para sa Philippine Daily Inquirer, isa si Evangelista sa pinakamasugid na sumubaybay sa kaso ng pagdukot ng militar sa dalawa niyang kaeskuwela sa UP: ang mga aktibistang sina Karen Empeño at Sherlyn Cadapan. Sinubaybayan din niya ang iba pang kaso ng mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa ilalim ng administrasyong Arroyo—sinundan, halimbawa, ang mga nanay na naghahanap ng kanilang nawawalang mga mahal-sa-buhay, kumakatok sa tarangkahan ng iba’t ibang kampo at opisina ng militar at gobyerno, para lang pagbagsakan ng mga pinto. Malayo ito sa “borderless world” na inakala noon ni Evangelista. Taong 2016, investigative reporter na siya para sa Rappler. Hasa na siya sa isang dekadang pagsubaybay sa mga isyung pangkarapatang pantao nang masabak sa pagkober sa madugong giyera kontra droga ng administrasyong Duterte. Ang karanasan ni Evangelista sa pagsubaybay sa giyerang ito ang naging bulto ng nilalaman ng Some People Need Killing. Mula sa paghirang ng New York Times at New Yorker sa kanyang libro bilang isa sa pinakamahusay ng taong 2023, muling nasabak sa pandaigdigang pagkilala si Evangelista. Sa pagkakataong ito, inabot niya ang pambihirang antas ng pagkilala. Pero, mas mahalaga, lalong naipapalaganap ang mga kuwento ng lagim ng giyera kontra droga ng administrasyong Duterte. Mas mahalaga, lalong naipapalaganap ang kawalan ng hustisya sa mga biktima. Nagsisimula ang libro sa pagpapaliwanag ng awtor sa personal niyang kasaysayan at perspektiba, at iniugnay ito sa kasaysayan ng bansa. Mabagal ang pag-usad ng bahaging ito, pero esensiyal na bahagi ng pag-unawa sa sumunod na mga desisyon ni Evangelista kaugnay ng pagsubaybay sa mga kuwento ng mga biktima ng (at kalahok sa) giyera kontra droga. Sa paglalahad ng mga kuwento pinakamakapangyarihan ang libro. Bagama’t minantine niya ang distansiya ng mamamahayag sa kanyang sabdyek, malinaw ang pagmamalasakit ni Evangelista sa mga biktima at kaanak. Malay ang awtor na nakatuntong ang giyera sa pagbubura ng pagkatao ng mga binabansagang “adik” at “tulak,” sa dehumanization at brutalidad ng mga institusyon ng estado sa mga maralitang itinuturing ng estado na latak ng lipunan. Kung kaya, pansin sa kanyang naratibo ang sadyang pagbawi ng pagkatao nila—sa pamamagitan ng paglalarawan sa kanila bilang mga magulang, anak o asawa, mga mamamayang di kaiba sa mambabasa. Sa pagitan ng mga naratibong ito, may pagpapasilip si Evangelista sa mga posibilidad ng paglaban—ang aktuwal na paglaban sa brutalidad, hindi ang pekeng “nanlaban” —ng mga mamamayang tulad ni Normy Lopez at iba pang pamilyang tumindig, nagsalita, nagreklamo at ipinaglaban ang dignidad ng kanilang mga anak, kapatid, asawa, marami pa na nilapastangan ng giyera ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Sa kabila nito, ipinakita rin niya na bulnerable ang mga maralita sa pandarahas, panunuyo, panunuhol o pagkapagod—na siyang natural na bahagi ng mga paglaban. Sana lang, may naipakita pa ang libro na iba pang mukha ng mga biktimang tumitindig, dahil tiyak nating marami sila. May bahagi sa libro hinggil sa mga dating tagasuporta ni Duterte at ng kanyang madudugong kampanya. Ipinakita ang sarili nilang paglaban bilang akto ng pagsusumamo sa kanilang mga “kasalanan” bilang dating tagasuporta ng dating pangulo. Konsistent ito sa Katolikong tradisyon ng paghingi ng patawad. Sa bahaging ito, sinasabi sa atin ng awtor na umaasa siyang mababatid din ng karamihan ang katotohanan sa likod ng pekeng naratibo ng dating pangulo. Mahalaga ito, dahil sa panahong nagpapatuloy pa rin ang pandarahas at pagsisinungaling, madaling malulong sa kawalan-ng-pag-asa. Mainam na pasalamatan natin si Evangelista na tila hindi pa siya nawawalan ng pag-asa sa ating bayan. Mahalaga rin ang ilang bahagi ng libro na mistulang leksiyon sa semantikong paglalaro ng rehimen para linlangin ang mga mamamayan. Sa pagitan ng mga kuwento, panaka-nakang itinuturo ng manunulat kung papaanong binangkarote ni Duterte (at Marcos) ang wika para itago ang totoo: hindi pagsalba ang “salvage”, hindi paglaban ang “nanlaban”, at iba pa. Sa mga mambabasang artikulado at aral sa kapangyarihan ng wika, madaling masapol ang puntong ito ni Evangelista. Bahagi ng paglaban para sa katotohanan at kabutihan ang pagbawi sa ating wika bilang artikulasyon ng ating tunay na kalagayan, katangian at pangarap. Pero abstrakto ito sa marami. Mas malinaw at kongkreto ang paglaban kung malinaw sa ating isipan ang katangian ng kalaban. Higit kay Duterte (o kahit kay Marcos Jr. at Sr.), matagal nang nakalatag ang sistema ng brutalidad sa mga maralita. May direktang linya, halimbawa, na nag-uugnay sa giyera kontra droga at giyera kontra insurhensiya. Matagal nang nakatanim sa isipan ng mga nasa kapangyarihan at armadong puwersa ng estado ang ideolohiya ng dehumanization, adik man siya, tulak, rebelde o komunista. Mainam sanang maipakita o mabanggit ang ugnayang ito. Mayroon naman sa libro, pero hindi malinaw at kulang. Mainam din kung maipapakita ang batayan sa tunggalian ng mga uri ng brutalidad ng rehimen. “Are you going to shoot fellow Filipinos?” tanong ng mga mamamayang nag-alsa sa EDSA noong 1986 sa mga sundalo ni Marcos Sr. Ayon kay Evangelista, “oo” ang sagot dito ng mga Pilipino tatlong dekada matapos ang EDSA. “Kami ang mga Duterte,” sagot ng 16 milyong Pilipino. Pero hindi lang si Duterte ang naging tagapamandila ng brutalidad, at hindi lang ang kanyang giyera ang naging giyera sa mga maralita. Ang kaibahan ng EDSA at Tokhang: marami sa mga nasa kalsada noong 1986 ay mula sa panggitnang uri. Silang may kumpiyansa at artikulado, nakapag-aral at angat ang kabuhayan, mahirap baliwalain at tanggalan ng pagkatao. Sa kabilang banda, hindi mahirap ituring na mababa sa antas-tao ang mga maralita, adik, tulak, rebelde. Mainam sanang maiugat ang brutalidad ng giyera kontra droga sa historikal na panghahamak sa mga mamamayang nasa laylayan—sa pamamagitan man iyan ng mga polisiya sa ekonomiya o direktang paggamit ng dahas ng estado. Pero umaasa akong aabot din si Evangelista. Nasa tamang landas siya: ito ang landas ng pakikipagkapwa at pagmamalasakit sa mga maralitang sabdyek ng mga ulat niya. Malayo na ang inabot niya mula sa pagiging batang nangarap magkaroon ng blonde na buhok at asul na mata. Ipinakita niya sa librong Some People Need Killing ang sensitibidad ng isang mamamahayag na may pakialam sa kanyang mga kababayan, at may poot sa mga marahas at mapagsamantala. Anu’t anuman, mahalagang babasahin ang librong ito bilang dokumento ng barbarismo ng nakaraang administrasyon. Mahalaga ito dahil nagpapatuloy at umiigting ang brutalidad sa ating panahon. Malaking bahagi ng pag-unawa natin sa panahong ito ang ginawa ni Evangelista na pakikisimpatya sa mga biktima, paglulugar ng ating sarili sa kanilang kalagayan, at pagsilip sa mga posibilidad ng ating paglaban. Si Kenneth Roland Guda, 45, ang may akda ng “Peryodismo Sa Bingit: Mga Naratibong Ulat Sa Panahon Ng Digmaan At Krisis,” na nanalo sa Journalism category ng National Book Awards. Naging editor si Guda ng alternatibong newsmagazine na Pinoy Weekly, at naging senior reporter para sa Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Kasalukuyang bahagi si Guda ng UP Institute of Creative Writing. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-offices/ | UP Offices – University of the Philippines | UP Offices UP announces December benefits for employees For the last month of the year, faculty and staff of the University of the Philippines (UP) will receive... Read More UP statement on the procurement of network infrastructures The UP System administration clarifies that the procurement of network infrastructures at the level of both the System and constituent... Read More Call for Papers: 5th Biennial International Conference of the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia The Asian Center of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman is calling for paper submissions to the 5th Biennial... Read More PCCA Lantern-making Contest 2023 Calling all UP Creatives! As we approach the Christmas 2023 Season, let’s celebrate and showcase cultural diversity through lanterns! With... Read More BOR approves appointment of five new UP System officials During the 1384th meeting of the University of the Philippines (UP) Board of Regents (BOR) held at Quezon... Read More UP increases economic benefits for regular employees Starting January 2024, regular employees of the University of the Philippines (UP) will get an additional P1,500 to the... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/call-for-papers-5th-biennial-international-conference-of-the-consortium-for-southeast-asian-studies-in-asia/ | Call for Papers: 5th Biennial International Conference of the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia – University of the Philippines | Call for Papers: 5th Biennial International Conference of the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia Call for Papers: 5th Biennial International Conference of the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia November 23, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Asian Center of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman is calling for paper submissions to the 5th Biennial International Conference of the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia (SEASIA), which will be held in UP Diliman on July 18 – 20, 2024. With the theme De/Centering Southeast Asia, the conference hopes to advance Southeast Asian scholarship by highlighting the diverse histories, cultures and societies in the region in papers and presentations. The event will also provide a venue for the discussions on possible new topics and efforts in studies on the region. For more information on the conference, you may view the Concept Note here. For details on the submissions, please check out the poster below. For questions or clarifications, you may contact the UP Conference Committee Secretariat via this email address: seasia2024.upd@up.edu.ph of this mobile number: 63-9623771709 (available for Viber, Whatsapp, Line and KakaoTalk) For updates on the conference, visit their website: seasia2024.upd.edu.ph, or follow their official Facebook page: facebook.com/SEASIA2024 |
https://up.edu.ph/up-statement-on-the-procurement-of-network-infrastructures/ | UP statement on the procurement of network infrastructures – University of the Philippines | UP statement on the procurement of network infrastructures UP statement on the procurement of network infrastructures November 24, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP System administration clarifies that the procurement of network infrastructures at the level of both the System and constituent universities is ongoing. UP is still welcoming proposals from stakeholders and suppliers. All processes are being done in strict compliance with Republic Act No. 9184 and other procurement laws. The University remains committed to upholding all relevant regulations and to maintaining transparency and accountability in all procedures. |
https://up.edu.ph/up-announces-december-benefits-for-employees/ | UP announces December benefits for employees – University of the Philippines | UP announces December benefits for employees UP announces December benefits for employees December 20, 2023 | Written by Franco Gargantiel II For the last month of the year, faculty and staff of the University of the Philippines (UP) will receive the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) Incentive for Fiscal Year of 2023, a grant of up to Php30,000. According to Memorandum No. ACR 23-73 issued by UP Vice President for Administration Augustus Resurreccion on December 7, the CNA Incentive is sourced from the savings generated from the joint efforts of the University and the two unions, the All UP Workers Union (AUPWU) and the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU), with the help of all UP faculty, REPS (research, extension, and professional staff) and administrative staff in accordance with DBM Budget Circular No. 23-1 dated November 10, 2023. The CNA Incentive will be given to all regular full-time and part-time UP faculty, REPS and administrative staff who: have rendered at least a total or an aggregate of four months of service as of December 2023; are members of the AUPWU and AUPAEU; are non-members of the AUPWU and AUPAEU but want to enjoy or accept benefits under the CAN and who perform managerial functions (i.e., University officials). Those who were separated from the University within the year and had rendered at least four months of service within the year shall be entitled to the full amount of the CNA Incentive. However, those who were separated from the University within the year and had rendered less than four months of service shall be entitled only to a pro-rated 2023 CNA Incentive as follows: Length of Service Percentage of the 2023 CNA Incentive Amount 3 months but less than 4 months 75% Php22,500 2 months but less than 4 months 50% Php15,000 1 month but less than 4 months 25% Php7,500 Less than 1 month 10% Php3,000 As for those have rendered less than four months of service as of December 15, 2023, they too shall be entitled to a pro-rated 2023 CNA Incentive as follows: Length of Service Percentage of the 2023 CNA Incentive Amount 3 months but less than 4 months 75% Php22,500 2 months but less than 4 months 50% Php 15,000 1 month but less than 4 months 25% Php 7,500 Less than 1 month 10% Php 3,000 Part-time employees with employer-employee relations will also receive an amount in proportion to their workload, and months of service (e.g., part-time employees with four months and above shall receive Php15,000). SRI Incentive In addition to the CNA Incentive, UP faculty and staff will also receive the one-time Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) grant of Php20,000, to be given to government employees in the executive branch. This was authorized by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., accordance with Administrative Order (AO) No. 12 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on December 7. Qualified for the PhP20,000 SRI are civilian personnel in national government agencies including those in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), occupying regular, contractual or casual positions. On the other hand, President Marcos approved under Administrative Order No. 13 the grant of a one-time gratuity pay of not more than Php5,000 each for contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) (government employees who have rendered at least four months of actual satisfactory performance of service, as stipulated in their respective contracts as of December 15, and whose contracts are still effective as of the same date. Rice Subsidy 4th Tranche Finally, UP faculty, REPS, and administrative staff will receive the fourth tranche of the 2023 rice subsidy in accordance with a memorandum from the UP VP for Administration dated October 24, 2023, in the amount of P2,350 each. Due to failed bidding, the fourth tranche of the rice subsidy will be converted to cash. |
https://up.edu.ph/presidents-corner/ | President’s Corner – University of the Philippines | President's Corner Statement of President Angelo Jimenez on the Bombing of Mindanao State University – Marawi The University of the Philippines stands in solidarity with Mindanao State University (MSU), after an explosion at the... Read More UP-UMA agree on increasing collaboration activities The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Universidad de Málaga (UMA) of Spain have agreed to strengthen linkages... Read More Readiness, operational research, and climate justice: UP President Jimenez’s key points in climate change discussions UP President Angelo A. Jimenez delivered the concluding remarks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) University Leaders’ Forum held in... Read More UP President Jimenez’s October sojourn to the US “Far tho’ we wander o’er island yonder, Loyal thy sons we’ll ever be” So go the lines from the UP... Read More UP and PNOC sign MOU The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) have formalized their cooperation. PNOC counts on... Read More Possible UP-uOttawa collab areas discussed Biosurveillance, cybersecurity, and resilience. These were the possible areas of collaboration mentioned by UP President Angelo Jimenez (PAJ) to University... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/readiness-operational-research-and-climate-justice-up-president-jimenezs-key-points-in-climate-change-discussions/ | Readiness, operational research, and climate justice: UP President Jimenez’s key points in climate change discussions – University of the Philippines | Readiness, operational research, and climate justice: UP President Jimenez’s key points in climate change discussions Readiness, operational research, and climate justice: UP President Jimenez’s key points in climate change discussions November 14, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP President Angelo A. Jimenez delivered the concluding remarks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) University Leaders’ Forum held in San Francisco, California, on November 13, 2023. With the theme “Investing in Tomorrow’s Biodiversity”, the forum was dedicated to sustainability and climate resilience, including sessions on sustaining the evolving biodiversity landscape, strengthening the resilience of coastal communities, rethinking food systems, and protecting water for the survival of humanity. The APEC University Leaders’ Forum, organized by the University of California-Davis, the University of California-Santa Cruz, and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), brought together presidents of the major Asia-Pacific research universities and leaders from major global corporations and governments to share insights and discuss critical global and regional issues. The forum served as an official collaborative event with the APEC CEO Summit and provided a unique platform to address key challenges and foster collaboration. Read UP President Jimenez’s speech below. Our troubles are mounting but peace be on all of us. As-salamu alaykum. A pleasant afternoon. I extend my heartfelt appreciation and congratulations to each one of you as we conclude this APEC University Leaders’ Forum on “Investing in Tomorrow’s Biodiversity.” It has been an honor to share this platform with esteemed leaders, scholars, and visionaries committed to addressing the critical issues of today. As substantive as our discussions on biodiversity have been, we cannot escape the fact that we are meeting in one of the most difficult and challenging periods for humanity since the end of the last World War. Many parts of our globe are shaking and coming apart under tragic conflict. Poverty and hunger continue to haunt billions of people. And on the immediate horizon, artificial intelligence is posing more serious questions than answers for human civilization. Against this backdrop, we are all threatened by climate change—not only we humans, but all life as we know it on this planet. And like the most devastating of wars, this change is, as we all know, man-made. We have waged war, as it were, on ourselves, on Nature, and on the future. The question now is whether we can find the wisdom, the will, and the means to make peace with the Earth and ensure our own survival. We have spoken all day about the severe threats faced by global biodiversity, coastal communities, and the world’s food production systems. We all know the urgent need for sustainable development, and for concrete measures to ensure climate adaptation, environmental resilience, water resource management, and food security, among others. As we fly home to deal with our specific situations, I suggest we ponder three key questions. First: Are existing international and national governing institutions adequately prepared to handle the global threats we face today? We raise this question because we are alarmed by the failure of the annual Conference of Parties or COP to agree on deadlines on the phasing out of coal and fossil fuel and on climate finance to help developing economies like ours manage the difficult climate adjustment and transition programs. At the national level, many countries remain unable to deliver on their mitigation commitments under the Paris Agreement of 2015. Rhetoric is cheap, but the costs of climate change to our economies and societies are real. It is Code Red for the Philippines and other countries in Asia. Alternating floods and droughts have been growing in intensity each year, severely damaging our economy and eroding our food security. Incidentally, the Philippines, which has contributed less than one percent to global GHG emissions, is among the top five countries considered most vulnerable to climate risks. About 60 percent of our people live in coastal towns and villages, for whom a sea rise of one to two meters will be calamitous. This is why we listened attentively to the discussions in this forum on how to mitigate climate impacts on coastal communities. Second key question: What can our universities do to fight or mitigate climate change? We hold the keys to enormous troves of knowledge, and produce new knowledge through research all the time. How much of that knowledge translates to practical solutions to real-world problems? Beyond amassing citations and achieving high global rankings, what do our universities strive for in our societies? President Jimenez delivering his message at the Closing Ceremony of the APEC University Leaders’ Forum. Sceengrab from the UP Resilience Institute live stream video. In our University, for example, one of our answers to this question has been the operational research undertaken by faculty members and researchers through our Resilience Institute, which has helped local communities build disaster resilience through trans-disciplinary actions, such as multisectoral and anticipatory development planning. These communities are involved from the very start of research, so they have a real stake in its outcome. We have also adopted an open-data policy, to share what we have learned with others. In other words, we need to get our feet wet and our hands dirty before our libraries and laboratories are flooded. Third key question: Can there be a greater moral imperative of our time than climate justice? Aside from measures to save and repair the planet, climate justice involves social justice, in that it must empower the most vulnerable victims of climate change to articulate their concerns, demand accountability, and seek proper redress for their grievances. At the same time, green transition must be just and transformative. Within our industries, for example, we must ensure that workers and communities reliant even on fossil-dependent industries and sectors, especially in developing countries, are not unduly displaced. A just transition to green industries must mean a transition to a better life, to more jobs, and to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. Also, it must protect and improve life for all elements of our ecosystems, because the impacts of climate change extend far beyond human affairs. Climate justice encompasses the intricate web of biodiversity that includes plants, animals, organisms—the very fabric of our planet. The forces threatening us are global in nature, underscoring the urgency of our collective responsibility. In our pursuit of progress, let us always remember that our common survival is at stake, and our actions today will reverberate through generations to come. As we conclude this forum, let us remind ourselves that our role as educators extends beyond the confines of academia to our streets, our homes, our rivers, and the very grass beneath our feet. As we share this world, so we share in its well-being. And by contributing to the well-being of humanity and the planet, we contribute as well to the peace and prosperity our peoples everywhere so ardently desire. In the spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility, allow me to call upon each university leader present here today to join hands in creating a sustainable and resilient future for all. Indeed, we must create a network among ourselves to provide training and education on climate change and sustainable practices, so we can share vital knowledge with those who suffer at the short end of climate justice. Where governments fail or fall short, universities can and must act. Let us work together to amplify our impact, inspire change, promote transformative education, and usher in an era where investing in tomorrow’s biodiversity is not just a choice but an inescapable responsibility for all. Thank you very much. Watch UP President Jimenez’s speech with this video recorded and shared by the UP Resilience Institute. |
https://up.edu.ph/statement-of-president-angelo-jimenez-on-the-bombing-of-mindanao-state-university-marawi/ | Statement of President Angelo Jimenez on the Bombing of Mindanao State University – Marawi – University of the Philippines | Statement of President Angelo Jimenez on the Bombing of Mindanao State University – Marawi Statement of President Angelo Jimenez on the Bombing of Mindanao State University – Marawi December 3, 2023 | Written by the Office of the President The University of the Philippines stands in solidarity with Mindanao State University (MSU), after an explosion at the Marawi main campus that left four dead and dozens injured. This was an act of violence not only against the innocent victims and their families, but against the principles of peace, understanding, and unity that should be inviolable in academic institutions. We commend the swift response of MSU and its commitment to protecting the safety of all its constituents in this difficult time, and offer our support and resources in navigating the aftermath of this painful incident. State universities should serve as safe spaces for all its constituents, and as academic bastions where conflicts are discussed, debated, and resolved rather than exacerbated. It is imperative for all of us to be united in our mandate to cultivate an atmosphere where diversity and dialogue thrive. As a Mindanaoan Christian and Manobo lumad, I share in the grief and outrage of the community over this senseless tragedy. Despite the long history of strife in our region, many of us have always believed in justice and equality among the Bangsamoro peoples, actively working to ensure the recognition and protection of all cultures and religions. Let us all rally against violence and extremism, and join in the continuing effort to build a just and inclusive society in our homeland. |
https://up.edu.ph/events/ | Events – University of the Philippines | Events Tayo na Giliw: Konsyertong Pamasko ng UP Symphony Orchestra November 30, 2023 Join the University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) for their annual Christmas community concert on Tuesday, December 19,... Read More Extending the Horizons of Human Rights: Philippines and the UDHR November 30, 2023 The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of... Read More Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera November 30, 2023 “Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera” features home movies shot by a farmer-migrant Nicholas Viernes, the unofficial documentarian of... Read More Tech Tales Youth November 30, 2023 Watch the premiere of the #TechTalesYouth: Films about Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific on December 7 (Thursday) from 2pm-5pm... Read More Leading Safe Spaces: The Role of Good Governance in Ending Violence Against Women November 30, 2023 As part of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the University of the Philippines-Centre International de... Read More The Saga of Philippine Cinema November 30, 2023 With support from The UNESCO Memory of the World (PH), a new movement to recognize cinema as the world’s... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/leading-safe-spaces-the-role-of-good-governance-in-ending-violence-against-women/ | Leading Safe Spaces: The Role of Good Governance in Ending Violence Against Women – University of the Philippines | Leading Safe Spaces: The Role of Good Governance in Ending Violence Against Women Leading Safe Spaces: The Role of Good Governance in Ending Violence Against Women November 30, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office As part of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the University of the Philippines-Centre International de Formation des Autorites et Leaders Philippines (UP-CIFAL Philippines) will hold “Leading Safe Spaces: The Role of Good Governance in Ending Violence Against Women” on December 6, Wednesday, 1:00 pm, at the GT Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, UP Diliman, Quezon City. The forum will discuss the vital role of leaders and authorities in crafting and implementing inclusive policies addressing gender-based violence. It will also tackle the current situation of gender-based violence in the country and examine the effectiveness of policies and programs in response to VAW. The event is free and open to the public. Interested parties however, are encouraged to register via this link: https://bit.ly/LeadingSafeSpacesForum of by scanning the QR code below. For questions and clarifications, you may send a message to UP-CIFAL Philippines via cifalphilippines@up.edu.ph. |
https://up.edu.ph/tech-tales-youth/ | Tech Tales Youth – University of the Philippines | Tech Tales Youth Tech Tales Youth November 30, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Watch the premiere of the #TechTalesYouth: Films about Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific on December 7 (Thursday) from 2pm-5pm at the UPFI Film Center. Produced by EngageMedia, seven short films created by young and talented filmmakers from Thailand and the Philippines feature stories on digital labour, new money and platform accountability, access to the internet and digital technologies, disinformation and historical revisionism, doxxing, data privacy and accountability of the state and private companies. Aside from the screenings, there will also be talk back sessions with the filmmakers and invited guests. See you there! —- In partnership with UP Film Institute, DAKILA, Active Vista, Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA), Cinemata.org, Computer Professionals’ Union (CPU), DZUP 1602 and Altermidya. |
https://up.edu.ph/pangarap-amerikano-farmer-migrants-behind-the-camera/ | Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera – University of the Philippines | Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera November 30, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office “Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera” features home movies shot by a farmer-migrant Nicholas Viernes, the unofficial documentarian of the Filipino immigrant community in Chicago. Since his arrival in the US in 1926, Viernes filmed events, gatherings, travels, and various slices of life. The films curated for this program were all from the 1930’s and are part of a larger collection of 240 analog films of the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC), established in 1986. Please join this presentation by FAHSC archivist Ashley Dequilla this December 11 Monday 5 p.m. at UPFI Film Center. ~~~ UPFI Film Center December 2023 Pangarap Amerikano: Farmer-Migrants Behind the Camera Dec 11 Mon 5 p.m. ~~~ The screening is open to the public for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at the cinema entrance 1 hour before screen time. Eating and drinking are not allowed. |
https://up.edu.ph/extending-the-horizons-of-human-rights-philippines-and-the-udhr/ | Extending the Horizons of Human Rights: Philippines and the UDHR – University of the Philippines | Extending the Horizons of Human Rights: Philippines and the UDHR Extending the Horizons of Human Rights: Philippines and the UDHR November 30, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on December 12, 2023, Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. at the University Theater, UP Diliman, Quezon City. The symposium, organized by both institutions, will discuss the role of the Philippines in the sharing of the international human rights framework, with a focus on UP alumnus and former United Nations General Assembly President Carlos P. Romulo’s contributions in the preparation of the UDHR. The event will also showcase the contributions of other Filipinos in international human rights treaties and mechanisms, particularly those in the United Nations. Interested parties may register for the event via this link: https://bit.ly/UPCelebrates75UDHR The event will streamed live via TVUP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TVUP.ph and TVUP on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TVUPph #StandUp4HumanRights #UDHR75 #UPCelebratesUDHR75 |
https://up.edu.ph/making-a-difference/ | Making A Difference – University of the Philippines | Making A Difference Eleventh year of ArtGifts returns with “Sari-saring Likhang Sining” Giving transcends the mere exchange of objects. It is an act that imparts something beyond the physicality of the... Read More UP Features: Andre Arboleda UP Features, the official video publication of the University of the Philippines, is a platform that showcases narratives of exceptional... Read More Datu Waway Saway’s Artistic Mission as UPD’s First Culture Bearer-in-Residence I would like to help our original culture to re-emerge, help people to understand who they are and what they... Read More Teaching Literature: The Gemino H. Abad Seminar-Workshop 2023 Teaching literature is impossible; that is why it is difficult. –Northrop Frye “Do you want to enhance your skills in... Read More Doktor Para sa Bayan, Kasama ng Bayan Jessica Franco Perez Magna cum laude Doctor of Medicine UP College of Medicine I am Jessica Franco Perez, 32... Read More Love life and don’t give up Hannah Patricia E. Bringas Doctor of Dental Medicine UP College of Dentistry I am Hannah Patricia E. Bringas, a... Read More Load More |
https://up.edu.ph/in-memoriam-former-up-manila-chancellor-dr-manuel-b-agulto/ | In Memoriam: Former UP Manila chancellor, Dr. Manuel B. Agulto – University of the Philippines | In Memoriam: Former UP Manila chancellor, Dr. Manuel B. Agulto In Memoriam: Former UP Manila chancellor, Dr. Manuel B. Agulto December 22, 2023 | Written by Fred Dabu The University of the Philippines (UP) extends its deepest condolences to the friends and loved ones of distinguished ophthalmologist and former Chancellor of UP Manila (UPM) from 2011 to 2014, Dr. Manuel B. Agulto. Dr. Agulto is remembered by the University for his lifelong commitment to public service and excellence in the field of ophthalmology. As Chancellor of UP Manila, he advocated for community-oriented academic education and research; strengthened research infrastructure for translation; implemented enterprise resource programs; and professionalized and streamlined University operations. An article posted in the UP Phi Kappa Mu’s official website shared Dr. Agulto’s own words on being chancellor of the country’s premier health sciences center: “I ran for Chancellor because I knew that things could be made better. I have the will to do it and the group that will accomplish it with me. I wanted to continue my life of service. What is three years more to give back to UP—UP that gave me everything that I have right now? ” Dr. Agulto was also one of the country’s most prominent eye doctors. A graduate of the UP College of Medicine, Dr. Agulto began his medical practice by serving patients in the UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and in communities in Pampanga. He pursued his specialization abroad under the mentorship of the world’s best glaucoma experts and returned to the UP-PGH as glaucoma specialist, health educator, and academic leader. He also served as director of the Institute of Ophthalmology of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and head of the UP-PGH Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Dr. Agulto passed away on December 18, 2023. Reference: Official Facebook account of UP Manila |
https://up.edu.ph/up-makes-a-big-leap-in-rankings-for-tackling-environmental-social-and-governance-challenges/ | UP makes a big leap in rankings for tackling environmental, social, and governance challenges – University of the Philippines | UP makes a big leap in rankings for tackling environmental, social, and governance challenges UP makes a big leap in rankings for tackling environmental, social, and governance challenges December 15, 2023 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The University of the Philippines (UP) made a great leap in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) sustainability rankings, which measures universities in terms of their ability to tackle environmental, social, and now, governance challenges. It climbed from the 401-450 bracket of 700 universities to 231st among 1,400 universities. In terms of environmental impact, it now ranks 180th; in social impact, 355th; and in governance, 330th. The previous year’s rankings measured only environmental impact and social impact, under which categories UP ranked 365th and 405th, respectively. Governance was measured in terms of university governance and the university’s human and research resources for sustainable development and policy-making. Environmental impact, which contributed the biggest to UP’s climb in the rankings, was measured in terms of environmental sustainability of the campuses, environmental education, and environmental research. Environmental research, in turn, was measured largely in terms of research impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for sustainable research. Social impact was measured in terms of equality, knowledge exchange, impact of education, employability and opportunities, and health and well-being. Equality, impact of education, health and well-being, and environmental research were measured largely in terms of research impact on the SDGs for each. Screencapture of the rankings on the QS website. Details of the methodology for the sustainability rankings are available here. In the previous year’s sustainability rankings, which was the first, only UP and De La Salle University (DLSU) made it, with the latter earning a spot in the 601+ bracket. In this year’s ranking, “QS World Sustainability Rankings: Sustainability 2024”, released on December 5, 2023, three other Philippine universities figured: Ateneo de Manila University, 593rd; University of Santo Tomas, 1,001-1,050; and Mapua University, 1,201+. DLSU made it to the 981-1,000 bracket. UP as the national university ranked number one in the Philippines in all subcategories. A screenshot from the QS website of UP’s ranking in terms of Environmental Impact. A screenshot from the QS website of UP’s ranking in terms of Social Impact. A screenshot from the QS website of UP’s impact on Governance. UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo Cubillan, for his part, said that UP’s rise in the QS sustainability rankings “reflects UP’s continuous efforts in sustainability and its roles as a leader in higher education, committed to making a positive impact to society and the environment.” UP’s sustainability ranking by QS is higher than its global universities ranking by the same ranking firm, the latter placing more significance on the global reputation and orientation of research universities. UP is currently 404th among 1,500 global universities, as ranked by QS. |
https://up.edu.ph/datu-waway-saways-artistic-mission-as-upds-first-culture-bearer-in-residence/ | Datu Waway Saway’s Artistic Mission as UPD’s First Culture Bearer-in-Residence – University of the Philippines | Datu Waway Saway’s Artistic Mission as UPD’s First Culture Bearer-in-Residence Datu Waway Saway’s Artistic Mission as UPD’s First Culture Bearer-in-Residence November 24, 2023 | Written by Ma. Patricia Brillantes Silvestre I would like to help our original culture to re-emerge, help people to understand who they are and what they were. – Datu Waway Saway Datu Waway on his katyapi, a Philippine two-stringed, fretted boat-lute. (Photo from the UP Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts) Rodelio “Waway” Saway, Talaandig datu, brilliant master artist, musician, educator and current Municipal Councilor of Songco, Lantapan in Bukidnon, arrived November 6 at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music to fulfill a three-week sojourn till November 24 under the new UP Diliman (UPD) Culture Bearers-in-Residence Program. Approved by the UPD Office of the Chancellor on February 7, 2023, and envisioned to shine the spotlight on the promotion and protection of the nation’s indigenous knowledges or katutubong kaalaman and kaalamang bayan, this new program aligns with Republic Act 9500, which seals UP’s mandate, as the country’s national university, to spearhead exemplary academic standards and innovative practices. Not new to this, the College of Music since the 1960s has had a string of culture bearers as teachers of Asian music in the Musicology curricula, a significant move initiated by ethnomusicologist-composer and National Artist for Music, Dr. Jose Maceda. Ben Pangosban and Benicio Sokkong taught Kalinga music; Ligaya Amilbangsa taught Sulu pangalay dance; Joey Ayala taught instrumental music of the Davao lumad; Abraham Sakili taught Tausug gabbang and songs; and today, Aga Mayo Butocan and Kanapia Kalanduyan currently teach Magindanaon kulintangan. However, Waway’s intensive stay-in engagement brought knowledge-learning to a closer degree of apprenticeship: freer, more flexible time for lots of informal kwentuhan, juxtaposed with jamming outside of the formal class setting and curriculum. The son of Datu Kinulintang, descendant of revered chieftain-peacemakers of Mindanao, Waway is one of 18 siblings, counting tribal leaders, Datu Makapukaw and anthropologist Datu Migketay or Vic (who lobbied for the signing of the Indigenous People’s Rights Act in 1997), and sociologist-soil-painter Salima among them. His family was instrumental in establishing the Talaandig School for Living Traditions in 1995, which endeavored to keep alive the artistic traditions and cultural values of the community. This became a model system adopted by other indigenous groups, which today has branched out to 14 other barangays by means of a moving school-on-wheels. Transfixed by the dynamism of the tribal elders in preserving their traditions through teaching, a bunch of multidisciplinal researchers, mostly from UP, worked to bring the Talaandig educational exemplar in 1998 to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, as part of the grand Pahiyas Folklife Festival in celebration of the centennial of the Philippine Revolution. There, the Talaandig tent constantly reverberated with excitement, as Waway beat on the massive log drums, or taught the audience how to move to the shimmering bell tones and rhythmic foot stamping of the elegant ceremonial dance Dugso, enveloping those who watched in a hushed, mesmerizingly reverent state. This was Waway’s very first foray outside of his barangay, along with two brothers and an aunt. Little did he know that he was destined for global recognition, as he would soon travel the world to share his music at festivals in Europe, Asia and the United States, and perform with noted artists in venues such as the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, and the Lincoln Center in New York. An innovator, he bridged Asia and the West through his bowed katyapi, a two-stringed lute traditionally played by plucking. He developed an adventurous, contemporary sound that keenly projected his ethnicity as it embraced globality, fusing elements of rock and reggae with indigenous melodies and timbres. Samples of Datu Waway’s soil-paintings. (Photo from the UP Diliman Office for Initaitives in Culture and the Arts) Not only in music did Waway make his mark. He pioneered the art of soil painting in the community, a modern form of artistic expression that sourced organic materials from the environment and colored soil (23 myriad hues) from hills and riverbanks. Through the medium of soil, Waway created a visual avenue for expressing Talaandig oral history and daily life: a woman playing the polycordal zither; female dugso dancers; a family on a moonlit walk; a mother with child at her bosom; a storyteller; flowers and butterflies. Young Talaandig soil painters have won the prestigious Philippine Arts Awards and Metrobank Award. Datu Waway demonstrates his kubing skills. (Photo from the UP Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts.) Amiable, unassuming, soft-spoken and radiating with quiet wisdom and positivity, Waway is a revitalizing presence on campus. Billeted at the Balay Kalinaw, he followed an itinerary of multi-disciplinary activities to foster a collaborative spirit. At the College of Music—Sayaw, Hukagtes, Salay (Dance, Flute, Beads)—a dance and chant workshop (that had our dancers gamely working their vocal cords); bamboo flute-making (which resourcefully used PVC pipes instead of bamboo due to a logistics glitch, but which surprisingly emitted nice, airy tones); and beadwork for crafts (that fired the students’ imaginations). And at the College of Fine Arts—Bugta: Embracing Talaandig Ancestral Soil—an exhibit on Talaandig culture and Waway as Artist, preceded by an Artist’s Talk, was launched on Nov. 16 at the PAROLA Gallery, co-curated by a team from both colleges, and graced by Chancellor Vistan. Seventeen of Waway’s own soil paintings are currently on exhibit till November 24, along with his musical instruments, katyapi, pulala (bamboo flute), and kubing (jaw harp made from bamboo), while videos of Waway in musical action unfold on a screen, and a pair of headphones strung on the panel enfolds the listener in the Talaandig soundscape. Invited as a guest in our classes, and holding lively exchanges with students and faculty, and spirited jam sessions with our groups TUGMA (Tugtugang Musika Asyatika) and Padayon Rondalla, which saw an organic immersion in music juxtaposed with precious kwentuhan, good-natured banter and insights—all these became vital components of his stay. With just three more days left of his UP visit, two final events remain on the calendar: the soil-painting workshop on November 23, and a culminating concert on November 24, both at the College of Fine Arts. Dubbed “Munahu. Datu Waway Saway, the Lightkeeper of Talaandig Culture in a Special Thanksgiving Concert”, this event brings together :prominent ethnic-pop music artists Joey Ayala and Bayang Barrios; Asian Music major and former Up Dharma Down lead singer Armi Millare; our very own Asian Music teachers, Dr. Hiroko Nagai, Tusa Montes and Malou Matute; saxophone artist Mike Guevarra, percussionist Jose Dufourt; our students and performing groups ,TUGMA and Padayon Rondalla, all in one big momentous concert that will be hard to replicate. Three weeks of unforgettable learnings rooted in indigenous wisdom, art and life while engaging the contemporary zeitgeist. Waway’s visit was like soft rain on parched earth. He infused a new, vibrant energy into the academic community through his spontaneous sprinkles of aphorism and gentle counsel dispensed between verses of a song, or while carving out a flute or sharing a meal. He made the ordinary extraordinary: “Tingnan mo ang buwan. . . laging sinasabi na maliwanag ang buwan. . . pagmasdan na di lang maliwanag kundi maganda rin ang buwan.” He showed how effortless it was to be one with nature and the environment: “Nature was my recording studio. . . the birds, insects, rustling leaves were my back-up musicians.” He explained how organic practices, resilience, resourcefulness and creative sharing should be developed as natural attributes. His songs, Bulalakaw, Sinla Sinla, Gabi sa Unay-House of Gongs Mix, and Riverclouds, are fervent testaments to a snug union of traditional and modern-day aesthetics as they embody the Talaandig imagination, spirituality, and cosmology, as well as daily reality and struggle. Datu Waway shares his traditions, culture and musical and artistic gifts with UP arts and music scholars. (Photo from the UP Diliman Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts) The soil-painting workshop on November 23 returns human respect to this most fundamental material on which rests the Earth’s systems, through use of soil as art medium. The Talaandig’s deep love for the earth is passed on to us, through their paintings which bear the community’s “geographic and geologic imprint”, as Dean San Valentin remarked at the exhibit opening. Through each graceful turn of the hand on the kubing, each delicate brushstroke of soil paint, each sincere intonation of chant phrase, Waway demonstrated how we can all be better humans for others through art and music. Waway’s artistic journey led to his mission of “helping” his “original culture” to re-emerge. His brief but eye- and ear-opening stay as UPD’s first Culture Bearer-in-Residence has led us onto a path of re-emergence as well. You may view Datu Waway’s latest works and activities via his Facebook page Article written by Dr. Ma. Patricia Brillantes Silvestre, Associate Professor of Historical Musicology, and Chair of the Department of Musicology, UP College of Music. Prof. Patricia has written on various topics, in which she combines her fluency in the Spanish language, acquired after obtaining a Diploma Básico de Español como Lengua Extranjera from the Universidad de Salamanca and an MA in Spanish from UP, with her interest in Fil-Hispanic culture. She earned her PhD in Philippine Studies from UP Diliman’s TriCollege Program in 2021. Her research focus is social history of 19th to early 20th Century Manila, thru ideas of being and becoming (in Musicology and Cultural Studies) in the journalism on music in the colonial press. |
https://up.edu.ph/paskong-pahinungod-up-gurong-pahinungod-celebrates-the-holiday-with-first-reunion-of-gp-volunteers/ | Paskong Pahinungod: UP Gurong Pahinungod celebrates the holiday with first reunion of GP volunteers – University of the Philippines | Paskong Pahinungod: UP Gurong Pahinungod celebrates the holiday with first reunion of GP volunteers Paskong Pahinungod: UP Gurong Pahinungod celebrates the holiday with first reunion of GP volunteers December 22, 2023 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta In 1993, an article in the Sunday Inquirer magazine asked a question that raised a number of academic eyebrows: “Has UP Lost Its Soul?” Read the article in full here. The article released the results of a study by two UP Diliman professors entitled “The Meaning of UP Education”, which surveyed the knowledge, attitudes and values of UP students and faculty. The results showed that UP students and faculty rated the values of honor, excellence and leadership highly, which was to be expected. However, the values of social responsibility, ethics, and morality? Not so much. This question of UP’s role as national university and the presence or absence of its soul echoed throughout the term of UP President and National Scientist Emil Q. Javier (1993-1999). In response, the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, the volunteer service program of the University of the Philippines, was instituted across all the UP constituent units, making it the first university-based formal volunteer service program in the country. In 1998, the Pahinungod fielded its first batch of volunteers under its Gurong Pahinungod program, mobilizing UP alumni, students, faculty and staff as “Teachers to the Barrios” to public schools in underserved communities for a period of 10 months. For the next 25 years, throughout leadership changes and shifts in administrative priorities, throughout national and global crises, the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod’s Gurong Pahinungod (GP) program continued to quietly and steadfastly send volunteers to some of the country’s most remote, neglected, sometimes inhospitable and even conflict-ridden communities to teach basic and secondary education to children and adults as well as conduct various community-based projects that make full use of their UP education and skills. On December 9, 2023 at the UP Asian Institute of Tourism in Diliman, the Pahinungod’s GP program celebrated another milestone, and one that has been a long time coming: its first reunion of Gurong Pahinungod volunteers, from Batch 1 to Batch 13, hailing from the different UP CUs. “Nag-isip kami kung paano ba ipagdiwang ang National Volunteer Month [ngayong Disyembre],” said UP System Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Director Marie Therese A.P. Bustos in her welcome remarks. The answer was clear: “Kailangang magkita-kita muli ang lahat ng mga Gurong Pahinungod, dahil ito ay isang intrinsically joyous event. Kasi tuwing nagtatanong kami sa mga ibang GP dati, ang sinasabi nila ay sana magkita-kita kami muli.” Gurong Pahinungod: Past, present and future It was indeed a joyful event as the UP GP volunteers from different batches, courses and campuses swapped stories of their experiences as Gurong Pahinungod—teaching classes in a classroom made of little more than wooden posts and corrugated sheets, teaching high school Science and Math to students who were 18 years old or older, and doing any number of odd-jobs to benefit the families and communities of their students. As one member of Batch 1 recalled: “Kapag naging Pahinungod, kailangang jack of all trades ka. Sa batch namin, noong wala pang allowance, may mga sumali sa singing contest sa radio station. Hindi naman nanalo, pero nakakuha ng P1000 to P2000” to support their lessons and fund their community projects. “Ikaw lahat!” another former GP volunteer interjected, amidst laughter. “Kaya napakalaking tulong ng Pahinungod sa akin,” the first volunteer continued. “Ngayong lawyer na ako, jack of all trades pa din ako. Nasa cooperative ako, nasa water district–kahit saan, kasi natutunan ko sa Pahinungod ang kung paano mag-adjust at maging flexible. And the one thing that is constant is: our dedication to serve.” UP Mindanao Pahinungod Director Michael A. Gatela updated the GP alumni on the current landscape of the Gurong Pahinungod Program, including the deployment of the latest batch of GPs, Batch 13, to areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, in accordance with a memorandum of agreement for educational cooperation signed between UP and the BARMM Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (BARMM-MBHTE). For future GP Batches, including Batch 14 who have recently completed their preparatory training in pedagogy and content, the next target-beneficiary community will be in Barangay Kabasalan, Pikit, North Cotabato, which, as Director Gatela revealed, has only one teacher teaching 250 students. “The Gurong Pahinungod are ambassadors of UP to the communities,” Gatela added, reporting that the Pahinungod has been expanding its engagements with communities for its programs, including the GP. Ang mga Boluntir ng Bayan: the UP Gurong Pahinungod volunteers Batches 1 to 13. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPMPRO) Pahinungod: Pagtanim, muling pagsibol, pagmumukadkad Two UP Presidents attended the milestone event. UP President Angelo A. Jimenez congratulated the GP alumni, and pledged his support for the Pahinungod and its programs, especially the Gurong Pahinungod, expressing his desire to locate Pahinungod and its spirit central to what it means to be a university. UP President Angelo Jimenez pledges his support for the growth and expansion of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod and the Gurong Pahinungod program, with former UPS Pahinungod Director Grace Aguiling-Dalisay and National Scientist and former UP President Emil Q. Javier in attendance (front-center table). (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPMPRO) Of course, Dr. Emil Q. Javier doesn’t “miss Pahinungod events if I can help it.” The reason? “Among the many things associated with my administration as UP President, the Pahinungod is the one closest to my heart,” he said. President EQJ regaled the GP alumni with stories from the Pahinungod’s early days, revealing that at one point the Pahinungod had about 6,000 volunteers. “After all, the Pahinungod is not new to UP. We had that all along. The idea of the Pahinungod was really creating a formal program of the University beyond the purely voluntary work of our faculty, staff and alumni.” Addressing the GP alumni, he said: “Many of you are leaders in your respective communities, executives of corporations, heads of agencies. In practically all walks of life, we are producing leaders, but this time, these are leaders with a heart. That’s what the Pahinungod ideal is all about: producing people not only with excellence, leadership and honor, but people who care for their communities and the environment.” “The Father of the UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungod”: National Scientist and former UP President Emil Q. Javier. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPMPRO) Former UP System Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Director Grace H. Aguiling Dalisay shared this sentiment as she expressed her appreciation for the support of three UP Presidents for the Pahinungod—to Javier, for creating it; to former UP President Danilo L. Concepcion for reviving the UP System Pahinungod office in 2019; and to UP President Jimenez for his support for the Pahinungod’s expansion. “Nakikita ko na na maaaring maraming pang pagbabago gaya sa iba’t ibang anyo ng GP,” she said of the Gurong Pahinungod’s 25 years and counting. “Ngunit ano pa man ang mangyari, hindi magbabago ang ating tiwala at pag-asa na may magagagawa tayo at yung mga sumusunod pa sa atin upang maiangat ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas.” |
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