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https://up.edu.ph/tech-plant-based-products-shown-at-nih-conference/
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Tech, plant-based products shown at NIH conference – University of the Philippines
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Tech, plant-based products shown at NIH conference Tech, plant-based products shown at NIH conference May 31, 2019 | Written by Fred Dabu A vending machine for non-prescription drugs and other over-the-counter products; a device that helps lifeguards detect drowning victims; and a tracking system for Alzheimer’s patients. These were among the innovative products showcased at the 21st anniversary conference of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila) on February 28 at the Bayanihan Center, UNILAB Inc. complex, Pasig City. With the theme, “Lab to Life: Translating Health Research for Filipinos,” the day-long conference included presentations and a poster exhibit of abstracts on these “future products” as laboratory-tested solutions that can be made commercially viable and available for development with prospective industrial partners. Among the other technologies and plant-based products featured by the NIH were: virtual reality applications for phobia therapies; electronic medical record systems; and medicines derived from Tsaang gubat, Ulasimang bato, Yerba buena, and Akapulko herbs. OTC Express Research by members of the Adamson University’s Electronics Engineering Department features the OTC Express, a “microprocessor and microcontroller-based automated vending machine that monitors sales, transaction records, and product inventory remotely through a database.” According to the proponents of this innovation, the vending machine aims to dispense non-prescription medicines and toiletries, or over the counter (OTC) products, that are commonly purchased from drugstores. This makes commerce more convenient for both customers and operators. Customers will be able to save time since the machine allows flexible payments in coins, bills, and points earned through purchases using magnetic stripe cards; and they do not have to queue up at the cashier. On the other hand, operators can easily monitor products with the machine’s proximity sensors; and inventories are reported to them in real time, making restocking easier and eliminating periodic manual inspections. Drowning Detection System Another technology being offered by the Adamson EE department is a system for detecting body movements indicative of drowning. Proponents of this study cited drowning as one of the top causes of accidental deaths worldwide. Thus, to help lifeguards prevent drowning, they conceptualized the development of a wearable device and alarm system. According to the researchers, “there are specific near-drowning body movement patterns that could be detected and assessed.” The project shows the feasibility of developing a wearable device that detetcs an instinctive drowning response in the user using motion detection, and a receiving device that makes the system “capable of sensing, communicating, comparing and initiating an alarm”. Tracking System for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Also from the Adamson University, a research project proposes “the development of a real-time tracking system for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.” Proponents of this study designed a wearable tracking device for patients in nursing homes. The tracking device is linked to a personal computer-based software application that notifies administrators or caregivers if a patient has wandered out of the facility. Using wireless GSM technology, the system “will be able to locate the exact position of the patient,” and can even interconnect the patients’ individual devices through mesh network data transfers among their wearable devices. The researchers cited data from the National Statistics Office indicating that, as of 2007, there were 3.6 million persons aged 65 and above, majority (56.8%) of them women, with Alzheimer’s disease. They are the main beneficiaries of this product. Sponsors’ booths and selected participants’ posters of research abstracts were set up at the lobby of the NIH conference venue. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The following innovations are currently handled by the UP Manila-Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (UPM-TTBDO): YANIG: A Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Earthquake-related PTSD The UPM-TTBDO describes YANIG as “a virtual reality application designed as an alternative way of exposing patients with earthquake-related post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to their stressors.” This application for Android mobile devices can simulate earthquakes with intensity levels ranging from 4 to 10 and allows the therapist to customize the parameters of the virtual environment and auditory cues to settings that are appropriate to the patient’s conditions. VRETA: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Agoraphobia VRETA is an application designed to supplement treatment for patients with Agoraphobia, the irrational fear of being in open or public spaces. According to the proponents, the program provides “exposure therapy” using virtual environments, reduces the time and cost of finding a suitable public place, and can generate a progress report after each simulation. It also protects the person’s privacy. The website of the Mayo Clinic describes Agoraphobia as a type of anxiety disorder in which the patient fears and avoids places or situations that might cause him or her to panic and make the patient feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed. The patient fears an actual or anticipated situation, such as using public transportation, being in open or enclosed spaces, standing in line, or being in a crowd. It is also “one of the most disabling phobias and one of the most challenging to treat”. AVRET: Acrophobia Virtual Reality Exposure Treatment AVRET is a program designed to help therapists treat patients with fear of heights. Like the YANIG and VRETA applications, AVRET provides a virtual environment that the therapist can customize for the patients, allow more privacy and less costs, minimize the risks posed by the outdoors, and generate progress reports after each simulation. RxBox and CHITS “RxBox is a multi-component program designed to provide better access to life-saving health services in isolated and disadvantaged communities nationwide.” It includes the continuous development of “a biomedical device, the Community Health Information Tracking System (CHITS—a pioneering electronic medical record system) and telemedicine, and their integration and eHealth training of rural health professionals”. Around 160 government primary care facilities use RxBox. CHITS is a secure and interoperable EMR capable of transmitting electronic reports to the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Around 180 public health centers are using CHITS. File photos from the NIH-UP Manila showing the 2014 version of the RxBox. Tsaang gubat for stomach problems Tsaang gubat leaves. Photo from the Facebook page of the Department of Health. Tsaang gubat leaves are prepared and drunk as tea to relieve patients’ stomach problems and loose bowel movement. The National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants- Institute of Herbal Medicine (NIRPROMP – IHM) developed the Tsaang gubat tablet as a safe and effective medicine for relieving abdominal pain and for treating mild to severe gastrointestinal or biliary colics within 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. Tsaang gubat tablet is the only clinically proven herbal medicine in the Philippines to address gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and gallstones. Ulasimang bato for treating hyperuricemia, gout Ulasimang bato also known as pansit-pansitan leaves. Photo from the Facebook page of the Department of Health. Traditionally, Ulasimang bato or pansit-pansitan leaves have been used as a decoction to treat gout, arthritis and urinary tract infections. Clinical trials conducted by the NIRPROMP show that Ulasimang bato relieves the patients’ joint pains and decreases serum uric acid levels within 2 to 7 weeks of continuous oral intake. This product is available in 500 mg tablet form. Yerba buena for pain Yerba buena also known as mint leaves. Photo from the Facebook page of the Department of Health. Yerba buena, an aromatic herb also known as mint, spearmint or marshmint, has been drunk as a tea for headaches, toothaches and arthritis.” NIRPROMP’s clinical studies prove the Yerba buena tablet formulation to be safe and effective in relieving moderate to severe pain, including post-operative pain. Akapulko for treating fungal skin infections Akapulko leaves. Photo from the Facebook page of the Department of Health. Lastly, among the products featured in time for the NIH’s 21st anniversary, is the Akapulko lotion. NIRPROMP’s clinical tests prove this lotion to be safe and effective in treating Pityriasis (Tinea) versicolor or fungal skin infections. Pharmaceutical companies are invited to produce, manufacture and distribute these products in the Philippine market. The UPM-TTBDO may be reached via email: ttbdo@post.upm.edu.ph.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-sports-5/
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on SPORTS – University of the Philippines
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on SPORTS The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on SPORTS July 12, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Pilar Ma. Celine P. Mesina BS Industrial Pharmacy College of Pharmacy UP Manila What was your most memorable PE subject and why? My most memorable PE subject was my first PE, folk dance under Ma’am Dioquino. Folk dance requires dancing in pairs, but back then, my blockmates and I were not yet close friends and we were still shy, so dancing was awkward! Towards the end, it became group dances. I remember the girls were practicing Pandanggo sa Ilaw where we would put a glassful of water on top of our heads while changing from standing to lying on our bellies to rolling to the left and right. Imagine, there was spilled water everywhere! The boys were busy perfecting their hand-and-body coordination for Maglalatik, which was no joke! The dancers should have timing and grace. Our final exam was an intermission number for the annual dance recital where all PE dance classes showcased their moves and were up for winning in their categories. We had a great time, and guess what? After our performance, we had to clean up. What sports, games, or physical activity do you engage in? What about it do you like the most? I like swimming and volleyball. Swimming relaxes my mind, just me and the water. Not only is it good for the heart and the lungs, but it also exercises your whole-body coordination minus the feel of sweating! Volleyball, on the other hand, emphasizes team effort and camaraderie. Everyone is an essential player and everyone must move to gain a point. Win or lose, it’s the friends you make at the end of the game and the skills to improve on for the next game that matter. Aside from basketball, volleyball, and football, what other sports or PE subjects do you think should UP offer or promote? UP should promote dancing! In UP Manila, folk dance, social dance, street dance, hip-hop, jazz, etc. are offered. During finals, a recital is hosted by the Department of Physical Education to showcase the talents of students through a friendly competition. After that, it’s DPE’s turn to showcase the faculty’s talents by showing us contemporary moves and the students are in awe, cheering for their professors. Although UP has representatives in street dance and cheer dance competitions, I think its dance classes should still be promoted. What do you think will it take for UP to become UAAP overall champion again? I know the athletes of the university are training hard, giving their all and doing their best in their respective sports to bring home the bacon and pride to UP. Aside from more training times, I guess moral support and cheers from our fellow iskos and iskas might go a long long way for our athletes. Let’s keep the fires of our athletes burning as we cheer “U-ni-bersidad ng Pilipinas!” as they go and fight to represent our university!
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https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-sports-7/
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on SPORTS – University of the Philippines
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on SPORTS The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on SPORTS July 12, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Percival Balite Assistant Professor 1 Department of Human Kinetics College of Arts and Sciences UP Los Baños What was your most memorable PE subject and why? It was PE 2 (wrestling) in UP Diliman in 2006. It was memorable for me because of its novelty. Our professor, Prof. Norberto Madrigal, was very well-versed in the sport, and his method of teaching was not only accommodating but was also patient. The class in itself, to me, was not just practical in engaging you physically and strategically; it also planted seeds for a budding competitive sport. What sports, games, or physical activity do you engage in? What about it do you like the most? At present, I am an assistant professor in the Department of Human Kinetics (DHK), CAS, UPLB. I teach football, futsal, weight training, and chess as HK12 activities (formerly known as PE 2). I also coach the UPLB Football Team. Other than the aforementioned activities, I also engage in various sports and forms of leisure, like ten-pin bowling, e-sports, darts, and camping, to name a few. What I like most about sports is its ability to cultivate character, culture, camaraderie, and long-lasting friendships. Sports for recreation is also intrinsically fun, educational, and competitive. Aside from basketball, volleyball, and football, what other sports or PE subjects do you think should UP offer or promote? I believe that UP should be spearheading the promotion of all sports, and also, sports for all. For instance, the DHK will soon be offering a new HK12 activity, billiards. The department is also preparing to offer other new activities such as darts, sports climbing, and Ultimate Frisbee in the near future. Here in UPLB, we have thriving teams, such as swimming and athletics, which do not receive the same attention as the “bigger” sports—volleyball, basketball, and football. What do you think will it take for UP to become UAAP overall champion again? As a graduate of Sports Science and with an MS in Human Movement Science at the College of Human Kinetics (CHK) in UP Diliman, I know that this is currently being addressed and acted upon by Dean Ronualdo Dizer. The CHK and UP Diliman are in the process of building new facilities, such as an artificial-turf football field and a modern track and field area, that will help not only in the training of our current pool of athletes, but also in attracting elite coaches and high school sportsmen to enlist in the University. The same can be said for us here in UPLB. Besides a new baseball field, we now also have new tennis courts and weight training equipment. Plans for the improvement of our sports complex are also in the works, if not already in effect.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-sports-6/
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on SPORTS – University of the Philippines
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on SPORTS The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on SPORTS July 12, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Katherine Adrielle R. Bersola BS Sports Science 2017 UP Diliman First Year Student, College of Medicine UP Manila What was your most memorable PE subject and why? Being a varsity athlete in the university, I did not have to take PE classes. However, we were required to take electives in my course, sports science. The most memorable one for me was basic weight training because I learned all about the different exercises that can be done in resistance training or in the gym, what muscles they target, how to do them properly, how to teach the exercises to others, and how to plan out a weight training program. I believe it was a very practical class which I could truly apply in life and in my sport. What sports, games, or physical activity do you engage in? What about it do you like the most? I engage in a lot of sports and physical activity, but those I really trained for and usually play are volleyball, basketball, taekwondo, and weight training. My favorite thing about these activities is the way I get to improve myself, not only physically, but in all aspects of life, while having fun and developing relationships with others. There is so much development, values, and life lessons gained when participating in sports. Aside from basketball, volleyball, and football, what other sports or PE subjects do you think should UP offer or promote? For sports and the UAAP, I think all the events should be promoted because all the athletes deserve the support and this can be a good way for the students to develop interest in different activities. For PE, I believe weight training should be promoted because of the current gym culture, especially in the youth. Also, it is practical, low-risk with the proper guidance, and accessible. What do you think will it take for UP to become UAAP overall champion again? I think greater support, in all types, coming from the school will go a long way for all the teams. Better facilities and equipment that will be available to all the teams, better recruitment programs for all sports because we all know how competitive the other schools are in the recruitment wars, I could go on and on about the problems the teams face. The world of sports is multifactorial and competitive teams need a lot, but I know that the heart and hunger to win is present in all our players. We just need a little help and inspiration.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-utak-at-puso/
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso – University of the Philippines
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso November 16, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Margarita de la Torre-de la Cruz Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics UPV Tacloban College Please share your most memorable story of kindness and compassion on campus. At about 9:00 a.m. on July 6, 2006, fire broke out in an area near the UPVTC campus where many of our over 1,100 undergraduate students are boarding. We were about to start our faculty meeting, but the campus suddenly became noisy with people shouting “fire!” Faculty, staff, and students started running out of their offices and classrooms. Some male faculty and staff went to help rescue our students, literally braving the fire. And when the smoke settled, we gathered our students—some students from other schools also joined in—and provided them accommodation in our old, vacated library building and free meals for several weeks. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, local business, and government offices donated food, non-food items and even cash to help the students get back on their feet. I was coordinating the donations, and I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness and love for our students. In fact, our students did not feel abandoned and were the envy of students from other schools. They even joked that they felt they got more than what they had lost to the fire. How can UP help students, faculty, and staff deal better with life’s difficult challenges? As an academic institution, UP’s main role is providing quality education that will enable students to apply their learning from the university to cope with life’s challenges, to better not only their lives but also to contribute to the development of others. This means that UP must offer a quality curriculum, one that develops competencies for lifelong learning and holistic development. It is not enough that students develop competencies in an area of inquiry; they should also develop skills, values, and attitudes related with content knowledge. The role of the faculty, staff, and the leadership of the university in inculcating values like integrity, compassion, leadership, stewardship, citizenship, etc., cannot be overemphasized. We are, after all, the role models of our students.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-utak-at-puso-2/
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso – University of the Philippines
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso November 16, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Prof. Ellen Grace M. Funesto Director, Office of Student Affairs UP Cebu Please share your most memorable story of kindness and compassion on campus. My most memorable story of compassion and kindness is how UP Cebu students and also the faculty help those who are in need. Some faculty of UP Cebu offer scholarships and assistance to financially challenged students anonymously—showing that they do not seek recognition but really are there to help. This is also a personal story for me then, as a student. As a government scholar, my stipend would be delayed for several months. Through these trying times however, my classmates were always there, ready to help. I will forever be grateful to these classmates, and will never forget their kindness. How can UP help students, faculty, and staff deal better with life’s difficult challenges? One thing that UP can do to help students, faculty, and staff deal better with life’s difficult challenges is to remind their constituents to respect each other. No matter what position a person is in, whether you are the chancellor or a worker, you have to respect everyone. Each person has his or her own aspirations and struggles. Respect them, talk kindly, and listen. This should be practiced by all of UP’s constituents, and then life in the campus can be a little better, and UP might even be a safe haven for everyone.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-utak-at-puso-3/
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso – University of the Philippines
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso November 16, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Prof. Jerwin F. Agpaoa Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs UP Diliman Please share your most memorable story of kindness and compassion on campus: Since Palma Hall does not have an elevator, I was particularly touched by the act of kindness and compassion of a group of security and custodial personnel who assisted a wheelchair-bound student, who suffers from muscle atrophy, by carrying him to his third-floor class in Palma Hall and carrying him back down to the ground floor after his class. This became routine for them for three semesters. How can UP help students, faculty, and staff deal better with life’s difficult challenges? UP can help by providing forms of assistance that are reasonable and equitable. Given that everyone is not on equal footing, UP can help identify various needs so it can come up with responses and sustainable initiatives that can best address different levels of concern and ensure that its staff, faculty, and students thrive well. It would be good to have a survey of varying needs so policies can be crafted in response to these.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-ups-legacy-of-music/
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Dr. LaVerne David C. de la Peña – University of the Philippines
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Dr. LaVerne David C. de la Peña The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Dr. LaVerne David C. de la Peña January 14, 2019 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office 1. What musical event in UP do you look forward to or regularly attend? Why? Being from the College of Music, it is hard for me to pick favorites, and I try to attend as many concerts as I can. I particularly enjoy shows that feature Asian and Philippine music because we are the only university that can offer these. I also like contemporary or new music concerts. But I love the various concerts that each of our departments organize, and I relish going to various student recitals because they give me a real sense of what we as an institution are producing. Most of all, I look forward to the Abelardo Hall Concert Series because of the way it reaches out to new audiences through diverse offerings. 2. Name one or two composers, performers (individual or group), or mentors from UP who have largely contributed to Philippine music. Discuss briefly his or her contributions. Foremost on the list would be Nicanor Abelardo, after whom the college is named. Known mostly for his kundiman, Abelardo was way ahead of other Filipino composers when he began writing in the contemporary idiom. His music remains modern and relevant today. Jose Maceda, on the other hand, made us aware of our musical identity as Filipinos by documenting traditional music, writing about it and conceptualizing new compositional possibilities inspired by his research. He left us his collection, now safeguarded by the UP Center for Ethnomusicology and which continues to be a valuable resource on Philippine music. Finally, there is National Artist Ramon Santos who epitomizes the accomplished Filipino musician—a prolific composer, respected author, dynamic cultural worker and administrator, and inspiring teacher. 3. Aside from the current program offerings of the College of Music, what else do you think should the college offer or promote? The UP College of Music has played a central role in shaping the country’s concert music tradition through the body of work produced by our venerated composers and the artistry of the performers we have raised since the early 20th century. We have also blazed the trail for scholarship and research in the discipline. However, we need to pay attention to the music that ordinary people encounter everyday outside the concert hall if we want to remain relevant. There should be spaces in our recital halls, classrooms and library shelves for popular music, and by “popular”, I don’t just mean pop, but people’s music. We also need to incubate music programs that relate to physical, mental and social well-being. Finally, we need to have more engagements with the scientific community in areas where we can produce new knowledge and applications.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-utak-at-puso-4/
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso – University of the Philippines
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on Utak at Puso November 16, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Shergina Alicando Chair, University Student Council UP Cebu Please share your most memorable story of kindness and compassion on campus. UP Cebu is wealthy with stories of compassion, not just within the campus, but this richness of empathy and kindness flows to the community. In the most trying times, it is assumed that people become realists, securing themselves first before reaching out to others. In my three years’ stay in UP, I saw students dedicating their time and effort not to themselves but to others even if circumstances challenge them not to. Kindness is not foreign to UP Cebu. Instead, it is the fiber that holds UP Cebu together. Inside the campus, it is always good to see during Hell Week that students remain warm and polite to everyone they meet, because it proves how unconditional kindness and compassion are. I will forever be touched by how the students welcome, embrace, celebrate and fight for diversity. From the simplest act of donating their humblest possessions in donation drives for fire victims, typhoon survivors, and displaced communities to standing with and fighting alongside the masses, UP Cebu students are always reminded to give back to the people. How can UP help students, faculty, and staff deal better with life’s difficult challenges? Life, or the system rather, is already too oppressive, discriminatory and cruel in itself, thus the least we can do is to be kind. As a student representative, I am here to speak for the students. Being a student is never easy, especially if you have different baggage to carry. Thus, as it has always been reiterated by every student leader, UP could greatly help students if it genuinely listens to their demands and opens its eyes to their struggles. Students are not unreasonable to demand superficial things. If they demand better school facilities, that is because it is necessary for their education. If the students are protesting, that is because there is a problem and it needs to be solved. We must remember that UP students come from all walks of life, and not all are privileged to have the resources for their education. It would surely take a lot of weight off the students’ burdens if they are provided a wide array of financial assistance programs, more accessible basic student services that are without fees, and mental health awareness programs. While free tuition is a victory, it is not enough for students to overcome life’s obstacles. If the students have no financial resources to get through their days, have to pay fees just to access equipment and services, and are losing themselves in emotional and psychological struggles, free tuition is futile. The students are the largest stakeholders of this University, and it is about time that the University actually serves and upholds the students’ interest instead of leaving them unheard, alienated, and ridiculed.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-ups-legacy-of-music-danielle-faye-d-garley/
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Danielle Faye D. Garley – University of the Philippines
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Danielle Faye D. Garley The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Danielle Faye D. Garley January 14, 2019 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office 1. What musical event in UP do you look forward to or regularly attend? Why? “Overture Concert”—an annual concert held by the UP Mindanao Koro Kantahanay. The concert showcases the musical pieces that range from classical to cultural genres, and also introduces the new batch of official resident members in the said university choir. 2. Name one or two composers, performers (individual or group), or mentors from UP who have largely contributed to Philippine music. Discuss briefly his or her contributions. Nico Alcala, an alumnus of UP Los Baños and the UP Diliman College of Music. He was affiliated with the Philippine Madrigal Singers as a resident composer and arranger. He is also a recipient of the Aaron Copland House Residency Award, among many other awards. Last November 15, 2016, his work “Mangá Pakalagián” was premiered at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. 3. Aside from the current program offerings of the College of Music, what else, do you think, should the college offer or promote? Perhaps a program or workshop that all other UP chorales from different campuses can also learn and benefit from the College of Music. The said college is in Diliman, making it difficult for aspiring singers and/or musicians from far-flung areas all over Philippines to come and learn from them. Part of their visions is to engage. This can help in fulfilling their vision.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-ups-legacy-of-music-prof-io-jularbal/
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Prof. Io Jularbal – University of the Philippines
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The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Prof. Io Jularbal The UP FORUM Roundtable Discussion on UP’s Legacy of Music: Prof. Io Jularbal January 14, 2019 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office 1. What musical event in UP do you look forward to or regularly attend? Why? Two worth mentioning here in UP Baguio are, first, the Baguio Summer Arts Festival, which for 30 years now has offered various seminars on arts, music, and dance. The second is the UPB Pasiklaban. Both events have become the university’s way of giving back to the community, be it in providing free education on indigenous music and dance for young people who want to learn about their culture, or just simply for the sheer joy of sharing musical talents with a larger audience in the spirit of togetherness and celebration. 2. Name one or two composers, performers (individual or group), or mentors from UP who have largely contributed to Philippine music. Discuss briefly his or her contributions. May I hit close to home on this one. UP Baguio is blessed with two individuals who have upheld and inspired a tradition of music for the community. Dean Arellano “Toto” Colongon Jr. of the College of Social Sciences, since his days as a student up to his present stint as college dean, has composed numerous musical pieces and plays for the UPB community. Prof. Bienvenido Tapang, affectionately known in the community as “Lolo Ben,” has been the University’s honorary choir master and musical events producer. His efforts have led to the development and improvement of the UPB Choir, Tinig Amianan, making the group one of the premier choirs in the North. 3. Aside from the current program offerings of the College of Music, what else,do you think, should the college offer or promote? Music is all encompassing, especially for communities. The promotion of music from indigenous communities should be dealt with in such a way that these are not regarded as being frozen in time, as mere mementos of a musical past. They should instead be seen as active elements in the development of what Philippine Music is and will be. Be they songs about delivering vegetables on Halsema highway, or a young Kankanaey man’s laments for a lost love sung in a dimly lit karaoke bar—expressed neither in gong nor solibao but in overdriven guitars and drums—these still embody identity and a culture that is vibrant and alive.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-and-barangay-krus-na-ligas-intersections-of-history/
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UP and Barangay Krus Na Ligas: Intersections of History – University of the Philippines
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UP and Barangay Krus Na Ligas: Intersections of History UP and Barangay Krus Na Ligas: Intersections of History September 13, 2019 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta A land dispute that hundreds of years, a revolution and a world war failed to resolve has apparently been settled by the stroke of a pen. Long-time residents of Krus Na Ligas, once regarded as “illegal settlers’’ on property owned by the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, will soon become rightful owners of the land that their ancestors had occupied long before the city or the university even existed. Last month, Republic Act No. 11454 was signed into law authorizing UP to sell 22.467 hectares of land in Barangay Krus Na Ligas to the Quezon City government. This marks a significant turning point in a decades’ long dispute between the UP Diliman campus and Krus Na Ligas, a community adjacent to the university whose history goes back hundreds of years, and whose life today is distinct from yet intertwined with the national university’s flagship campus. The Katipunan and the village of the cross-shaped ligas tree According to various accounts, what is now Krus Na Ligas was once a large forested area west of Marikina surrounded by high hills; the people of Marikina simply called the area “Bundok.” Around the year 1700, some 30 families, who were until then living in a part of Marikina now known as Barangay Tanyong, migrated to the area to live off the land as farmers. These families bore such names such Tiburcio, Salvador, Cruz, Santos, Baluyot, Francisco, and Fulgencio. The community, which was under the territory of Marikina, became known as “Gulod,” and in time the farmlands of the settlers covered around 2,000 hectares. The residents erected a chapel made of bamboo and cogon, and built their homes around it. How did it get its name Krus Na Ligas? Back in the Spanish period, according to one account, a Spanish soldier on a hunting expedition in the area asked a local what the name of the place was. The local thought the Spaniard was asking about the name of the tree he was pointing at. The tree in question, a ligas tree, was growing in a cross formation and considered sacred, so the local answered “Krus Na Ligas.” The one remaining ligas tree or marking nut tree (Semecarpuscuneiformis blanco) growing beside one of the houses in Barangay Krus Na Ligas. An ancestor of this tree, whose branches grew in a cross formation, became the source and inspiration for the name of the community. Photos by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO, with help from former Krus Na Ligas Barangay Captain Julian B. Santos. The community played an important role during the onset of the Philippine revolution in August 1896. Andres Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan and regarded as the Father of the Philippine Revolution, is said to have established Krus Na Ligas and nearby Balara as a fortress or defensible site due to their strategic location. An account by Atoy M. Navarro and Raymund Arthur Abejo published by the National Research Council of the Philippines and UP, said that on August 26, 1896, three days after the August 23 Cry of Pugad-lawin/Balintawak, a battle between the Spanish forces and the Katipuneros took place near Pasong Tamo. Afterward, Bonifacio and other Katipuneros retreated to Balara and Krus Na Ligas, then known as Gulod, to rest, eat and take shelter from the rain. Among those present, aside from Bonifacio, were Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Enrique Pacheco, Cipriano Pacheco, Alfonso Pacheco, and possibly Guillermo Masangkay and Pio Valenzuela. Katipuneros were said to have rested at a spot known as Hangyang Gipit, which was a path between two large hills in the area now known as Maginhawa Street in Teacher’s Village. The Katipuneros also stayed at a house in front of the church and the plaza. Bonifacio and the others used the time to plan their next moves in preparation for their August 29 attack on Manila, ultimately deciding to head to Malanday and Barangka in Marikina. Former Krus Na Ligas Barangay Captain Julian B. Santos shows off one of his treasures: a framed note from one of the descendants of the Supremo, Andres Bonifacio. Photo by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO. A hundred years later, a marker was installed on the façade of the old church of Krus Na Ligas by UP to commemorate the role that Krus Na Ligas played in Philippine history. Titles of land and Spanish nobility Another side of the Krus Na Ligas story begins with a Chinese trader from Binondo named Son Tua, who prospered from the galleon trade. Son Tua, who changed his name to Don Antonio Maria Tuason, led and organized the Battalion of the Royal Prince against the British forces that occupied Manila from 1762 to 1764 to prove his loyalty to Spain. As a reward, King Carlos III of Spain elevated the family to Spanish nobility, and awarded Don Tuason a large encomienda, a land grant which comprised vast areas of what is now Quezon City and the Marikina Valley. Before his death in 1775, Don Antonio Tuason founded a mayorazgo or noble estate, and his eldest son, Don Vicente Dolores Tuason, became the first holder of the mayorazgo. Don Vicente soon acquired the Jesuit Hacienda de San Isidro de Mariquina, as well as the Hacienda de Maysilo in Tambobon (now Malabon). With the Hacienda de Nagtajan bought by his sister in Pandacan, and Don Vicente’s purchase of the Hacienda de Sta. Mesa formerly belonging to the Real Mesa de la Santa Misericordia and which included Sitio Diliman, the Tuasons became owners of four vast haciendas contiguous to one another. The Tuasons managed to hold onto their mayorazgo until the 1890s. The Americans, however, did not recognize the concept of a noble estate. On May 3, 1914, the Tuasons registered their title to the land on the Mariquina Estate, which included Krus Na Ligas, at the Office of the Register of Deeds. Although Krus Na Ligas accounts indicate that on March 25, 1877, the Tiburcio family was granted a Titulo Posesorio to the land they lived on by the Spanish government, the Supreme Court in 1967 declared the family’s title invalid in favor of the Tuason title. The Tuason family eventually sold the title to the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation (PHHC) and to UP. A framed photograph of the original church building in Krus Na Ligas, which graces the home of Nanay Kika Salvador Dizon, a 92-year-old member of one of the original settler-families of Krus Na Ligas. Photo by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO. The church at Krus Na Ligas acquired an Original Certificate of Title in 1913. However, this title did not include the farmlands of the Krus Na Ligas residents. UP and the rise of President Quezon’s dream city The University of the Philippines, founded in 1908, soon outgrew its original site in Manila. In 1935, plans for UP’s relocation to a larger site gained traction when Manuel L. Quezon, then the Senate president, became the first Commonwealth president. On December 14, 1937, President Quezon created the Committee on Education Policy to study UP’s relocation. UP’s relocation meshed well with President Quezon’s dream of improving the living conditions of laborers and low-salaried employees, and to create a new city to replace Manila as the Philippines’ capital. To achieve this dream, Quezon created the People’s Homesite Corporation, the first government housing agency, which was a subsidiary of the National Development Corporation. In October 1938, the Board of Directors of the PHC approved a resolution to purchase “a tract of land consisting of 15,723,191 square meters” from the Diliman Estate of the Tuason Family, at five centavos per square meter. The Tuasons donated an additional 493 hectares to serve as UP’s new site. President Quezon urged the National Assembly to legislate UP’s relocation. On June 3, 1939, the Assembly enacted Commonwealth Act No. 442, allowing the UP Board of Regents to proceed with UP’s relocation. At the time, Krus Na Ligas was one of the rural barrios in the Diliman Estate, which also included Culiat, Balara, Pansol, Barangka, Quirino, Mahabang Gubat and Bago Bantay. When UP acquired the site and delineated the Diliman campus, it included within its boundaries a number of these barrios. The parallel rise of UP, Quezon City and Krus Na Ligas The Krus Na Ligas community gradually grew. In 1940, the Krus Na Ligas Elementary School was founded as an annex of the Balara Elementary School. In its first year, the school handled a first-grade class of 26 students. Without a school building, classes were held in the house of a Krus Na Ligas resident. According to Krus Na Ligas accounts, by 1948-1949 a census found that there were 163 families and a total of 815 people, including children, living in the barrio. Former Krus Na Ligas Barangay Captain Julian B. Santos displays the framed photograph of Lt. Julian Francisco, a member of one of the Krus Na Ligas settler families, who fought the Japanese and died a hero’s death during World War II. Photo by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO. An old photo of Krus Na Ligas residents and their children surrounding a downed Japanese fighter plane. Photo by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO. The war devastated UP’s Manila campus, giving greater impetus for UP’s relocation. On July 17, 1948, President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 333 amending Commonwealth Act No. 502, “An Act to Establish the Capital of the Philippines and the Permanent Seat of the National Government.” RA No. 333 authorized the Capital City Planning Commission to purchase all private estates in the delineated land, including the Diliman Estate. The full relocation of UP to Diliman was accomplished from December 16, 1948 to January 11, 1949, and on January 12, UP formally began classes on its new campus. In February 1949, UP celebrated its 40th anniversary with the transfer of the Oblation from Manila to Diliman. According to the official monthly review of President Elpidio Quirino published in the Official Gazette, the President signed on March 1, 1949 the deed of sale transferring the eight parcels of land in the Mariquina estate now occupied by UP to the UP BOR. A token sum of one peso was paid by UP to the Philippine government. The relocation of the campus to the Diliman site was a turning-point for Krus Na Ligas. Some residents found work in the new campus doing laundry or selling produce to campus residents. On the other hand, construction in the campus and in the housing projects in Quezon City brought in an influx of workers who settled in the nearby rural communities, including Krus Na Ligas and Old Balara. In 1951, a temporary school building was set up in Krus Na Ligas; in 1955, a regular health center was also constructed. In 1961, the first school building for the Krus Na Ligas Elementary School was built. Former KNL Barangay Captain Julian Santos brings out his collection of old photographs of Krus Na Ligas back in the day—as rural agricultural lands farmed by the residents of the community, long before the buildings and subdivisions of Quezon City and the campus of UP Diliman came into being. Photo by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO. Push and pull between UP and Krus Na Ligas There have been conflicting claims over ownership of the lands covered by Krus Na Ligas and UP for decades. Families residing in Krus Na Ligas contested the Tuason family’s titles over the lands, which according to them put the legitimacy of the transfer of ownership of the lands to the PHHC and UP into question. On August 16, 1967, in GR No. L-24114, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Transfer Certificate of Title 9462 and 1356 in the names of UP and the PHHC, which the Tiburcio family of Krus Na Ligas had challenged. Previously, the same court stated that the degree of registration issued in 1914 under the Torrens system to the Tuasons, who were the predecessors-in-interest to UP and the PHHC, became incontrovertible after one year. The question of ownership of the lands, according to the Supreme Court, was now a matter “settled definitely and conclusively by the courts, and must be deemed well beyond the reach of review.” On April 18, 1975, UP President Onofre D. Corpuz announced his administration’s intention to transfer nine hectares of Barrio Krus Na Ligas to its bona fide residents on the basis of communal ownership. This sought to resolve a 26-year-old problem between UP and the residents of Krus Na Ligas. Dr. Corpuz stated: “My decision was based primarily on the recognition that the population of both the barrio and of the University community will continue to grow, and that the early solution of the land problem would avert any possible collision in the future. I also hold the opinion that it was never the intention of the University to dispossess people of their rightful ownership to the land and that the transfer of this land to them would be in keeping with the spirit of the government’s national housing program for the masses.” Among Barangay Captain Santos’ photos is one of a bulldozer razing the farmlands of Krus Na Ligas farmers to make way for UP’s academic and housing buildings. Photo by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO. UP’s continued expansion to provide for housing spaces for its academic community had negative impacts on the community of Krus Na Ligas. According to accounts by Krus Na Ligas residents, in 1972 UP had the houses of farmers who were living in Sitio Paltok and Sitio Libis torn down, and in 1977, UP destroyed some of the farmlands to construct the Pook Amorsolo housing project. Expansion projects undertaken by the government also adversely affected the livelihood of the Krus Na Ligas farmers. From 1976 to 1981, the Ministry of Human Settlements destroyed more farmlands to construct the UP Sikatuna BLISS Housing Project of Imelda Marcos, then first lady and Metro Manila governor. Camp General Caringal was also established in this area. As a result, the once 2,000 hectares of land that the Krus Na Ligas ancestors had farmed shrank to around 50 hectares. In 1986, the UP BOR, through UP President Edgardo J. Angara, granted a Deed of Donation granting 15.8 hectares to the residents of Krus Na Ligas. This Deed of Donation was executed by UP as the donor and the Quezon City government as the donee. It bore several terms and conditions that were to be implemented within 18 months from the date of donation. However, because the conditions of the donation were not met, UP President Jose Abueva issued Administrative Order No. 21 on February 6, 1988 declaring the Deed of Donation revoked. Krus Na Ligas residents continued to campaign for the preservation of their farmlands. From 1990 to 1991, Krus Na Ligas farmers applied to the Department of Agrarian Reform to have their farmlands covered by the 1988 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. However, UP successfully opposed the petition. Construction of a housing project for UP faculty and employees in the late 1991 in what was formerly the community of Daang Tubo sparked protests among the Krus Na Ligas residents and farmers. Barangay Captain Santos shows photos of Krus Na Ligas farmers, including Santos’ father who is carrying the placard in the photo on left, and is sitting in the middle in the photo on right, marching to protest the loss of their farmlands. Photos by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO. The complex relationship between UP and Krus Na Ligas The relationship between UP and Barangay Krus Na Ligas from the 1990s onwards could be described as a complicated, at times uneasy, co-existence. The years 2003 to 2006 saw legal battles as Krus Na Ligas residents, who were to be the beneficiaries of the 15.8 hectares to be donated by UP to the Quezon City government, demanded the turnover of the title. This case was resolved in favor of UP as the donation was revoked by UP President Abueva since the Quezon City government was not able to fulfill some conditions in the deed of donation. The historical lineage of Barangay Krus Na Ligas was recognized in 1998, when the National Historical Institute declared the Krus Na Ligas Church a historic site, together with the Plaza Sta. Ines, which was found to have been built in the early 18th century. That same year, the Krus Na Ligas church and Plaza Sta. Ines were also declared a historical site by the National Research Council of the Philippines and UP. The Holy Cross Parish in Krus Na Ligas, which was formally established in 1997 with Fr. Arthur Opiniano as its first parish priest. According to the website of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao, prior to 1997, the church in Krus Na Ligas was under the care of the Franciscan missionaries as one of the congregation’s mission areas. In 1998, the National Historical Institute declared the Holy Cross Parish and Plaza Sta. Ines, which according to historical evidence was built in the early 18th century, a historic site. Photo by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO. In 2008, Republic Act No. 9500 or the UP Charter was signed. It prohibited the sale of real property owned by the national university. In 2011, UP President Alfredo Pascual created a UP Legal Team as a counterpart to the Quezon City Task Force UP and Its Surrounding Communities. Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista was cognizant of the aspects unique to Krus Na Ligas, such as that accounts indicate that the settlement dates back to the 1700s, preceding UP’s existence by hundreds of years, thus, the community cannot be simply demolished and resettled elsewhere. However, as Mayor Bautista pointed out in a letter to UP President Pascual, “the residents are also legally considered ‘informal settlers’ due to their lack of a title to the lands they are living on, and UP has not been able to make use of the land occupied by the community.” Krus Na Ligas presented a problem for the Quezon City government as well, because the residents could not be made to pay real property tax due to the lack of ownership documents over their property. Neither did they need to apply for building permits, even for the private structures they built, because they are legally under UP’s jurisdiction. Neither can the local government enforce order inside the community, because territorially, they are supposed to be within the security arrangement of UP. A solution that would mutually benefit all parties involved should therefore be sought. Recourse to the law In the succeeding years, discussions were held both within UP and between UP and the Quezon City government and the Krus Na Ligas community. In 2015, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. filed House Bill No. 5737 (HB No. 165 in the 17th Congress) declaring a portion of UP Diliman a disposable asset for housing and urban settlement based on the constitutional precepts of social justice. The bill would amend the UP Charter by declaring Krus Na Ligas as the only exception to the provision prohibiting the sale of the University’s real property subject to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992. UP sought clarification over what constituted the boundaries of Krus Na Ligas, and the appropriateness of RA No. 7279 as the basis for exempting Krus Na Ligas from RA No. 9500, given that existing data supplied by Krus Na Ligas barangay officials indicated the presence of at least 500 two-storey to four-storey residential buildings. Additionally, since many UP students, faculty and employees now live in Krus Na Ligas, the University has the responsibility to discuss the issue with its stakeholders and to see to their welfare. On July 21, 2016, Senator Ralph G. Recto filed Senate Bill No. 864, and on October 24, 2017, Senator Vicente Sotto III filed Senate Bill No. 1606. Both bills sought to amend the UP Charter to authorize the sale of land in Barangay Krus Na Ligas to its legitimate and qualified residents. UP President Danilo Concepcion, in a letter dated February 2018 addressed to Senator Francis Escudero, chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, clarified UP’s stand on the issue: that the metes and bounds of the Krus na Ligas property that UP would be authorized to sell should be fixed by geodetic survey; that UP should be authorized to sell only to the Quezon City government at an acceptable, fair and reasonable price; that the sale of the Krus Na Ligas property should be considered perfected from the time all parties have agreed on the price and terms of sale; and that immediately after the law takes effect, the Quezon City government would construct a fence along the boundaries segregating Krus Na Ligas from UP. On May 20, 2019, UP, the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture and the Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement held a joint public hearing to discuss SB No. 1606, SB No. 864 and HB No. 165. Amending the UP Charter of 2008 Republic Act No. 11454, authored by Senate Pro-Tempore Recto, Senate President Sotto, and Senator Escudero, amends RA 9500 or the UP Charter, thus allowing UP to sell not more than 22.467 hectares of land in Barangay Krus Na Ligas at a fair market price acceptable to UP. During his sponsorship speech of the Senate bill that eventually became RA 11454, Senator Escudero emphasized the fact that Barangay Krus Na Ligas is a historic community that had existed since at least the Spanish period, predating modern-day Quezon City, a fact that has documentary proof. However, UP can only sell this land to the Quezon City government at the agreed-upon price, and only until UP has received the full payment will ownership of the land be transferred to the Quezon City government. Payment must be made within one year after the execution of the agreement between UP and Quezon City. The law further states that the authorization of UP to sell is automatically revoked if UP and the Quezon City government fail to agree on the terms and conditions of the sale within one year from the effectivity of the law, or if UP has not received the full payment one year after the execution of the agreement. All in all, the law must be implemented in full approximately two years from its effectivity. The terms and conditions of the sale of the land in Barangay Krus Na Ligas would be agreed upon by both UP and the Quezon City government. Once the ownership of the land is transferred from UP to the Quezon City government, the latter is to immediately fence off the property of UP to separate it from the area sold under the law. The city government must also transfer the property to legitimate residents of Barangay Krus Na Ligas. This transfer, said Senator Escudero in his sponsorship speech, may be done via donation or a program carried out by the NHA. According to the law, the Quezon City government shall create a Technical Working Group to determine the “legitimate residents” of Barangay Krus Na Ligas—those whose long-standing residence in the area can sufficiently be established by authenticated documentary and testimonial evidence, who are themselves or through their predecessors-in-interest have been in continuous possession and occupation of the same parcels of land as owner since time immemorial, or for a period not less than thirty years. The Quezon City government shall also assist UP in resettling all the other settlers found in the remaining property in UP that is adjacent to the parcels of land in Barangay Krus Na Ligas. Nanay Francisca “Kika” Salvador Dizon, who at 92 years old is one of the oldest residents of Barangay Krus Na Ligas and part of the original-settler families, recalls what it was like to be born in Krus Na Ligas, to come of age during the American period, to struggle through the war, and to fight to protect their land through the decades. Photo by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO. Those who have been determined as “legitimate residents of Barangay Krus Na Ligas” are forbidden by the law to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of their lots or any right therein to anyone except their legal heirs. Otherwise, the transaction shall be rendered null and void, and the residents would lose their right to the land and forfeit the total amount of amortization they have paid. If the legitimate resident dies before full ownership of the land has been vested on him or her, his or her heirs shall assume both the full ownership of the land and its obligations. If the heirs somehow fail to assume the obligations, the land reverts to the Quezon City government for disposition. To issue the necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of the law, an Interagency Committee would be created, to be headed by the Quezon City government and composed of representatives of UP, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Housing Authority. While it is still a waiting game for Krus Na Ligas residents to fully acquire ownership of their lands as full implementation of the law may take two years from now, this is nothing compared to their decades’ long struggle to gain what is rightfully theirs. (This story was written with the assistance of J. Mikhail Solitario, Frederick Dabu, Jeremi Elaijah Barretto and Peter Drapeza.) References #Epalwatch: Stop construction on a historical site in Krus na Ligas, UP Diliman. (2012, October 28). Blogwatch.tv. Retrieved from https://blogwatch.tv/2012/10/epalwatch-stop-construction-on-a-historical-site-in-krus-na-ligas-up-diliman/ Andrade, Jeannette I. (2012, October 30). Anti-‘epal’ group rallies vs building of village hall on historic site. Inquirer.net. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/298092/anti-epal-group-rallies-vs-building-of-village-hall-on-historic-site Baldemor, Allyn V. (1992, January to March originally published; 2001 copyright). Pesanteng UP: Oo, Isko, may magsasaka sa kampus. Retrieved from http://www.geocities.ws/devastatingthree/AB1.html Camagay, Ma. Luisa T. (2019). The city with a soul. Quezon City: Camagay Publishing. Cuaki, Jerenze Christian B. (2018, March 28). LOOK: 10 Highlights of how art and heritage expert Sonny Tinio rediscovered Binondo. When in Manila. Retrieved from https://www.wheninmanila.com/look-10-highlights-of-how-art-and-heritage-expert-sonny-tinio-rediscovered-binondo/ Dandal, Elissa Jane C. (2002). Tenure security and squatters’ investments: The Krus Na Ligas case. Undergraduate thesis submitted for the School of Economics, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Endriga, Jose N. (1985). Corpuz and Soriano’s Bifocal Administrations (1975-1981). In Alfonso, Oscar M. (Ed.), University of the Philippines: The first 75 years (1908-1983), (501-540). Quezon City: UP Press. Favila, Leonarda F. (1974, August). Cruz Na Ligas Elementary School: Its role in community development. Masteral thesis submitted to the UP College of Education. G.R. No. L-24114, August 16, 1967, http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/1967augustdecisions.php?id=323 G.R. No. L-26127, June 28, 1974, (Civil Case No. 3621), https://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1974/ Gonzales, Augusto M.R. III. (2010, June 2). The families of Old Binondo, Manila [weblog]. Remembrance of Things Awry. Retrieved from https://remembranceofthingsawry.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/the-families-of-old-binondo-manila/ Historical Background of the School. (n.d.). Schools Division Office Quezon City Cruz Na Ligas Elementary School. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/cruznaligaselementaryschoolqc/history Holy Cross Parish. (n.d., copyright 2017). Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao. Retrieved from https://dioceseofcubao.ph/parishes/holy-cross-parish Krus Na Ligas High School School Improvement Plan 2010-2013. (2011). Krus Na Ligas High School. Retrieved from https://krusnaligashighschool.webs.com/aboutus.htm Lagmay, Leticia A. (1983). Cruz-Na-Ligas: Early socialization in an urbanizing community. Diliman, Quezon City: UP Press. Navarro, Atoy M. &Abejo, Raymund Arthur. (date unknown). Balara at Krus na Ligas sa panahon ng himagsikan: Muogni Andres Bonifacio at ng Katipunan. Diliman, Quezon City: National Research Council of the Philippines and University of the Philippines. Pante, Michael D. (2017, February; published online 2017, January 26). Quezon’s City: Corruption and contradiction in Manila’s prewar suburbia, 1935–1941. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 48(1), pp. 91-112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022463416000497 Pante, Michael D. (2018, November). “Far from isolation: The spatial politics of the relocation of the main campus of the University of the Philippines, 1930s-1970s.” Sojourn: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia, 33(3), pp. 499-535. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Quezon City local government – background. (n.d.). Official Website of the Quezon City Local Government. Retrieved from https://quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php/about-the-city-government/background Quezon City travel tips and general information. (n.d.). Philippines Travel Guide. Retrieved from http://info.philtravelcenter.com/qc-history.php Quezon City. (n.d.). Philippine Cities. Retrieved from https://philippinescities.com/quezon-city/ Salamanca, Bonifacio. (1985). Bocobo fosters a vibrant nationalism (1934-1939). In O. A. Alfonso (Ed.), University of the Philippines: The first 75 years (1908-1983) (203-257). Quezon City: UP Press. Santiago, Luciano P.R. (1998). The last hacendera: Doña Teresa de la Paz, 1841-1890. Philippine Studies, 46(3), pp. 340–360. Ateneo de Manila University. Retrieved from http://www.philippinestudies.net/files/journals/1/articles/1758/public/1758-1857-1-PB.pdf The Official Gazette, Commonwealth Act No. 502, https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1939/10/12/commonwealth-act-no-502/ The Official Gazette, http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1938/10/08/statement-president-quezon-on-purchase-of-the-diliman-estate-and-another-hacienda-october-8-1938/ The Official Gazette, Official Month in Review: March 1949, https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1949/03/01/official-month-in-review-march-1949/ The Official Gazette, Republic Act No. 333. (n.d.), https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1948/07/17/republic-act-no-333/ Today in Philippine History, July 17, 1948, President Quirino signed RA No. 333 making Quezon City the capital of the Philippine. (2012, July 16). Kahimyang.com. Retrieved from https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1236/today-in-philippine-history-july-17-1948-president-quirino-signed-ra-no-333-making-quezon-city-the-capital-of-the-philippines Ugat ng KNL: Saan matatagpuan ang Baryo Krus Na Ligas. (2003, May 3-4). Barangay Krus Na Ligas Newsletter, 1, pp. 1, 10-13. Veneracion, Jaime. (2009). Abueva’s innovations and experiments: Romancing with People Power. In Llanes, Ferdinand (Ed.), UP in the time of People Power (30-68). Diliman, Quezon City: UP Press. Interviews conducted Interview with Krus Na Ligas residents Nena Barcebal and Cristy Salvador, June 19 and 23, 2019 Interview with Krus Na Ligas Barangay Kagawad Wifredo R. Fulgencio at the Krus Na Ligas Barangay Office, June 20, 2019 Interview with former Krus Na Ligas Brangay Captain Julian B. Santos (2005-2007; 2007-2018) at his residence, June 24, 2019 Interview with Nanay Francisca “Kika” Dizon at her residence in Krus Na Ligas, June 24, 2019 Interview with Quezon City Planning Officer-in-Charge Arch. Pedro Perlas Rodriguez, Jr. at the Quezon City Planning and Development Office, 4th Floor Civic Center D, Quezon City Hall Complex, July 17, 2019 Interview with Quezon City Housing Officer Mr. Ramon Asprer at the Quezon CIty Housing and Community Development Office, 3rd Floor Civic Center C, Quezon City Hall Complex, July 17, 2019 Interview with UP Diliman Vice-Chancellor for Community Affairs, Dr. Jose Ernie C. Lope, at his office, August 2, 2019 The UP Media and Public Relations Office would also like to acknowledge the invaluable help and support given by the UP System Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs, the Office of the Secretary of the University, the UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs, and the department chair and professors of the UP Departmento ng Kasaysayan in conducting research for this article.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-bids-farewell-to-benefactor-henry-sy-sr-94/
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UP bids farewell to benefactor Henry Sy, Sr., 94 – University of the Philippines
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UP bids farewell to benefactor Henry Sy, Sr., 94 UP bids farewell to benefactor Henry Sy, Sr., 94 January 28, 2019 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The University of the Philippines joined the rest of the country in bidding farewell to business magnate, philanthropist and the “Father of modern Philippine retail”, Henry Sy, Sr., after whom the Henry Sy Sr. Hall at the UP Bonifacio Global City (UP BGC) campus is named. Mr. Sy, named by Forbes as the richest person in the country, passed away on January 19, 2019 at the age of 94. At his interment on January 24 at The Heritage Park, Taguig, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, UP Vice-President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pernia and UP Assistant Vice-President for Public Affairs Rica D. Abad were in attendance to pay their last respects to UP’s benefactor; while the UP Singing Ambassadors, led by Assistant Conductor Quintin Dwight de Luna, provided the liturgical music for the Mass and sang songs as a tribute to Mr. Sy. The UP Singing Ambassadors singing the liturgical songs for the final Mass for Mr. Henry Sy, Sr. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Starting from a small shoe store in Manila that he founded in 1958, Mr. Sy developed SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) into one of the largest conglomerates in the country. Through SMIC, the business tycoon built and donated the P400 million, nine-story building in UP’s 17th campus, located in the bustling central business district in Taguig City. The building was turned over in 2016 by one of Mr. Sy’s children, SM Prime Holdings President Hans Sy to then UP President Alfredo Pascual. This was the first donation of Mr. Sy to the UP System, even if none of the SM founder’s children or grandchildren studied in UP. “The building carries no less than my father’s name, whose prime advocacy is education,” Mr. Hans Sy said at that time. “He worked hard and sacrificed so much early in his life just to be able to receive formal education. He wants the same for every Filipino.” Henry Sy, Sr. Hall, at the UP Bonifacio Global City, UP’s 17th campus. Photo by UP MPRO. Henry Sy Sr. Hall houses 29 classrooms, three laboratories, a learning commons, faculty lounges, an auditorium, a moot court or a venue for simulated court proceedings for law students, a multipurpose hall, discussion rooms, office spaces and an executive house, as well as a multi-level basement parking. It hosts professional programs accessible to working professionals in the area, administered by the different constituent universities of UP. Currently, the UP units offering programs in the campus are the UP Diliman College of Law, Virata School of Business and School of Statistics. The current executive director of the UP BGC is Dean Fides Cordero-Tan of the UP College of Law. Mr. Henry Sy Sr. is survived by his wife, SM Foundation co-founder Felicidad Tan; their six children: SMIC Vice-Chair Teresita Sy-Coson; SM Prime Holdings Adviser to the Board of Directors Elizabeth T. Sy; SMIC Co-Vice Chairman and SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Chairman Henry Sy, Jr.; Hans Sy; Vice Chairman of Supervalue Inc., Super Shopping Market Inc. and Sanford Marketing Corporation, and Director of China Banking Corporation Herbert Sy; and, SMIC Executive Director Harley Sy; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With the music of the UP Singing Ambassadors rising in the background, Mr. Henry Sy, Sr. is brought to his final resting place. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Firetrucks offer a water salute to honor Mr. Henry Sy, Sr. as he is laid to rest. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO.
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https://up.edu.ph/chr-honors-victims-of-martial-law/
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CHR honors victims of martial law – University of the Philippines
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CHR honors victims of martial law CHR honors victims of martial law October 19, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Former Senate President Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. speaks during “Never Again, Never Forget: A day of remembrance for democracy and freedom” held on September 21, 2018 at the CHR building in UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) In commemoration of the September 21 anniversary of the declaration of Marcos’s Martial Law, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) paid tribute to the heroes and victims who fought the dictatorship. Dubbed “Never Again, Never Forget: A day of remembrance for democracy and freedom”, the event was held on September 21, 2018 at the CHR building in UP Diliman, Quezon City, and highlighted “the recognition of the victims of human rights violations under the Marcos regime who, with their sacrifices and heroism, helped the country restore its democracy”. In addition to the thousands of claimants already approved for monetary reparations by the former Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB), another 125 cases were determined motu proprio by the board. The said honorees who chose to forego reparations were prominent leaders, activists and human rights advocates who will be included among the thousands to be memorialized in an archive, a museum, and a wall of remembrance. The CHR presented certificates of recognition to the following honorees or their representatives: Jacobo S. Amatong, Ceferino “Joker” Paz Arroyo Jr., Bishop Benjamin Barloso, Catalino “Lino” Brocka, David T. Bueno, Cesar C. Climaco, Jose “Butch” Y. Dalisay Jr., Jesus Flor Fernandez, Oscar Diamaro Francisco, Rosalinda Galang Reyes, Antonio “Tonyhil” Hilario, Sister Mary Bernard Jimenez, Haroun Al Rashid Lucman, Wright Molintas Jr., Horacio “Boy” Morales Jr., Nicasio “Nicky” Manalo Morales, Rogelio Concepcion Morales, Former Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, Jaime V. Ongpin, former Senate President Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr., former Senator Lorenzo M. Tañada, former Senator Wigberto E. Tañada, Quintin G. Yuyitung, Rizal C.K. Yuyitung, Ma. Socorro “Cookie” Diokno, Jose W. Diokno, and former Vice President Teofisto T. Guingona Jr. Former Senate President Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. and former Vice President Teofisto T. Guingona Jr. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) UP Vice President for Public Affairs Jose “Butch” Y. Dalisay Jr. and CHR Chairperson Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) CHR Chairperson Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon said, “We must not forget the lessons of the past so we can guarantee that there will be no repetition of human rights violations and authoritarian abuses.” Executive Director Carmelo Victor A. Crisanto of the Human Rights Violation Victims’ Memorial Commission (HRVVMC), said “We also hope that the memorial will remind current and future generations with regard to sufferings and sacrifices of victims of human rights abuses so they will not take for granted the freedom and democracy they are currently enjoying.” (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Crisanto and CHR Executive Director Jacqueline Ann C. de Guia also presented commendations for: HRVCB Chairperson Lina C. Sarmiento; HRVCB members, Wilfred Asis, Galuasch G. Ballaho, Byron D. Bocar, Dexter B. Calizar, Glenda T. Litong, Jacqueline V. Mejia, Ricardo Moldez, Nasser Pangandaman Jr., Aurora Corazon A. Parong, and Erlinda N. Senturias; CHR chairperson and former board member, Jose Luis Martin Gascon; and, Board Secretary Gerardo G. Dia. Earlier, the CHR inaugurated its new facilities and hosted a photo exhibit depicting extrajudicial killings and the social conditions prevalent then and now, “particularly the unprecedented scale of killings in the bloody campaign against illegal drugs”. The honorees, their relatives, human rights advocates, and members of various civil society organizations joined the commemoration to affirm their commitment to freedom, democracy, and respect for the human rights of the Filipino people. (Fred Dabu, UP MPRO)
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https://up.edu.ph/in-memoriam-november-2017/
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IN MEMORIAM: November 2017 – University of the Philippines
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IN MEMORIAM: November 2017 IN MEMORIAM: November 2017 November 8, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Our In Memoriam page carries details of faculty, staff and others affiliated with the university for whom we have received obituaries. Please contact us via web.mpro@up.edu.ph if you have information you would like to be featured. The University regrets to announce the death of UP School of Economics professor Ruperto P. Alonzo. RUPERTO P. ALONZO Professor Alonzo served the University for 45 years, joining as Professorial Lecturer in July 1968 and retired in February 2013 as Professor 12. Prof. Alonzo served UPSE as Director of the Program in Development Economics, Director of the Public Affairs Office and Department Chair. He also served UP as Vice President for Development (2005-2009) and Director of the Institute for Small Scale Industries (2004-2009). In 2016, Prof. Alonzo became a Professor Emeritus. His body lies in repose at the Sta. Maria dela Strada Church, Katipunan Road, Quezon City. The UP School of Economics family is organizing a necrological service in his memory on Friday, 10 November 2017, 3:00 PM at the Sta. Maria dela Strada Chapel.
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https://up.edu.ph/a-house-of-peace-in-up-up-president-jose-v-abuevas-legacy/
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A “house of peace” in UP: UP President Jose V. Abueva’s legacy – University of the Philippines
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A “house of peace” in UP: UP President Jose V. Abueva’s legacy A “house of peace” in UP: UP President Jose V. Abueva’s legacy August 18, 2021 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The story of the man that Dr. Jose Veloso Abueva would become—political scientist and public administration scholar, founder, and President of Kalayaan College, and Professor Emeritus and 16th President of the University of the Philippines—began with the story of a boy who survived an untold tragedy and went on to live his life advocating for peace. Overcoming tragedy The story is recounted in One by One (2004) by Daisaku Ikeda, Japanese Buddhist philosopher, educator, peace advocate, and honorary President of Soka Gakkai and founding President of the Soka Gakkai International. The book is a collection of essays. Ikeda reflects on his encounters with various world figures, scholars, and activists who have inspired him. The article, “Refusing to Hate”, tells of Dr. Abueva, then a teenaged boy during the last year of the Japanese occupation of the country in World War II. Their parents, Teodoro and Nena, known resistance fighters, were tortured and taken away from their children. While his brother Napoleon “Billy” stayed to look after their five other siblings, Jose, together with a cousin, set out in a boat to search for his parents. Eventually, he came upon the torn and bloodied remnants of their clothing near a hill, where Filipino resistance fighters had been reportedly executed. There, he gathered their remains and made the sad journey back to his orphaned siblings. Others may have been consumed with anger and hate over the tragedy that had befallen their family. On the other hand, Dr. Abueva and his siblings rose above it, striving to support one another. In time, each Abueva sibling attained success and made their marks locally and internationally. For instance, his brother Napoleon became National Artist for Sculpture. Dr. Abueva excelled in the areas of education, development, and peace studies. Rising from the ranks Born on May 25, 1928, Abueva earned his Bachelor of Arts degree (Arts-Law), cum laude, from UP in 1951, his Master of Public Administration in 1954 and his Ph.D. in Political Science (minor in Sociology) in 1959 from the University of Michigan. He earned his UP Graduate Study Fellowships from the US Mutual Security Agency/Foreign Operations Administration, forerunners of USAID, the Agricultural Development Council, and the Rockefeller Foundation. From 1950 to 1970, he crossed ranks from being graduate assistant and Instructor in Political Science and Sociology at the UP Diliman College of Liberal Arts to becoming Professor of Public Administration, serving as Assistant Dean for Academic Instruction and Research from 1963 to 1970 of the then UP College of Public Administration (UP CPA). He was founding editor of the UP CPA’s Philippine Journal of Public Administration, assisted UP President Carlos P. Romulo in the reorganization of UP as Faculty Coordinator, and became the first President of the UP Faculty Association and, later, Director of Local Government Research of the UP CPA. In the mid-1960s, he pioneered development-related studies in the University. He also established the Doctor of Public Administration Program at the UP CPA. He also served in various government posts, including as Executive Director of the Joint Executive-Legislative Local Government Reform Commission from 1970 to 1971; as Secretary of the Constitutional Convention (elected by the Convention Delegates) from 1971-1973; and as Executive Secretary of the Metro Manila Councilors’ Assembly in 1973. Service to the UNU In a curious twist, he was recruited in 1977 by the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo, Japan. He served from 1977 to 1987. His work with the UN also included as Secretary of the UN University Council (Governing Board of the University), as Director of the UN University Office for North America, UN Headquarters in New York City, and Director of Planning and Evaluation for the UN University. As Ikeda shares in his essay: “At the UNU, Dr. Abueva worked with a team of talented, dedicated, and multicultural scholars to advance UNU’s mission of coordinating research on such global issues as eliminating hunger, managing natural resources, and promoting social development. Throughout their stay in Japan, Dr. Abueva and his family made a conscious effort to make friends and be ambassadors of goodwill, learning the Japanese language and culture. ‘By living, learning and working in Japan, by fate or accident, we’d like to feel that we helped to achieve on a limited scale a reconciliation between Filipinos and Japanese,’ [Abueva writes].” Socialized tuition and a Filipino language policy Equitable development, nationalism, and peace became the hallmarks of Abueva’s administration when he became President of the University of the Philippines from 1987 to 1993, serving concurrently as Chancellor of UP Diliman from 1990 to 1991. Following the observation that enrollment in UP was declining among students from marginalized communities, he introduced the Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP) in 1987. The program bracketed UP students and ensured that wealthy students paid higher tuition to subsidize more underprivileged scholars. He also institutionalized a Filipino language policy within the University, for which he was recognized in 1994-1995 with the Gawad Sikolohiyang Pilipino from the Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino, the Gawad Cecilio K. Lopez from the UP Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, and recognition from the UP Departmento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas. These two are among the cornerstones of his legacy as UP President. As a dedicated educator, Abueva served the University as Professor of Political Science and Public Administration from 1993 to 1998 and Professor Emeritus of Public Administration and Political Science from 1998 onwards. In 2000, he and several other UP faculty members established the Kalayaan College, becoming its first President. Kalayaan College, a private, four-year college now located in Quezon City and accredited by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education, follows UP’s curriculum. UP faculty comprises most of its founders and professors. As a reflection of Abueva’s own commitment to national development and peace, Kalayaan College’s core values are anchored on the 1987 Constitution: helping build “a just and humane society…”; helping build “democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace…”; learning for truth, professional competence, and leadership for the common good; and contributing to global peace and human development. Advocating for federalism As a political science and public administration scholar, Abueva remained in active service to the academe and the government, becoming a member of the Presidential Task Force on Education in 2007 under the Office of the Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He advocated for federalism and parliamentary government in the country. He also served as Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Continuity and Change of the Philippine Political Science Association, as Trustee and Incorporator of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, as Chair of the Board of Advisers of the Citizen’s Movement for a Federal Philippines (CMFP), and as a member of the Philippine Constitution Association (PHILCONSA). He received numerous awards and citations, including The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award in Political Science from the Philippine Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1962, the Most Outstanding Alumnus in the Social Sciences by the UP Alumni Association in 1976, the Award of Recognition by the US Big Ten Universities Alumni Associations, an honorary doctorate from the Soka University in Tokyo in 1991, and the Leadership Award from the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance during its 50th anniversary in 2002. House of Peace at the heart of UP For all his lifetime’s worth of stellar accomplishments as an academician, university administrator, and political scientist, one of Abueva’s most lasting legacies is the contributions he made for the cause of peace and global understanding. In May 1993, the UP Balay Internasyonal was inaugurated in UP Diliman—one of Abueva’s more significant projects. Among its facilities is the Balay Kalinaw (a Cebuano word meaning “peace”), also known as Ikeda Hall, designed by former UP Architecture Dean Mary Ann Arañas-Espina, in honor of Daisaku Ikeda. Ikeda recounts the official opening of Balay Kalinaw in his essay, to which Abueva naturally invited him: “He [Abueva] also named the building the Ikeda Hall, saying he hoped it would be a symbol of friendship between the Philippines and Japan. In my remarks on that occasion… I declared my determination to devote my life, as an individual Japanese citizen, to the people of Asia… Dr. Abueva’s parents were among those who fell in the night without seeing the dawn of peace. I shared my belief that the same cry must have issued from his parents’ lives as they entrusted him with his mission.” Abueva was moved by this—Ikeda recalls seeing him dabbing tears from his eyes. Then Abueva himself rose from his seat and quoted from a poem of his own: “We want an end to killing and maiming caused by greed or creed, class or tribe because the poor are weak and the strong are unjust.” “His voice rang through the House of Peace,” Ikeda wrote, “and it seemed to reach all the way to that hill he climbed so many years ago.” Reference: Dr. Jose V. Abueva on WordPress https://joseabueva.wordpress.com/
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https://up.edu.ph/up-formalizes-partnerships-for-lifesaving-solutions/
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UP formalizes partnerships for lifesaving solutions – University of the Philippines
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UP formalizes partnerships for lifesaving solutions UP formalizes partnerships for lifesaving solutions September 20, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office (From left) Ms. Faye Andal, representative of Map the Philippines; Ms. Maria Regina E. Reyes, head of Integrated News and Current Affairs at ABS-CBN Corporation; Mr. Joel C. Aldor, president of the Grupo Kalinangan; President Ricardo F. De Leon of the Philippine Public Safety College; UP System Vice President for Legal Affairs Hector Danny Uy; UP System Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa; Mayor Michael Angelo Rivera of the Municipality of Padre Garcia, Batangas; Mayor Nestor L. Alvarez of the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija; Mayor Grande P. Gutierrez of the Municipality of Taysan, Batangas; and Dr. Mahar Lagmay, executive director of the UP Resilience Institute and director of the UP NOAH Center. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) As part of the efforts of the University of the Philippines to build a more disaster-free and climate-resilient nation, UP, through its Resilience Institute and the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center, held a ceremonial signing of Memoranda of Agreement and Understanding (MOA/MOU) with seven private organizations and local government units (LGU) on Sept. 12, 2018 at the College of Science Auditorium in the National Science Complex, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Present during the event were: UP System Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa; UP System Vice President for Legal Affairs Hector Danny Uy; Dr. Mahar Lagmay, executive director of the UP Resilience Institute and director of the UP NOAH Center; Dean Perry S. Ong of the UP College of Science; Mayor Nestor L. Alvarez of the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija; Mayor Michael Angelo Rivera of the Municipality of Padre Garcia, Batangas; Mayor Grande P. Gutierrez of the Municipality of Taysan, Batangas; President Ricardo F. De Leon of the Philippine Public Safety College; Mr. Joel C. Aldor, president of the Grupo Kalinangan; Ms. Maria Regina E. Reyes, head of Integrated News and Current Affairs at ABS-CBN Corporation; Ms. Faye Andal, representative of Map the Philippines; and, officials and staff of their respective organizations or LGUs. During the program, the officials each delivered their messages of commitment. UP System Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) Herbosa said everyone should be “committed to promoting a culture of safety and preparedness, and of sustainability and resilience, in the face of emergency or disaster situations, in our own communities, so that we could do our part in reducing the hazards, mitigating the risks, and most importantly, to help save people’s lives.” He added that UP’s partnership with these organizations would “ultimately help strengthen and empower local communities to become genuinely sustainable, developed, and capable of administering lifesaving solutions in times of emergency or disaster.” Dr. Mahar Lagmay, executive director of the UP Resilience Institute and director of the UP NOAH Center. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) Lagmay said this event formalized the start of the many collaborative engagements that UP and its partner organizations and agencies would be conducting across the nation. (Fred Dabu, UP Media and Public Relations Office) Dr. Ricardo F. De Leon, President of the Philippine Public Safety College. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO) Dr. Nestor L. Alvarez, Mayor of the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. (Photo by Abraham Arboleda, UP MPRO)
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https://up.edu.ph/pioneer-sociologist-and-former-up-oar-director-fe-l-rodriguez-arcinas-passes-away/
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Pioneer sociologist and former UP OAR Director Fe L. Rodriguez-Arcinas passes away – University of the Philippines
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Pioneer sociologist and former UP OAR Director Fe L. Rodriguez-Arcinas passes away Pioneer sociologist and former UP OAR Director Fe L. Rodriguez-Arcinas passes away February 5, 2022 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Prof. Fe Arcinas (seated, rightmost) as one of the pioneering instructors of the UP Diliman Department of Sociology and Social Welfare. Photo from Professor Belen Tan-Gatue Medina The University of the Philippines (UP) sadly announces the passing of UP sociology professor and former Director of the UP Office of Alumni Relations (UP OAR), Professor Fe L. Rodriguez-Arcinas, on February 3, 2022. Prof. Rodriguez-Arcinas was a pioneer Instructor of the UP Diliman Department of Sociology and Social Welfare, established in 1952. She undertook groundbreaking studies in the socio-economic structures of the urban poor, including those residing in the UP Diliman campus in the 1950s. She went on to become UP Professor of Sociology. Prof. Rodriguez-Arcinas took charge of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (CIDS) in 1988 as Executive Director. One of her students, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Rose Bautista, recalls: “Professor Arcinas took any responsibility that fell on her lap very seriously, walked extra miles to carry them out, and persevered despite obstacles—whether it be leading the Philippine team in an international research project on labor contract migration, teaching her courses, or ensuring that the position of the department she led was understood by higher administration.” UP Professor Emerita of Psychology Dr. Maria Cecilia Gastardo-Conaco, another former student, shared her recollections: “As starting UPD instructors in the mid-1970’s, I and my cohort perennially looked up to the senior faculty for role models and behavioral guidance. The Sociology Department, right beside the Psychology Department, was a convenient source of empowered, competent, and energetic female academic models to aspire for. Prof. Fe Arcinas was at the top of my list—knowledgeable without being arrogant, power exercised without the aggressiveness, hard work done without looking bedraggled. She was my ideal of grace and kindness in a stressful academic cooking pot, the soft touch that packed a punch. She also appeared to have achieved the precarious balance between the demands of work and family life, something I always struggled with. But seeing her successful equilibrium gave me hope. I have never been able to look as well put together as Mrs. Arcinas but I hope, to some extent, that I have been able to embody the kindness and generosity she always exuded in this competitive academic world of ours.” Prof. Rodriguez-Arcinas was appointed Director of the Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) from 1989 to 1993. She beefed up its database and established the mailing list for the University’s publication for UP Alumni, the Carillon, and the OAR’s alumni directory. Those who worked under her in the OAR remember her as “strict but approachable, reasonable and fair.”
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https://up.edu.ph/stop-covid-deaths-to-tackle-covid-testing-updates/
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‘Stop COVID Deaths’ to tackle COVID testing, updates – University of the Philippines
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‘Stop COVID Deaths’ to tackle COVID testing, updates ‘Stop COVID Deaths’ to tackle COVID testing, updates November 17, 2021 | Written by Deina Blancaflor The University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila-NIH National Telehealth Center and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (PGH), would like to invite you to join the fight against COVID-19. During the early stages of the pandemic, all were fighting their way through the dark, as information was constantly changing, and protective gears were scarce. Testing, then, was crucial because it gave us an idea for a more targeted response. Fast-forward to today, when the country has gradually vaccinated most of the population, specific antigen test kits are now commercially available. We now ask: How has testing changed these past few months? How do we know which test to take and when to take it? What are the current updates on testing here in the Philippines? This Friday, November 19, from 12 pm-2 pm, this special episode of the Stop COVID Deaths webinar series hopes to answer the questions above. Titled “COVID-19 Testing: May Nagbago Ba?”, the webinar will have as our main speaker, Dr. Raul V. Destura, who developed the very first Philippine COVID-19 test. He will be followed by reactions from Dr. Christia Monina M. Nalupta, Director of the Blood Bank Services at the Philippine Red Cross, and Jessie Diatre, General Manager at the Lord’s Grace Medical Industrial Clinic Company. PGH Deputy Director for Health Operations. Dr. Stella Marie L. Jose will give the opening remarks. Please register for the webinar here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account and TVUP’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. The Stop COVID Deaths Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community.
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https://up.edu.ph/first-ph-monkeypox-case-everything-we-need-to-know/
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First PH monkeypox case: Everything we need to know – University of the Philippines
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First PH monkeypox case: Everything we need to know First PH monkeypox case: Everything we need to know August 3, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor Last month, the University of the Philippines’ (UP) “Stop C.O.V.I.D Deaths” webinar covered monkeypox as it was emerging in non-endemic countries in Europe and the United States of America. Since then, monkeypox cases have continued to rise, which prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare this a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. And just a few days ago, the first case of monkeypox in the Philippines was recorded. The detected case was a 31-year-old Filipino with prior travel history to countries with documented monkeypox cases. As of this writing, the patient has been discharged and is under strict isolation and monitoring at home. This first known case on our shores set off warning bells for the public, and we are again in another race toward understanding the characteristics of this virus, its modes of transmission, and symptomatology. Are we ready, should there be more cases of monkeypox in the Philippines? What type of protection and precaution should we be in place to reduce the risk of transmission? What are its common signs and symptoms? Do we have the proper means of testing and tracing monkeypox? Is vaccination against it available? This Friday, August 5, from 12nn to 2 pm, UP, in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), the National Telehealth Center (NTC), and in cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D, with presentations on current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. In this timely episode in the “Stop C.O.V.I.D. Deaths” series, “MONKEYPOX, NANDITO NA: Are We Ready?” two infectious disease experts walk us through the ins and outs of this infection. US-based Dr. Franco A. Felizarta will provide the lowdown on monkeypox, including its origin, transmission, diagnosis, and treatment. On the other hand, Dr. Regina P. Berba, Chair of the Infection Control Unit at UP-PGH, will talk about how the hospital prepares for monkeypox cases. She will also provide insights into how this can be controlled within hospitals and health facilities. Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla, Chancellor of UP Manila, will deliver the synthesis and closing remarks. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. The series pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-takes-a-closer-look-at-malnutrition-and-health-security-during-covid/
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UP webinar takes a closer look at malnutrition and health security during COVID – University of the Philippines
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UP webinar takes a closer look at malnutrition and health security during COVID UP webinar takes a closer look at malnutrition and health security during COVID August 11, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor Malnutrition in the Philippines has been a chronic, silent, and insidious threat to health and development. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic started, around 30 percent of children under five years old were stunted or not tall enough for their age. The Philippines is among the top ten countries with the highest number of stunted children globally. The pandemic and the steady rise in prices and commodities have worsened the situation. This Friday, August 12, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (PGH), would like to invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. In this episode, titled “NUTRISYON SA PANAHON NG PANDEMYA: Can 250 pesos a day feed a family? ” we take a closer look at nutrition, health, and food insecurity in the country. Why are food prices so high? How can the average family survive in an environment where good food is limited and unaffordable? What is the nutritional status of the Philippines today? We’ll tackle all this and more with our experts, Dr. Cecilia Cristina S. Acuin, one of the well-known specialists in nutrition and the Adjunct Associate Professor at UP Los Baños (UPLB) Institute of Human Nutrition and Food; and Ma. Eloisa E. Villaraza, RND, MSCN, and Vice President of the Nutritionist-Dietitians’ Association of the Philippines (NDAP). Join us as we explore ways of preventing hunger and promoting health. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community. Together, let’s stop COVID deaths!
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https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-unpacks-the-silent-epidemic-of-deafness/
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UP webinar unpacks the silent epidemic of deafness – University of the Philippines
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UP webinar unpacks the silent epidemic of deafness UP webinar unpacks the silent epidemic of deafness August 25, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 430 million people, or 5 percent of the world’s population, require rehabilitation to address their hearing disability. In the Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Medicine and Surgery reported that in 2020, the prevalence of moderate to severe hearing loss would be at an alarming 15 percent. Apart from the disability, hearing loss can snowball and lead to various other negative side effects. It affects the learning and emotional development of children and young adults. It can lead to social isolation, loneliness, and stigma among adults. And among the elderly, more recent research reports that hearing loss is one of the top risk factors for dementia. But why are more people becoming deaf in the first place? How can we tell if a person is becoming deaf? Can this be detected at an early age? This Friday, August 26, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), would like to invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. In this episode titled, “THE SILENT EPIDEMIC OF DEAFNESS: Dumadami ba ang nabibingi?,” we take on a neglected and poorly understood epidemic that has been silently affecting millions of Filipinos. Dr. Charlotte Chiong, Dean of the UP College of Medicine and one of the country’s leading experts, will discuss the landscape of deafness in the Philippines and how frontline workers can support efforts to help prevent it. Philippine National Ear Institute Director Erasmo Gonzalo Llanes will also share practical tips on preventing hearing loss. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. Join us this Friday as we unpack the barriers to addressing the epidemic of deafness. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-to-discuss-europes-covid-surge-and-what-it-means-for-us-in-the-ph/
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UP webinar to discuss Europe’s COVID surge and what it means for us in the PH – University of the Philippines
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UP webinar to discuss Europe’s COVID surge and what it means for us in the PH UP webinar to discuss Europe’s COVID surge and what it means for us in the PH June 29, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor Recently, countries such as the United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain have seen a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. Some studies show that two new Omicron sub-variants, BA.4 and BA.5, can evade the immune system and that neither previous infections nor vaccines provide robust protection. A similar surge is emerging in the United States. All of these raise the fear of a new global wave of disease. Given the number of Filipino workers working overseas, we must stop, think, and prepare for what these surges could mean for us in the Philippines. Are we seeing the start of another surge? Should we be considering another wave of lockdowns and quarantines? How are the rollouts of the primary dose and second booster shots fairing? This July 1, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. This week’s episode of the UP “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series is titled “COVID-19 Surge in Europe: Susunod ba tayo?”. The webinar will feature Dr. Martin Hibberd, a Professor in Emerging Infectious Diseases from the Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He will talk about the magnitude of the problem in Europe and the interventions being put in place. The second speaker will be UP-PGH’s Chair for the Hospital Infection Unit, Dr. Regina P. Berba, who has just arrived from London and will be providing her insights regarding the situation there. Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, Senior Adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and Chair of the UP-PGH Department of Emergency Medicine at UP-PGH, will react to these two discussions. At the same time, Dr. Stella Marie L. Jose, UP-PGH Deputy Director for Health Operations at UP PGH, will officially close the webinar. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account and TVUP’s Youtube channel and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community.
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https://up.edu.ph/what-we-know-about-long-covid-so-far/
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What we know about “Long COVID” so far – University of the Philippines
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What we know about “Long COVID” so far What we know about “Long COVID” so far September 8, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor Some people experience symptoms of COVID-19 long after the virus has infected them. But what do we know about post-acute COVID-19, post-acute sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection (PASC), or chronic COVID, better known as “long COVID”? According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), “post-COVID conditions are found more often in people who had severe COVID-19 illness, but anyone who has been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience post-COVID conditions, even people who had a mild illness or no symptoms from COVID-19.” Moreover, long COVID continues to pose an additional risk to mental health. COVID-19 survivors risk depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and cognitive impairment or “brain fog.” This Friday, September 9, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), would like to invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. In this episode, “SUFFERING IN SILENCE: Ang Banta ng ‘Long COVID’,” we will take a deep dive into long COVID, what it feels like, what we need to understand, and what we can do to help those who suffer in silence from the long-term effects of the virus. We will get the perspective of award-winning journalist and COVID-19 survivor Bum Tenerio Jr. Likewise, Dr. Regina Berba, Head of the PGH Hospital Infection Control Unit, and Dr. Jubert Benedicto, Head of the CCU Management Action Team at UP PGH, will start an in-depth discussion on the topic. Don’t miss this timely discussion by registering here. You can also catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-zeroes-on-the-dire-effects-of-climate-change-on-health/
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UP webinar zeroes on the dire effects of climate change on health – University of the Philippines
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UP webinar zeroes on the dire effects of climate change on health UP webinar zeroes on the dire effects of climate change on health August 18, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor In 1992, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) titled “Our Planet, Our Health.” The information was an urgent call for action to address poverty, food and agriculture, water, energy, urbanization, basic services, and transboundary and international issues if the world’s population were to be healthier. Fast forward to 2022, the WHO has reused the theme for World Health Day on April 7 to remind everyone about the persisting negative effects of climate change on human health and survival, citing the 13 million deaths a year due to avoidable environmental causes. The WHO has described climate change as “the single biggest health threat facing humanity—and health professionals worldwide are already responding to the health harms caused by this unfolding crisis.” Why should the health sector care about climate change? Which population groups are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change? How exactly do the effects of climate change impact human health? How should we start preparing for the worsening climate scenario? This Friday, August 19, from 12nn to 2 pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), would like to invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D—current COVID-19 problems, other outbreaks, viruses, infections, and disasters. In this episode, titled “CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH: Bakit Natin Kailangan Alamin?” experts will discuss different angles and perspectives on the topic, including practical tips on the role of health care frontliners. Dr. Charles Primero D. Gundran, Chair of the Disaster Risk Management Subcommittee and Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Administration at the College of Public Health in UP Manila, will set the tone with a big-picture introduction. Dr. Erlidia F. Llamas-Clark, Chair of the Subcommittee on Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness, Environment, and Women’s Health Committee of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS), will delve into the effects of climate change on pregnancy and fertility. Dr. Ricardo Jose Quintos II, former Section Chief of Vascular Surgery at the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) and past President of the Philippine Society for Vascular and Endovascular Surgeons, will also share his insights. UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla will deliver the closing remarks. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account, TVUP’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community.
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https://up.edu.ph/executive-summary-report-of-the-pgh-dengue-investigative-task-force/
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Executive Summary: Report of the PGH Dengue Investigative Task Force – University of the Philippines
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Executive Summary: Report of the PGH Dengue Investigative Task Force Executive Summary: Report of the PGH Dengue Investigative Task Force March 8, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Findings of the 14 Deaths with Prior Dengvaxia® Vaccination by the DOH-Commissioned Independent Evaluation Team of Physicians, the Philippine General Hospital Dengue Investigative Task Force (PGH DITF): An Interim Report Executive Summary Under the directives of the Department of Health (DOH) Sec. Francisco T. Duque and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Director Dr. Gerardo D. Legaspi, the PGH Dengue Investigative Task Force (PGH DITF) was organized by Dr. Juliet O. Sio-Aguilar, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, to serve as the independent body of expert physicians of PGH to evaluate the deaths of 14 children who were given one to three doses of the Dengvaxia® vaccine. The DITF was instructed to thoroughly review each case to address the growing concern of the general public regarding the safety of the Dengvaxia® vaccine. The DITF was specifically tasked to determine the cause of death of each child and to assess if any possible association existed between the death and the vaccination. The selection of members of the DITF was based on the following qualifications: the physician (1) must not be affiliated with any vaccine company, and (2) must not have administered the dengue vaccine to any patient. As a result of the stringent process of selection, the DITF formed consisted of 10 members: two (2) pediatric cardiologists, two (2) pediatric infectious disease specialists, one (1) pediatric emergency specialist, one (1) allergist/immunologist, one (1) pediatric gastroenterologist, one (1) pediatric nephrologist, one (1) neonatologist, and one (1) forensic pathologist. This 10-person team was complemented by four (4) other subspecialists whose expert opinions were solicited to clarify certain cases; these specialists were a pediatric neurologist, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist, a geneticist, and a rheumatologist. A team of three (3) pediatric residents served as the DITF’s secretariat. In undertaking its task, the DITF identified the following terms of reference: definition of terms, mechanics and tools of evaluation, and process flow. The DITF then adapted the World Health Organization (WHO) Algorithm for Causality Assessment of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) as its evaluation tool. The WHO Algorithm for Causality Assessment of AEFI[1] is a systematic, scientifically sound, and universally accepted process of assessing causality of events following any vaccination. Based on this tool, the outcomes may be categorized as follows: A. Consistent with causal association to immunization A1. Vaccine product-related A2. Vaccine quality defect-related A3. Immunization error-related A4. Immunization anxiety-related B. Indeterminate B1. Consistent temporal relationship but insufficient evidence for vaccine causing the event B2. Conflicting trends of consistency with causal association to immunization C. Inconsistent with causal association to immunization (coincidental) Presence of underlying or emerging condition; or other condition caused by exposure to something other than the vaccine D. Unclassifiable (additional information to determine causality is needed) Of the fourteen (14) cases evaluated, the results of the DITF’s evaluation are as follows: Three (3) cases under Category A1: consistent with causal association to immunization that is vaccine product-related; two (2) of which implicated vaccine failure; Six (6) cases under Category B1: indeterminate only because of the consistent temporal relationship within a month of exposure of the vaccine but insufficient evidence for the vaccine causing the event; Three (3) cases under Category C: coincidental because there was inconsistent causal association to immunization; and Two (2) cases under Category D: unclassifiable due to inadequate information available. The DITF recommends further investigations in order to clarify the nature of the association with vaccination or the cause of death for the following cases: All three (3) A1 cases (Cases 1, 2, and 3) and two (2) indeterminate B1 cases (Cases 5 and 6) are recommended for further tissue evaluation for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) RNA of dengue virus, viral sequencing, and antibodies for the yellow fever and dengue viruses. Yellow fever- related tests are recommended as Dengvaxia® is a live attenuated vaccine using recombinant DNA technology created on the yellow fever (YF 17D) backbone. One (1) indeterminate B1 case (Case 9), one (1) coincidental case (case 13), and both unclassifiable cases (Cases 12 and 14) may be subjected to further investigations, such as an autopsy to determine the nature of their disease and the cause of death. The results of this evaluation are to be forwarded to the Pharmacovigilance Team of the DOH for further investigation and/or signal detection for possible new causal association. Only then can the investigation of these cases be completed and the results considered final. Overarching the DITF recommendations is the call to ensure that: clear, specific, and appropriate information be given to the public on dengue infection – its clinical presentation, actions to be taken for suspect cases, and preventive measures; and all health practitioners do a thorough review of the existing treatment guidelines, particularly fluid management, in the care of such patients. FACT SHEET:
ADVERSE EVENT FOLLOWING IMMUNIZATION (AEFI) AND CAUSALITY ASSESSMENT IS THERE A SYSTEM OR PROCESS FOR CHECKING WHETHER AN INCIDENT OR OUTCOME IS RELATED TO VACCINATION LIKE DENGVAXIA®?
Yes, the World Health Organization has developed a systematic, standardized, global process for evaluating whether an incident or outcome is related to any vaccination. This is the WHO Causality Assessment of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI). WHY WAS THE CAUSALITY ASSESSMENT FOR AEFI ESTABLISHED? Immunization safety is an important aspect of vaccine development, just as the effectiveness of a vaccine is crucial. Unlike medicines or drugs, the expectations from vaccines (and vaccination) are much higher because these are given to healthy people. The reality is that the benefits of immunization are often not as obvious or visible and that it may even take months to years before an impact to the person and/or the society can be known. Thus, allegations that vaccines or the vaccination process cause adverse events must be addressed because this issue may have negatively influence immunization coverage. It is thus the purpose of the WHO to guide the healthcare system to objectively analyze the events that occur surrounding the vaccination. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY CAUSALITY? Causality is simply the relationship between two events, where the second event is a consequence of the first. A direct cause is a factor in absence of which the effect would not occur (necessary cause). Sometimes, there are multiple factors that may precipitate the effect (event) or may function as co-factors so that the event occurs. WHAT IS CAUSALITY ASSESSMENT? Causality assessment usually will not prove or disprove an association between an event and the immunization. It is intended to assist in determining the level of certainty of such an association. A definite causal association or absence of association often cannot be established for an individual event. WHAT IS AN ADVERSE EVENT FOLLOWING IMMUNIZATION (AEFI)? This refers to any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunization, and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the use of the vaccine. The adverse event may be any unfavorable or unintended sign, an abnormal laboratory finding, a symptom or a disease. WHAT IS VACCINE FAILURE? Vaccine failure refers to the development of the specific disease being prevented by the vaccine in a person who is appropriately and fully vaccinated, taking into account the incubation period of the disease and the normal delay for the protection to be acquired as a result of immunization. This may refer to both the vaccinee (or host)-related and vaccine-related factors. WHAT IS VACCINE PHARMACOVIGILANCE? This involves the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding, and communication of adverse events following vaccine- or immunization-related issues, and relating to the prevention of untoward effects of the vaccine or immunization. The goal is early detection of and the appropriate and timely response to AEFIs in order to minimize negative effects to the health of individuals and lessen the potential negative impact on immunization of the population. WHAT IS A SAFETY SIGNAL? A signal is an information (from one or multiple sources) which suggests a new and potentially causal association, or a new aspect of a known association between an intervention and an event, or set of related events, either adverse or beneficial, that is judged to be of sufficient likelihood to justify verificatory action. WHY IS VACCINE PHARMACOVIGILANCE IMPORTANT? There is a very high level of safety required for vaccines. The elements to consider when conducting vaccine pharmacovigilance include the following: Vaccines are usually administered to healthy people, including infants. Vaccines may be administered to the vast majority of the population or of a birth cohort or to
groups at high risk for disease complication. The age at the time of immunization may coincide with the emergence of certain age-related
diseases. Immunization with certain vaccines is mandated in some countries. The benefits of immunization may not be immediately visible, particularly if the target disease
incidence is low. Consideration of dechallenge and rechallenge differs for vaccines compared with other
medicinal products. Vaccines are frequently administered only once or with long intervals, and serious AEFIs often prevent further vaccine administration. Dechallenge may not be possible with vaccines, given their long- term immunological effects. The administration of live vaccines can lead to disease caused by the attenuated organisms in vaccines or their contacts; this should be differentiated from coinciding natural infection. Vaccines are complex biological products, which may include multiple antigens, live organisms, adjuvants, and preservatives. Each component may have unique safety implications. Variability and (even small) changes in the manufacturing process may have impact on quality, protective effect, and safety. Batch information is of crucial importance. The need for vaccines is increasingly based on new production and administration technologies, with new adjuvants and alternative routes of administration, necessitating adapted safety monitoring systems. Effective communication regarding the safety of vaccines and immunization is challenging. Despite strong evidence that a serious adverse event is not related to immunization, perceptions of harm may persist and may potentially have a negative impact on immunization of the population. References: Fosberg, et al., Definition and Application of Terms for Vaccine Pharmacovigilance (Report of CIOMS/WHO Working Group on Vaccine Pharmacovigilance). WHO. 2012. WHO. Causality Assessment of an AEFI: User Manual for the Revised WHO Classification. 2013. Prepared by the PGH Dengue Investigative Task Force (January 31, 2018) [1] IMPORTANT: Please refer to the accompanying FACT SHEET ON AEFI and Causality Assessment for clarification of definitions. : Executive Summary on Dengue Investigative Report by PGH DITF
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https://up.edu.ph/hepatitis-among-children-caused-by-covid-up-webinar-explores-the-mystery/
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Hepatitis among children caused by COVID? UP webinar explores the mystery – University of the Philippines
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Hepatitis among children caused by COVID? UP webinar explores the mystery Hepatitis among children caused by COVID? UP webinar explores the mystery May 18, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor Viral hepatitis is a significant cause of mortality globally, mainly due to Hepatitis B and C viruses. The primary intervention is childhood vaccination, given at birth and in three subsequent doses. In mid-April 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported severe acute hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, of unknown origin among children below age 16. Initially, 163 cases were reported mainly from the United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, the U.S.A., Denmark, Ireland, and other European countries. Since then, patients have been significantly increasing, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. The worldwide report is now 450, including 11 deaths in Indonesia, Palestine, and the United States. This form of hepatitis seems to be caused by the adenovirus, which rarely causes liver inflammation. Some posit that a percentage of these children who test positive for adenovirus previously tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Earlier data in the Philippines point to the endemicity of Hepatitis B and C, with a Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence of about 17% among adults in the early 2000s. Will this new health issue come to our country? Are we prepared to manage these cases when our response to Hepatitis B and C leaves much to be desired? The University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), the UP National Telehealth Center (NTC), and in cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), invite you to join the fight against C.O.V.I.D. – which stands for “Current COVID-19 problems, Other outbreaks, Viruses, Infections, and Disasters”, on Friday, May 20, from 12nn to 2 pm. Titled “MYSTERIOUS HEPTATITIS: May kinalaman ba sa COVID-19?”, the latest episode of UP’s “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series lets us take a closer look at how a novel hepatitis-like disease could impact the current programs on hepatitis prevention and control, and how we can find ways to detect, test, treat, and manage this if it comes to our shores. We will also review what we know about hepatitis, the basics, vaccination, treatment, and referral. Our experts for this webinar are: Dr. Juliet Sio-Aguilar, a pediatric gastroenterologist, former Professor of Pediatrics at UP Manila, and an active consultant at St. Luke’s Medical Center; and Dr. Eternity D. Labio, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist who is Head of the Liver Unit at the Makati Medical Center. Synthesis and closing remarks will be delivered by Dr. Stella Marie L. Jose, Deputy Director for Health Operations at the UP-PGH. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account and T.V.U.P.’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Join us as we learn about the latest anti-viral drugs and how treatment plays a critical role in controlling the pandemic. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community.
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https://up.edu.ph/a-dengue-outbreak-amid-a-pandemic-up-webinar-tackles-the-questions/
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A dengue outbreak amid a pandemic? UP webinar tackles the questions – University of the Philippines
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A dengue outbreak amid a pandemic? UP webinar tackles the questions A dengue outbreak amid a pandemic? UP webinar tackles the questions June 9, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor Dengue is endemic in the Philippines. It used to appear in 2- to 3-year cycles, particularly at the start of the rainy season. Cases per year have ranged from 200,000 to 400,000 but have gradually dropped during the lockdown phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, two weeks ago, Cebu City reported an alarming rise in cases of dengue compared to last year. As of this writing, an outbreak is yet to be declared, but the Department of Health (DOH) sees this rise as a cause of concern, especially for Central Visayas. Early diagnosis is crucial because the disease can become critical if not dealt with right away. Currently, the case fatality rate in Central Visayas is 0.8 percent, with Cebu having reported around 4,000 cases and 38 deaths. This Friday, June 10, 12nn to 2pm, the University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and in cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), invite you to join the fight against dengue and COVID. What are the latest updates on dengue in the Philippines? What is the role that climate change can plays in the new and more aggressive behavior of the Aedes egypti mosquito? How can we help our communities understand the course of the disease and anticipate when symptoms are worsening? What does every healthcare front-liner need to know about a possible surge in dengue here in our country? This week’s episode of the UP “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series, titled “Dengue Alert sa Panahon ng Pandemya”, will seek to answer these questions about dengue amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar will feature three experts: Dr. Evalyn A. Roxas, Associate Professor of the Dept. of Microbiology at UP Manila and Clinical Associate Professor of the Division of Infectious Diseases at UP PGH; Dr. Belle M. Ranile, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist from Cebu City; and Dr. Zelig Javier, Division Head of the Environmental Health and Sanitation of the Cebu City Health Department (CCHD) and former Dengue Coordinator of CCHD. Don’t miss this timely episode by registering here. You may also catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account and TVUP’s YouTube channel channel and Facebook page. The award-winning UP “Stop COVID Deaths” Webinar Series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community.
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https://up.edu.ph/forensics-2-0-comes-to-the-philippines/
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Forensics 2.0 comes to the Philippines – University of the Philippines
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Forensics 2.0 comes to the Philippines Forensics 2.0 comes to the Philippines January 12, 2018 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion In 2016, National Geographic ran a story on the case of Sierra Bouzigard, a 19-year-old from Louisiana, USA who was found beaten to death seven years prior. Although in the fatal struggle Bouzigard managed to get some of her attacker’s tissue under her nails, traditional methods of matching DNA to suspect failed to yield any result. Policemen were stumped. With the collected DNA their only lead, the case analyst decided to take a chance and send the evidence to Parabon Nanolabs, a company specializing in “DNA phenotyping.” Using so-called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, pronounced “snips”), which are variations in a single building block of DNA, Parabon promised to conjure a rough likeness of the sample’s owner that would include certain physical features and probable ethno-geographic ancestry. While the analysis of these characteristics is in its relative infancy and not without controversy, its use in the Bouzigard case highlighted the question of how much more science could contribute in the pursuit of justice. If a broader variety of DNA markers could be simultaneously analyzed to build on what current methods can accomplish, how much more sophisticated could our power to discriminate and investigate become? The DNA Analysis Laboratory’s (DAL) Jazelyn Salvador. (Photo courtesy of the DAL) That question is one of many that the DNA Analysis Laboratory, Natural Sciences Research Institute, UP Diliman (DNA Analysis Laboratory, NSRI-UPD) is currently trying to address. Using breakthrough technology called “Next Generation Sequencing” (NGS), University research associates Jazelyn M. Salvador and Dame Loveliness T. Apaga are now getting a first-hand glimpse of the answers. The gold standard The laboratory, headed overall by Dr. Maria Corazon A. De Ungria, is no stranger to breakthrough contributions. Its work was a major driver behind the approval by the Supreme Court of the 2007 Rules on DNA Evidence that set terms and guidelines for the conduct of DNA testing and its specific applications in Philippine courts. The technology behind much of the team’s success to date is called capillary electrophoresis (CE). In creating a DNA profile for any individual using this method, members of the team look at what they call “short tandem repeats” (STRs). These are areas in the genome with sequences of nucleotides, made up of combinations of nitrogen bases: (G)uanine, (T)hymine, (A)denine and (C)ytosine. True to their name, STRs are sequences of these bases that repeat a certain number of times with successive repeats being located next to each other (i.e., TCGA-TCGA-TCGA…). The laboratory typically examines a person’s DNA profile in 20 of these STR regions that are found across 22 so-called “autosomal” chromosomes, as well as in the X and Y, or human sex chromosomes. In a sample like blood or saliva, which has sufficient amounts of DNA, these pre-selected DNA regions or markers are amplified or “photocopied” via a process called the Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR. Researchers Jessalyn Parco and Jan Vincent Beltran at the PCARI Shared Genomics Core Laboratory. (Photo by El Bacani, UP MPRO) “After amplification,” Jazelyn says, “fragments of DNA are separated by length via CE, where they migrate along an electric field through a tube separating anode from cathode. Because of their size, smaller fragments can migrate from start to end much faster. Fragments, distinguished by the number of repeats using a reference set, are then detected by a laser via fluorescent tags. The result of this process is a person’s DNA profile. As more STR regions are analyzed, the probability that two unrelated individuals would have the same DNA profile on each DNA marker becomes increasingly remote. Dame also spoke about how CE continues to be the gold standard for human identification. “The system is stable and accurate, and is relatively easy to use for forensic applications.” The technique, however, has its limits. Because of the relative length of STRs, creating a suitable profile may not always be possible, especially with degraded DNA. The latter situation is unfortunately all too common in disaster areas and in many crime scenes. Next Generation Sequencing “That’s the advantage of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), also known as Massively Parallel Sequencing,” Dame continues, referring to the newest technology being validated by the laboratory. “This technology enables a researcher to study and sequence several markers simultaneously, thereby significantly increasing the amount of information that can be mined from the sample.” In fact, NGS can be used to sequence an entire genome at a relatively shorter time compared to more traditional procedures. The NGS project by the Laboratory funded by DOST-PCHRD has for the most part used Illumina’s MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System. Using this platform, billions of short, single-stranded templates of DNA are attached to a slide. Fluorescently-labeled nucleotides are added one by one to the templates, after which a photo is taken that captures light from color-coded bases. The process is repeated with these bases added one at a time until sequencing is complete. UP Diliman researcher Jessalyn Parco using Illumina’s MiSeq FGx TM Forensic Genomics System. (Photo by El Bacani, UP MPRO) Jazelyn says this technique allowed the team to simultaneously analyze not only STRs, but also SNPs. In a paper published earlier this year, the team analyzed more than 200 markers from 143 unrelated Filipinos who volunteered to provide samples. These DNA markers included 28 autosomal STRs, 24 STRs from the Y chromosome and 7 from the X chromosome, providing supplementary information that can be vital in resolving complex kinship cases. Moreover, they were also able to analyze 173 SNPs, including 22 phenotypic informative SNPs and 56 ancestry informative SNPs. “The purpose of ancestry SNPs is to determine the bio-geographic lineage of individuals,” explains Dame. “If you test an individual, these markers can predict whether one is likely to be Caucasian, East Asian, or from another group based on reference population datasets.” “Phenotypic SNPs, on the other hand determine externally visible characteristics. These characteristics include eye color, skin color, and hair color,” Dame adds. Both SNPs, they say, might be extremely important in cases that involve people that have crossed national boundaries, as in the 2004 Madrid Bombing, and those who commit international crimes like human trafficking. In these situations, DNA may provide the lead to aid investigation in the absence of other clues. The DNA Analysis Laboratory’s (DAL) Jazelyn Salvador. (Photo by El Bacani, UP MPRO) Asian-specific markers Despite these findings, much work remains to be done before the technology can be used routinely in the Philippines. Since many of the markers used to create DNA panels originated from research that involved Europe and the US, the project aims to generate the “Southeast Asian reference population database” that will be more useful for local law enforcement agencies. “We might find that many of the current DNA markers included in the panel are not useful for the Philippine population,” Jazelyn said. Citing the case of China, which manufactures DNA kits that better discriminate among the local population, she mentioned the possibility of creating kits that are both cheaper and better suited to the region. “What our population-based studies can do is maybe select the most useful markers and come up with something more applicable to the country.” Dame Loveliness Apaga of the DNA Analysis Laboratory, UPD-NSRI. (Photo by El Bacani, UP MPRO) With the use of NGS, Jazelyn foresees an even larger role for DNA in forensic investigations. “Usually,” she said, “we use DNA to answer: Whom does this belong to? But with the discovery and existence of these SNPs, we can use Asian-specific ones to narrow the field, prior to pinpointing identities.” Just a year after the Sierra Bouzigard story ran on National Geographic, officers arrested a suspect based on Parabon Nanolabs’ profile. As the DNA suggested (and contrary to police speculation), the man was not Hispanic, but Caucasian. He had fair skin and blue-green eyes. DNA later taken from an item he discarded finally matched the sample from under Bouzigard’s nails. Police believe they have their man. Does this case represent the future of forensic analysis in the country? With a little more work, the answer seems to be “Yes.”
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https://up.edu.ph/shaping-the-key-to-unlocking-cancer/
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Shaping the key to unlocking cancer – University of the Philippines
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Shaping the key to unlocking cancer Shaping the key to unlocking cancer May 10, 2017 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion It could hold the key to unlocking cancer’s secrets, and the Philippines could soon help in shaping that key. Ten years ago, Francis Collins and Anna Barker, at that time from the National Human Genome Research Institute and the National Cancer Institute, respectively, wrote an article for Scientific American celebrating the launch of a milestone project in science and health research. Today, aspects of that research can be undertaken here at the University of the Philippines. The project so loudly lauded by the pair was The Cancer Genome Atlas (note the acronym, TCGA) of the US National Institutes of Health. Building on the technological and collaborative breakthroughs accomplished by the Human Genome Project, TCGA is a massive collection of multi-dimensional maps of notable genomic changes found in at least 33 types of cancers. All 2.5 petabytes (1 PB=1,000,000 GB) of data on these cancers from 11,000 patients are now publicly available, thanks to the efforts of a vast network of research and technology teams. Researchers have established that cancer is primarily caused by mutations in specific genes to create a catalog of genetic mutations that, for instance, cause normal cells to turn malignant. Through this analysis of each cancer cell’s complete set of genes, its genome, and how these changes within them interact on a broader scale, scientists attempt to improve cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. An interdisciplinary environment One key dimension that Collins and Barker revealed in their work is the highly multidisciplinary environment in genomics and cancer research, an environment of which the TCGA is both a promoter and a product. Such global and eclectic projects naturally encourage players from traditionally distinct research areas to capture the complexity of biological phenomena using a unique set of scientific tools. Increasingly, therefore, biologists and clinicians who had long manned the front lines of cancer and health research are finding themselves shoulder to shoulder with a different sort of ally. Armed with algorithms, software, and statistical modeling techniques, this new class of researcher allows initiatives like the TCGA to share and make better sense of the hundreds of terabytes of genomics data being produced globally. These data sets, many believe, hide important secrets to preserving human health and to uncovering deep truths about the origins and future of life on the planet. Enter the Filipino scientist. To take advantage of these exciting developments, the UP Board of Regents approved the creation of the Computational Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB) research program at the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) in January 2017. Marrying two fields The reorganization of the PGC allowed its researchers to group genomics and systems biology—normally considered distinct areas of study—into a single R&D program. PGC Executive Director Baltazar D. Aguda, himself a systems biologist and cancer expert, explained what holds these different parts firmly together. “Genomics is all about genomes,” Aguda said, referring to the genetic material of an organism, made up of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that some call the blueprint for creating an organism. Information in DNA is encoded in a sequence of four letters or bases, the aforementioned T, C, G, and A which stand for thymine, cytosine, guanine, and adenine. Sequences of these letters run along every DNA strand in different arrangements and permutations, totaling around 3 billion for each person. The primary challenge of genomics lies in interpreting the meaning behind these four-letter sequences. Some of these sequences, less than 2% of them, are called genes, which contain the code for the creation of molecules called proteins. And the rest? “What does the bulk of our DNA do?” asked Aguda. This, he said, was an open question, one that the men and women of the PGC are trying their hand at answering. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, PGC researchers are sequencing the DNA of a wide variety of organisms, from plants like coconuts to microorganisms like infectious bacteria. While genomics attempts to uncover the secrets behind the fundamental units of life, systems biology views the components and space-time scales of organisms as one integrated and holistic system. “If DNA sequences are not complex enough for you,” Aguda said, “think of networks of interactions among genes, proteins, cells and organs.” These networks and interactions are the fertile ground that systems biologists till for scientific insights. Modeling and predicting Unlike its “wet laboratory” counterparts, the CGSB is, as its name implies, an initiative built around computation. The language of life is read by these scholars via the Rosetta Stone of equations and computer models. More specifically, computational genomics researchers use advanced mathematics and computer algorithms to decipher the meaning behind huge linear arrays of the T, C, G, and A found in DNA. Computational systems biologists, on the other hand, generate models to simulate how genes affect the development and behavior of biological systems (e.g., a particular organism). When combined, the results of these models and analyses are then used to make scientific predictions that can then be verified by experimentation. What would a research effort from the CGSB look like? Aguda mentioned the example of cancer genomics coupled with a systems biology modeling approach to predict combinations of cancer drug targets. Recently, the PGC entered into a partnership with a local biotech company, Geosmart, to work with FIZ, a German genetics company. The members of this partnership are preparing to carry out a massive profiling of Philippine cancer patients. CGSB will be involved in the analysis of gene expression (i.e. the process by which genetic instructions are used to synthesize gene products) data to discover modules of gene interactions, and predict which of these modules are strongly associated with tumor growth and development. Once this is done, a systems biology approach can be taken to link these gene modules to molecular pathways, roughly a series of interactions among components in a cell that lead to certain products or changes. Dynamical models can then be created that simulate perturbations or changes that lead to cancer. Ultimately, these steps will lead to suggestions of protein targets for new and more specific anti-cancer drugs. Busiest of them all While the CGSB may be a very young program, its members, led by its founding director, Jan Michael Yap of the UP Department of Computer Science, are all prepared to face the important challenges that they were trained to address. According to Aguda, they have already pinpointed several computational genomicists and systems biologists around the country whom the group are planning to collaborate with. These developments, when combined with the output emerging from massive mega-sequencing projects developing globally (like the TCGA and the Beijing Genomics Institute’s bid to sequence 10 million human genomes), as well as the huge sequence data-sets produced daily by the PGC itself, promise to keep the team busy for years to come. Aguda and his colleagues look at these future challenges with excitement and optimism. The predictions produced by the CGSB to guide the laboratory work are expected to cut down on discovery times dramatically. Moreover, Aguda envisions the CGSB to contribute several innovative algorithms and software for use by the global scientific community. These are exciting times for genomics research in the country, and this project promises to be at the forefront of it all. More importantly, however, this peculiar combination of “computer scientists, mathematicians, physicists, statisticians and engineers” will facilitate the PGC’s mission of helping our citizens face the challenges of the 21st century. From producing more sophisticated predictions of health risks to creating innovative food security solutions, these modelers of life’s basic functions are raring to make the act of living a safer and more fruitful experience for Filipinos everywhere. For more information about the CGSB, as well as other programs of the PGC, please visit: http://www.philippinegenomecenter.org/
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https://up.edu.ph/privacy-matters/
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Privacy Matters – University of the Philippines
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Privacy Matters Privacy Matters June 30, 2019 | Written by J. Mikhail Solitario While the right to privacy and invasion of privacy have been the topics of national conversations involving data leaks from celebrities or politicians, the idea of privacy itself remains abstract among many. In fact, words like “private” or “privatization” have loose Filipino translations, and there seems to be no exact term for “privacy” in our native language. Instead, we have vague impressions of privacy or its absence as we deal with the loss of personal space in cramped jeepneys, with gossiping neighbors or when oversharing in social media. NPC Deputy Commissioner Dino Aguirre delivers the closing remarks at the Privacy Awareness Week 2019. Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. of the National Privacy Commission. The Act and its Commission In fact, when asked whether privacy has attained the status of being a household term, Deputy Commissioner Dino Aguirre of the National Privacy Commission says that appreciation of the concept of privacy is still largely limited to the academe, or those of a particular educational background or exposure. From his experience in interfacing with various stakeholders, Aguirre observes that the level of public awareness still needs a lot of work, which can be attributed mainly to culture. Even jurisprudence (e.g., Vivares v. St. Theresa’s College, GR No. 202666) has constantly confused types of privacy, often switching decisional privacy (i.e., the right to keep behavior on sensitive issues private, such as sexual preference, political activities, and religious practices) with locational or situational privacy (i.e., the right to move in spaces without being identified, tracked, or monitored) and informational privacy. The work of the National Privacy Commission as the country’s privacy watchdog deals primarily with informational privacy, i.e., the right to secure personal data and information from individuals or organizations that are not authorized to access, handle, or distribute such information. The Commission’s central mandate is to implement and ensure compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act 10173). This important legislation aims to protect individuals by regulating the handling of data, and guarantees that the Philippines meets international standards on data protection. Since the Data Privacy Act (DPA) was enacted into law with its corresponding implementing rules and regulations (IRR), the common notion of privacy being traditionally tied to location (private or public spaces) has evolved to become one of the fundamental human rights of the individual. Privacy now revolves around the individual’s level of control over his or her personal data or information. However, one of the more common misconceptions of the coverage of the DPA needs to be dispelled: it does not only apply to digital or online data, as it applies to data on paper as well. Compliance does not merely depend on investing on the latest technology on data security. Compliance actually takes into account the installation of proper policies, procedures, and processes in handling data. In relation to the coverage of the law, Aguirre emphasized, “It would help tremendously if we would be able to properly characterize the scope of the DPA to be limited to personal information.” Personal information pertains to any data that could directly or indirectly identify a person. This year, the Commission saw a significant increase in the complaints that they received compared to last year, with complaints for the first half of 2019 surpassing the 2018 aggregate total. A huge number of complaints were classified as informal and were never followed up. To address this issue, the Commission employed an institutional approach by coming up with resource materials that make compliance easier to private companies, government agencies, and organizations so that they understand what the law requires. Sectoral associations were also tapped to gather issues that are unique to each sector. Before 2018 ended, a campaign focusing on data subjects was launched to emphasize the rights of individuals. Participants listen to a lecture during Privacy Awareness Week 2019. Source: https://paw2019.privacy.gov.ph/#paw2018Section. Data privacy in the academe In an academic setting, there was an initial perception that data privacy and the freedom of information (FOI) would give rise to potential conflicts. “I don’t see them as two opposing concepts. People have to understand the policy behind them, which is open government,” says Aguirre. However, he also recognizes that an inaccurate understanding of the DPA could hamper efforts in implementing the FOI policy of the government, which is enshrined in Executive Order No. 2 of 2016. The DPA lists personal information classified as sensitive and lays down obvious exceptions, such as information on salaries and positions of government officials, which are vital to public interest. One key feature of the DPA is that it focuses only on personal information, which means that documents that do not bear such information, such as government contracts, are not protected by the DPA. The Commission is constantly working with the Presidential Communications Operations Office, which is tasked with implementing the FOI policy of the administration, to clarify issues arising from the implementation of these two principles. One of the more typical requests that the University receives involves the validation of educational records of its alumni by third parties for various reasons, ranging from employment to public office. The DPA lists educational records as sensitive personal information, along with race, ethnic origin, marital status, age, religious or political affiliation, as well as health records, genetic or sexual life, and social security numbers. This means that as a general rule, the University cannot disclose information to persons other than the data subject, unless he or she gives consent, or if the disclosure meets journalistic, artistic, literary, or research exceptions. Under the DPA, there are other criteria for lawful processing of sensitive personal information, which includes fulfilment of a contract, legal obligation, vitally important interests such as life and health, public order and safety, and other legitimate interests that do not go against fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution. Another issue that touches on data privacy is the release of personal information, such as names, degree programs, and respective campuses of successful qualifiers in the UP College Admissions Test (UPCAT). When the Office of Admissions posted the full list of thousands of successful qualifiers, some camps raised concerns about a possible breach of data privacy. Aguirre does not agree that releasing the results en masse is a privacy violation per se, and posits that to a certain extent, a legitimate public interest to inform the successful qualifiers and their families overrides individual apprehension. “UP is a public institution supported by public funds, and a certain level of transparency is expected of the University,” he says. Prospective students can expect that their submitted UPCAT applications may be further processed, including being published, as they are made aware of the manner by which the University has published the results. However, UP must re-examine this method in light of student organizations using the list of passers to create groups in social media platforms to promote their organization and recruit new members. For the University and other academic institutions, Aguirre stresses the importance of paying special attention to concerns of particular members of its community, such as minors in the UP Integrated School, the UP Rural High School, the UP High Schools in Cebu and Iloilo, and other similar segments of the University System where students availing of scholarship agreements may become vulnerable to potential data privacy issues. Protocols must also be put in place for sensitive situations; for example, confidential disclosures made by students to their guidance counselors may expose them to possible health and safety risks. “UP has to understand what sets it apart from all other firms and organizations. The prescriptions in the law apply to all data controllers and processors. UP must come up with this distinction to truly appreciate the uniqueness of the situation of academic institutions,” Aguirre concludes. He believes that these nuances will necessitate various approaches for UP to comply with the DPA. The Commission’s website (privacy.gov.ph) characterizes a “digital evolution” where the “need for data is inevitable.” It also underlines the import of safeguarding the rights of data subjects while “ensuring the free flow of information, growth, and national development,” a context and environment where UP plays a critical role as the national and premier state university. Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. You may access the digital copy here.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-alumni-and-varsity-represent-the-country-in-the-30th-sea-games/
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UP alumni and varsity represent the country in the 30th SEA Games – University of the Philippines
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UP alumni and varsity represent the country in the 30th SEA Games UP alumni and varsity represent the country in the 30th SEA Games December 9, 2019 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP alumni and UP Fighting Maroons varsity members are representing the country as athletes and coaches in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 2019). Follow nowheretogobutUP on Facebook for sports news updates.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-non-music-man/
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The “non-music” man – University of the Philippines
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The “non-music” man The “non-music” man September 4, 2017 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo “It’s not really music. Not in the strictest sense.” National Artist for Music, composer, ethnomusicologist, and UP University Professor Emeritus Ramon Pagayon Santos was referring to his area of research—non-Western indigenous expressive traditions included in the genre called “ethnic music.” Music, he said, is a Western concept defined by elements such as structure, counterpoint, harmony, texture, and form, among others. “I prefer calling it ‘non-music’ because it doesn’t fit that idea.” Santos began questioning the use of “music” to refer to such expressive practices because of an incident at a Philippine music festival he organized when he was dean of the College of Music. “I had invited three guitarists and a dancer from Batangas to participate. Imagine my surprise when two jeepney loads arrived!” During the performance, he said the others acted as bystanders who would react loudly and throw money at the performers. “That type of ‘music’ wasn’t meant for just listening because it wouldn’t have the intended effect. It needed the participation of the ‘community.’ There was an experiential condition.” The “non-music” man, Ramon Santos, in one of the Center for Ethnomusicology’s rooms at the UP Diliman College of Music. (Photo by Misael A. Bacani, UP MPRO) He also cited the kwintangan kayu of the Yakan, an instrument made of wooden logs set up after planting, which is played non-stop until the seeds have sprouted. “You can listen to it and enjoy it but its purpose really is to encourage the growth of what was planted. It doesn’t follow what conventionally defines music.” Other cultural expressions like the bayok of the Maranao and the badiw of the Ibaloi are similarly dependent on the occasions where these are performed. Breaking out: from classical to experimental Santos has been challenging the use of “music” as an ethnomusicologist since the 1980s. But as a composer, Santos has been pushing against tradition for far longer—as early as his undergraduate days in the early ‘60s. There’s a popular saying about learning the rules first before breaking them. And that’s what Santos did. His mother and grandmother were pianists, so “music was ordinary” to him. They were taught solfège and how to play the piano. When he went to San Jose Seminary for high school, he “fell in love with schola cantorum,” the singing of ecclesiastical chants. “My interest in music was intensified. I joined the choir and spent most of my leisure time listening to music.” But music wasn’t his only interest. He wrote poetry and later realized that literature inspired his passion for music, even prompting him to create music for Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poems. Like his brother, Santos also painted. Such was his inclination that his parents thought he would study painting in college. But when asked, he told them his choice was Music. “Just like that!” he said, snapping his fingers, “I said I wanted to take Music.” He was about to enroll at the University of Santo Tomas because it seemed like the logical choice after the seminary. If it hadn’t been for the long lines at enrollment, his father deciding to postpone it until the next day, and his sister who was a UP alumna asking why he was going to UST, Santos wouldn’t have gone to UP. So the next day, that fateful day in 1958, he went to UP and eventually earned his degree in Composition and Conducting. Before he even graduated, he had already formed the Immaculate Conception Choir in Pasig, written choir music and a whole Mass, and led the choir in presenting operettas. He even joined the symphonic ode category of the Bonifacio Centennial National Composition Contest, where he was the only declared winner at second place. There was no first or third place awardee. “The first honorable mention was my teacher,” he said with a sheepish smile. He was a regular at the library, always looking for new records to listen to. There he discovered Edgard Varèse, a French composer recognized for using sound outside the confines of musical tradition. “Wow! Is this music? If this was recorded, there must be something to it.” “I was very happy with everything I was learning,” Santos says of his days as a Music major in UP. (Photo by Misael A. Bacani, UP MPRO) He was also amazed by Jose Maceda, a visionary composer and a member of the UP faculty who pioneered avant-garde music in the country. “He is my greatest idol in composition and I’m proud to say he recruited me then to play his pieces,” Santos said, before adding with a laugh, “which were very difficult!” He credits Maceda with inspiring him as a composer because his ideas were deeply rooted in Philippine culture and how “we feel and experience music.” Dissonances had already become part of Santos’ work. “I think my teacher thought it wouldn’t get me anywhere.” But his leanings toward unconventional compositions mixed with his interest in non-western cultural expressions allowed him to forge a path in contemporary Philippine music. His groundbreaking body of work—both in composition and in ethnomusicology—would earn him the rank of National Artist in 2016. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts describes his style as one with “open-ended structures of time and space, function as a compositional concept, environmental works, non-conventional instruments, the dialectics of control and non-control, and the incorporation of natural forces in the execution of sound-creating tasks.” His latest project, “Likas-an” or “Nature-ing,” was performed in the Iloilo City campus of UP Visayas on August 25. “I composed that in 1978 using instruments that I made, like kantawayan, metal junk, whistle flutes, and sound coming from nails being pounded, for example.” His performers in 1978 were not musicians but administrative staff and the same was true for Iloilo. But because he believed the performance of his compositions must adapt to changing times, he made an additional composition for a choir in the recent “Likas-an.” As for the future of ethnomusicology and composition in the country, Santos is quite happy that the number of composer-ethnomusicologists is increasing, although he admits genuine Philippine music still has a long way to go. “We always need to be conscious of the fact that we are not Westerners, that we should not merely follow Western trends. Our experiences are different. Our sentiments are different. Our culture is different. I hope that we can eventually have a name for what I call ‘non-music.’”
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https://up.edu.ph/whos-afraid-of-the-endocrine-witch/
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Who’s afraid of the Endocrine Witch? – University of the Philippines
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Who’s afraid of the Endocrine Witch? Who’s afraid of the Endocrine Witch? September 4, 2017 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion While her online supporter base knows her better as the Endocrine Witch (and her equally popular recent moniker, “Dok Bru,” short for “Doctor Bruha”), UP-PGH Endocrinologist Iris Thiele Isip-Tan has certainly become many things to many people in recent years. The Endocrine Witch is the first ever Gawad Pangulo awardee for Progressive Teaching and Learning. The wife and mother of two sons is best known to her official patients as an endocrinologist—an internist, or duktor ng lamang loob, in her terms, specializing in thyroid, diabetes, adrenal, and other hormone disorders. To her colleagues at the UP College of Medicine, she is a highly innovative teacher—the first-ever Gawad Pangulo Award winner for Progressive Teaching and Learning and an advocate of blended learning. To many of her online followers, however, Iris still best known as perhaps the best online local source for educated views on endocrinology. Moreover, as the current head of the UP Manila Medical Informatics Unit and the Director of the UP Manila Interactive Learning Center, she is currently helping others utilize digital technology to improve the Philippine health landscape. Iris’ moniker was famously adopted early on from the sisterhood of strict mentors in endocrinology who were themselves called “witches.” ” One of my mentors said, ‘You’re even proud to be called a witch.’ But then I told them that we already have characters like Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, who go against the traditional concept. So that’s how it started.” The right information With several definitions of “health informatics” floating in cyberspace, Iris had to construct one for herself. “Health informatics is that field where we aim to get the right information to the right person at the right time,” she says. This overarching vision, though simple to some, has become a guiding philosophy for her, one which she can easily impart to the lay person. There are few avenues in this doctor’s life that reflect this more than her Facebook page. Begun in 2012 as a complement to her official web pages (dokbru.endocrine-witch.net and endocrine-witch.net), it emerged to give her readers access to her content on “free data” packs. Despite not being able to give actual consultations online, Dr. Isip-Tan thought there was at least some information she could give out to help the public make better health decisions. “I noticed in PGH that there were many illnesses that should not have worsened if only the people had the proper information,” she says. “So I said, OK, you can ask questions and I will answer, albeit with certain limitations.” Doing this has surprisingly helped her in her clinical practice as well. “There were things that I thought I could explain well, but then I found that not all patients got what I said. So it had to be simpler.” Iris also committed herself years ago to using Filipino in her public social media communications to make her advice accessible to countrymen from all walks of life. Lifelong learners Dr. Isip-Tan’s passion for getting the right information out can also be seen in the classroom. She currently teaches HI 201, an introductory graduate course in health informatics. One notable requirement of hers is that her students create their own blogs for class. “The primary reason I ask them to do this is because health informatics is not yet fully in the mainstream here. When you say you’re taking your Master’s in Health Informatics, people reply, ‘What’s that?’ So with the blogs, students can be able to leave a bit of an online footprint for health informatics in the country.” Having blogs also allows her students to get comments from actual practitioners and graduates of the program. “That was the premise for applying for the Gawad Pangulo Award, that there was a social aspect to it,” she says. “Even the higher-year students are guiding the first-year ones.” While some applicants to the program initially worry about their lack of experience in coding and quantitative methods, Iris says that these are things that can be mastered along the way. What she looks for in students is the willingness to take something on and learn on the spot. “Every day you just learn new things… But as a doctor, you have made the commitment to be a lifelong learner. And that’s the same quality that I look for in my graduate students—that they are willing to learn and accept challenges.” Spinning off Despite the hectic demands of balancing three aspects of her professional life—being a physician, a professor, and a health informatics practitioner—Dr. Isip-Tan says she has a lot more planned. Beyond UP, she is also a founding member of #HealthXPH, a multidisciplinary collaboration to discuss and use emerging technologies and social media to change the Philippine health landscape. Dr. Isip-Tan in one of her famous public lectures. #HealthXPH began as an idea among doctors connected over social media to begin conversations (inspired by the famous ‘Doctors 2.0 & You‘ conference in Paris) on health. Together with friends like Dr. Gia Sison, Dr. Remo-tito Aguilar, and Dr. Narciso Tapia, Iris began this by hosting Twitter chats every Saturday evening for everyone interested in health topics. With their growing following and with a little help from entities like the DOST-PCHRD, the group was eventually able to launch the first ever Healthcare and Social Media Summit in the country three years ago. The last event, which drew hundreds of participants, also produced an important spinoff. “MentalHealthPH came out of our second conference,” she says. “The young people behind it met during our brainstorming session. Now they have their own tweet-chat with the hashtag #usaptayo.” With her busy schedule, she also plans to explore telemedicine, both as a service and as a necessity—provided, of course proper protocols are in place to protect her patients. “Abroad, people are already exploring things like Skype to follow up people with diabetes,” she notes. “It’s not yet that common here, and I never thought I would eventually need to do it. But there is a need, considering the traffic these days. I also have patients from the Visayas and Mindanao who fly in and then all of a sudden I can’t make it to the clinic. I have to do something for them. And that’s also where I see the future of medicine is heading.”
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https://up.edu.ph/swimming-with-the-dugongs/
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Swimming with the Dugongs – University of the Philippines
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Swimming with the Dugongs Swimming with the Dugongs October 5, 2017 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Marine mammals—such as whales, dolphins, dugongs—are descended from ancestors that lived entirely on land. Fleeing from terrestrial competition, they turned to the waters and the vast resources of its depths. The Philippines is rife with marine mammals, a fact confirmed by stranding incidences—more than 800 recorded since 2005—exceeding the normal numbers in the region. Professor Lemnuel Aragones is UP’s foremost expert on marine mammals and heads its only laboratory for marine mammal research. This research includes processing strandings. Though unfortunate and still largely unexplained, strandings provide the opportunity for closely studying marine mammals in their environment. When not responding to or saving stranded marine mammals, or doing office, mentoring and laboratory work in UP and various training venues, or Skype-meeting with colleagues, Lem is farther offshore, swimming with grazing dugongs of Busuanga, Palawan, or spotting dolphins at Tañon Strait in central Visayas. But Lem has not always been at sea. Like marine mammals, Lem saw his career make a decisive step from land to sea. Lem after scuba diving in Mantalip Reef of southern Tañon Strait, a marine mammal hot spot, off Bindoy, Negros Oriental, to help an MS advisee with thesis research. Photo courtesy of the UPD-IESM Marine Mammal Research and Stranding Laboratory By the river in Africa As a child, Lem traveled across the globe with his father, who was a consultant of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. From 10 to 14 years old, he moved back and forth between the Philippines and Malawi, where his father taught at the Bunda College of Agriculture. He stayed at Lilongwe, the capital. Located in the Great East African Rift Valley, Lilongwe was strange land with a nature sanctuary in the middle, surrounding the Lilongwe River that drains to Lake Malawi. Often, the car little Lem was riding in had to stop and let wild animals cross the road. “Giraffes, elephants, zebras, and antelopes! So many!” the adult Lem excitedly recalls. But back then, he lived in a gated subdivision, guarded, and ferried in VIP vehicles. He watched from a car window. “Big animals have a certain majesty,” he says. Malawi left him with a legacy of fascination. Returning to the Philippines, Lem was sold on a Zoology course in college. He would graduate in UP Los Baños in 1986 with a special project on bats and a non-thesis degree in Field Zoology. His graduation prize from his parents was a solo trip to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Lem meets a duyong Officially an adult, he was free. In Puerto Princesa, he jumped onto fishing boats and sailed off with the crew to remote islands. As the fishermen laid out the nets, Lem would put on his mask, snorkel, and fins, and swim alone in the open sea. One day off San Vicente, Palawan, on a second dive near the coast, he saw billows of murk rising from the bottom. As he dove deeper, a gray mass began to move in the murk. It was bigger than he. Lem frantically swam toward the boat. “Help!” he shouted, grasping an outrigger. “Shark!” The crew saw the dark figure peek at the surface before gliding back under. “Ay, that’s a duyong!” they said. Lem would not be eaten. The animal was simply grazing on the seagrass on the bottom, stirring up sediments. Even as a graduate of Zoology, Lem had not heard of duyong. Returning to Los Baños, his father advised him to consult the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Manila. “We have dugong in the country,” the DENR officer said. The animal he saw was most likely it, but the officer could not give details. At that point, Lem vowed to study the big marine animal that had scared him so much. He ended up earning a master’s in Marine Science in UP Diliman. Lem helping restrain a stranded dolphin being rehabilitated at the Subic Bay Freeport Area to rehydrate the animal through an “entubation” technique. Photo courtesy of the UPD-IESM Marine Mammal Research and Stranding Laboratory Stranded, they tell a tale Lem’s expertise on marine mammals was triggered as much by his “near-death” experience off San Vicente as by the deadly experience of dugongs stranded off Australia. He was taking his PhD on tropical marine ecology at James Cook University and had to be stationed on the Queensland coast to study the feeding ecology of dugongs. Then a cyclone blew in, followed by reports of a massive marine mammal die-off. With a group led by top veterinarians, Lem was deployed as assistant to one of his PhD advisers and responded to the incident. At one section of a vast white beach, Lem saw the dark cluster of dugong carcasses. They estimated the fatalities at nearly a hundred. He needed to assist in six necropsies a day. It meant gutting the carcasses and hauling away intestines. Inspecting entrails, he found traces of food only at the cloaca, the end of the digestive tract. Checking the sea, they found the seagrasses wiped out. Lem explains how the endless seaboard allows the dugongs no escape from cyclones and the devastation of feeding grounds. Smaller islands, such as in the Philippines, let sea animals go to the other side when storms blow in from the other, he says. Still, the Philippine is rife with strandings. Returning from Australia, Lem helped Ocean Adventure and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to create the country’s own stranding network in 2005. Under his leadership, the network now has 3,866 responders, 80 veterinarians, and several specially trained fisheries and LGU personnel. The Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network or PMMSN has become a model for neighboring countries. Lem at the bow with Professor Helene Marsh, world-renowned dugong expert and his PhD adviser, recently off Calauit Island, Palawan, “acclimatizing” a dugong (partially seen) for underwater observation. Photo courtesy of the UPD-IESM Marine Mammal Research and Stranding Laboratory From the strandings, research has been done on marine toxins, bacteria, pathogens, and parasites, giving clues to disease life cycles and ecological conditions. Studies of stranding sites have offered clues to environments affecting marine mammals, including seismic, acoustic, and dynamite impact. The pioneer remains fascinated Acknowledging his leading role in marine mammal research and protocol-setting in the Philippines, Southeast Asian colleagues elected Dr. Lemnuel Aragones president when they formed the Southeast Asian Marine Mammal Stranding Network in 2013. Recently, the network expanded into the Asian Marine Mammal Stranding Network, of which he remains president. Up to his neck in work, he will not be revisiting Malawi anytime soon. But up to this day, Lem goes back to Palawan. He would go to Calauit, his study site during his master’s program. Along with dugong on the coast, Calauit offers a sanctuary for safari animals imported from Africa. That way, when not swimming with the dugongs of his present, Lem visits the animals of his childhood.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-warmth-and-wisdom-of-nanay-mani/
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The warmth and wisdom of Nanay Mani – University of the Philippines
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The warmth and wisdom of Nanay Mani The warmth and wisdom of Nanay Mani November 10, 2017 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta At the side of the main entrance of UP Baguio, in a kiosk underneath one of the many pine trees that mark UP’s northernmost campus, is an institution perhaps as beloved among the members of the UP community as the Oblation itself: a peanut vendor famously known as Nanay Mani. Nanay Mani, whose real name is Mrs. Lolita Lazaro, has been selling peanuts, biscuits, mangos and assorted fruits and snack foods to generations of UP students since 1968, when she was just in her mid-twenties. At that time, she and her husband, Juanito Lazaro, were newly married and had settled in Baguio City. He eventually found work in UP Baguio, and Nanay Mani, who has worked as a vendor since her childhood in Lingayen, Pangasinan, began selling peanuts and snack food in the schools and universities in Baguio City. “For decades now, and in all the schools here. There is no school that I haven’t gone into to sell my wares, even the Philippine Military Academy during graduation. I’ve been in all of them,” she recalls. But out of all those schools, UP Baguio is the one she loves best and where she chose to stay. “UP is different, because here no matter what your station in life is—even if you are just a vendor—they treat you with respect. In UP, even the children of senators are my children. If they see me walking down the street, they give me rides in their cars, even today. It’s different here. In UP, even if I’m just a peanut vendor, the kids love me.” For fifty years, she has showered love and concern upon generations of UP students, not just as a seller of salted peanuts, sliced mango and singkamas at the cost of P5 to P20, but also as counselor, mother-figure, message board, bag deposit counter, provider of food and shelter, and a reliable source of help to those in dire financial straits, even acting as guarantor for loans. “Whatever it is they need—for instance, they don’t have enough allowance or money for rides—I would give it to them. When they return, they give it back. Or they would say, ‘Nay, I haven’t eaten lunch yet, my allowance hasn’t come. Please give me money to buy lunch.’ I would give it. When the money comes, it is done.” She has seen generations of students through their years of academic toiling, has watched them graduate and become successful alumni. Off the cuff, she mentions media personalities Angel Aquino and Joyce Bernal, and remembers UP Baguio Chancellor Raymundo Rovillos, former Chancellor Priscilla Supnet-Macansantos and Prof. Jessica Cariño from their teenage years. She recalls with a laugh, “Oh, they were good kids!” From her kiosk where she stays from around 9 am to 6 pm, she has witnessed innumerable romantic relationships bloom on campus, and feels sad whenever a relationship ends. “I thought they would be together, then I find out that they’ve broken up. Of course I would be sad. ‘Manang, I get out of class at this hour. Have you seen him/her? Has he/she arrived?’ There were no cellphones back then, so I was their cellphone.” Of course, the students confide their troubles to her, from their love lives to their academic lives. And when it comes to studies, she is quick to set them straight about their priorities. “Sometimes, there are students who can’t seem to finish college. I get angry. I get angry more often than their parents do. ‘What are you doing? How many more years will it take? Ten?’ I really scold them. ‘So, will you or will you not graduate?’ ‘Yes, Nay, we will.” Fifty years of warm peanuts and even warmer affection and openhearted kindness have been reciprocated many times over. UP Baguio alumni here and abroad remember her fondly and shower her with gifts whenever they come home. She has been featured in TV programs such as ABS-CBN’s “Rated K,” thanks to alumni who want to give recognition to her. And in 2008, when the administration tried to enforce a rule that prohibited vending inside the campus, which would have kicked Nanay Mani out, the students themselves took action to protest the move. “The students teased me once, saying, ‘Nay, what are you still doing here? They’re driving you out, but you’re still here?’ ‘Yes, but if they make me leave, I’ll leave,’ I told them. Then the next minute, there were these rallies and petition letters.” She adds with a smile, “The kids here love me.” Nanay Mani, who has earned enough years for her to upgrade her title from “Manang” to “Nanay,” shares two of the most important life lessons she has learned: the importance of family, and the value of education. She and her husband have raised their children to become successful professionals, and they now have 27 grandchildren, one of whom is set to graduate from UP Manila. For her, family gives you a sense of purpose in life, and a reason to work hard and achieve your best. “Of course, it’s important to be strong so you can make sure your family will lead good lives. That’s the number one priority for us: family. What good is your toiling and sacrificing if you don’t have family? For whom are you working hard and sacrificing? For whom are you living?” And for her other children—the students of UP Baguio past, present and future—she counsels them to keep on learning, and to never take their privileged position as iskolar ng bayan for granted. “I always tell the kids that while they have parents who support them, they must study for as long as they can. They are so lucky, I say. Because what else can their parents pass on to their children except education? It will never be lost. It will never be stolen. It is the gift of your mind.”
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https://up.edu.ph/a-pinoy-in-plasma-science/
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A Pinoy in plasma science – University of the Philippines
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A Pinoy in plasma science A Pinoy in plasma science March 23, 2018 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Dr. Jong Vasquez in his office as chairperson of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) “They’re always surprised that a Filipino is doing plasma research, especially in relation to materials.” This is a common reaction to Magdaleno “Jong” Vasquez Jr. when he meets foreign scientists. They’re even more surprised, he says, when he tells them that he works on ion sources. “And I’m working on low-energy ion sources when most are working on high-energy.” Jong points to his pasalubong for UP: an ion source he designed and built in Japan. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Why the astonishment from foreigners? It seems the Philippines is not big on research in plasma and vacuum science and technology and their allied fields with their wide range of applications. There are very few Filipinos in the country who undertake research in these areas; so for the rest of the scientific world, meeting someone like Jong would be a pleasant shock. But he’s confident that things are picking up, that more are becoming interested in these fields. Jong has been doing what he can to promote these areas of study, starting with UP. Pasalubong from Japan It’s a traditional Filipino practice to bring back items from a place one has visited, to give to loved ones back home. Jong’s pasalubong—an improved, smaller version of an ion source he created for his doctorate in Electrical Engineering at Doshisha University—started the ball rolling in 2013. He had already been teaching at the College of Engineering in UP Diliman (UPD) before he left for his doctoral studies and he had every intention of going back to the University when he was done. While Jong had earned his doctorate in 2011, he stayed for two more years in Japan, working in a company where his adviser, Dr. Motoi Wada, was a consultant. “It was like post-doc training.” One of his students working on coco coir at the Plasma-Material Interactions Laboratory (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) To say that those two years were productive is an understatement. Jong was not only able to file two patents that were accepted in Japan and Korea, but he also worked on his pasalubong for UP during weekends. “It had to be small enough to fit into my luggage.” When he came back to the Philippines, he filed an application for the University’s Balik PhD Program, a grant from the UP System that provides a P2.5 million startup fund to encourage foreign-trained PhD graduates to teach and do research in UP. But for some reason, the application papers got mixed up with documents for his faculty position. It took a while to fix, but he was able to finally get the grant in October 2014. “Without that seed money, I wouldn’t have been able to put up the lab at the time that I did,” he says, referring to the Plasma-Material Interactions Laboratory (PMIL) at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering (DMMME), where he is currently on his second term as department chairperson. More funds, more research, more people Even with the Balik PhD grant, Dr. Vasquez still looked for other funding sources to support research at PMIL. Before 2014 ended, he had gotten two more grants that totaled over P13 million. By the start of 2015, PMIL was a “working” facility, in the sense that experiments could be done. “I just keep on applying for grants, especially for equipment outlay. Not necessarily to buy new ones, but to restore what would otherwise just sit and rot.” They’ve restored three so far and with added funds, may be able to repair more, according to him. Some of the work done in the lab include the use of plasma on local and abundantly available materials like zeolite. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) To date, Jong has been able to get almost P100 million for PMIL. He also reveals that there were times he applied for grants that catered specifically to his students’ research topics just so they could continue their work. When PMIL was established, there were only nine people doing research there. That number has quadrupled—not counting the 33 the lab has already graduated, and those from other UP units and from other schools who use PMIL. Some of the work done in PMIL include the use of plasma on local and abundantly available materials, like zeolite, silica, bamboo, and coco coir for applications in biomedicine, environment protection, agriculture, and construction, among others. “Chemical treatment of materials has waste management issues. Plasma treatment just uses gases like oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, which can easily be expelled.” Beyond UP The young Jong would never have thought he’d be where he is now. He never planned on taking up BS Chemical Engineering in UPD. “I gave in to my mom and dad and I was actually the first in my family to study outside of Cebu.” But it only took him a semester to adjust. The young man who didn’t even plan on studying in UP eventually graduated, stayed to teach, and earned his master’s in Materials Science and Engineering here. And even with his stint in Japan, he still went back and continues giving back to the University by teaching and doing research, and mentoring budding scientists, and even by helping them get scholarships abroad. But it doesn’t stop with UP. Some of the students who conduct research in the lab (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Together with the plasma physics pioneer in the country, UP Professor Emeritus Henry Ramos, Dr. Vasquez formed the Vacuum Society of the Philippines (VSP) in 2015—the first of its kind in the ASEAN region. As with any scientific organization, it aims to advance its fields of knowledge, further strengthen the country’s pool of experts, and ensure knowledge transfer to promote innovation. The VSP has already conducted two international symposia and recently concluded an event in Cebu, where members of vacuum societies abroad participated—all of which are creating more collaborations and expanding partnerships. With everything that has happened since he returned to the Philippines almost five years ago, Jong Vasquez is hopeful things will continue to gain momentum. He looks forward to the time when the rest of the scientific world will no longer be surprised that a Filipino is working in the fields of plasma and vacuum science and technology.
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https://up.edu.ph/a-up-lawyer-in-the-palace/
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A UP lawyer in the Palace – University of the Philippines
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A UP lawyer in the Palace A UP lawyer in the Palace February 9, 2018 | Written by J. Mikhail Solitario “When I face an ordinary Filipino citizen, and he asks me who I am, I want to be able to tell him that I know what he’s going through and that we can help each other.” This is what keeps Attorney Hanna Keila Garcia serving in government despite criticism from some people, including family and friends. Kei, as people fondly call her, has lived a life of conflicts and contradictions. While she had always seen herself eventually taking up Law, her undergraduate degree in Sociology made her ask whether this was the right step to take. Sociology forced her to to question a lot of things. It taught her that, most of the time, getting the right answers meant asking the right questions, too. Twin tools Initially, she saw the study of law as something rigid, with set ways, and not dynamic enough when it came to interpretations of the law. So instead of going straight to law school after graduation like some of her batchmates, she took a gap year and taught Sociology in a state university before finally taking up law. Now, she finds the twin training of sociology and law as helpful tools in her policy work as a staff member of the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration in Malacañang. She has also devoted most of her life to public service, starting in student government as early as when she was in the third grade. While her batchmates in University of the Philippines College of Law focused on getting good grades in order to get recruited by big law firms as interns and eventually as associates, Kei knew from the very start that she wasn’t interested in joining the private sector, wanting to link her education with her advocacy. She continued teaching Sociology in all her years in UP Law, enriching her lessons with what she learned in Malcolm Hall. At the Mabini Hall’s Executive Secretary Gallery with Attorney Hanna Keila Garcia (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Kei joined the Office of the President (OP) towards the end of the previous administration while waiting for the results of her bar examinations. With the start of the current administration in 2016, her immediate boss, Deputy Executive Secretary Michael Ong, himself a graduate of UP Law, offered her an opportunity to stay in the OP and continue to be part of his staff and of the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES). Given a week to decide and with other offers to work in the offices of a senator and several representatives, she chose to stay in the Palace. “I honestly wanted more action, to be in the middle of things with great impact. I wanted to see how things were run, and to learn more about governance firsthand,” she says. A seat in policy-making Her normal workload includes regular monthly high-level policy meetings. Work in the Palace is naturally diverse, given its wide mandate and functions, so Kei appreciated how they were initially asked about their interests and advocacies. When she expressed interest in development work, she was assigned to represent the OES in policy meetings with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), particularly the Investment Coordination Committee and the Social Development Committee. Apart from NEDA meetings, she has also had the opportunity to sit in Cabinet cluster meetings, such as the Economic Development Cluster and the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster. In these meetings, discussions on the formulation of policies take place. Her UP Law education greatly helps her in dealing with heated discussions with various senior representatives from other government agencies. Her experience as a law student has helped her in projects involving a certain level of policymaking, such as the drafting of a UP Diliman Students’ Magna Carta. According to Kei, the current administration’s policy direction is infrastructure-heavy as seen in its “Build, Build, Build” program. Before projects like a subway system, airports, seaports, or railways are approved, technical aspects need to be ironed out. How many families will be displaced? Where will they be relocated? How much traffic will this cause? Are there right of way issues? Are these projects economically viable? Loyal to the institution While some issues generate controversy, Kei admits that one cannot win all the arguments. She declares, however, that “We are winning the battle for better infrastructure and faster implementation of infrastructure projects.” Her hope is that ten or twenty years down the road, when this infrastructure helps Filipinos gain social mobility not just physically but also economically, she can proudly say she had a hand in the projects when they were just on paper. She reveals that one of her proudest moments at work was to be assigned to draft and evaluate the Executive Order (EO) on the Establishment of Smoke-Free Environments. She is happy to hear feedback from smokers and non-smokers alike on how the EO has been a deterrent to smoking simply because it makes smoking more difficult with restrictive measures. She stands by the EO and is confident that it will hold in court. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Of course, working in the Palace—an office both highly political and highly politicized—will always raise a few eyebrows. Kei, however, recalls a seminar conducted by the Civil Service Commission on public service ethics and accountability, from which she learned to know where one’s loyalty should lie. She is firm in her belief that government work is public service and that it is always important to keep in mind the constitutional principle that public office is a public trust. In this light, one’s loyalty must always be with the institution and the people it seeks to serve. For many lawyers, it’s easy to say that an official act will violate a specific law. However, in her work in formulating, evaluating, and recommending policy, she has to take into consideration more than just possible legal implications. As such, she is often guided by questions like “How would this benefit Filipinos?” and “What would be the impact of this policy?” Hope, not anger “Many people don’t know how these kinds of evaluations are done because they have no experience in government work. If your principles are intact and you are true to your core, while some criticisms are definitely warranted and necessary, others just become noise,” she adds. With her decision to stay in public service, she offers this piece of advice for those who are thinking of working in the government as well: “There are so many things to be angry about. It’s okay to be angry. But if you’re just angry, you might as well give up. I refuse to just be angry. I want to be hopeful as well. Through this journey, I want to be equipped enough so when the time comes and I find myself in a position where I am able to make a greater, more direct impact in the lives of Filipinos, in whatever capacity that may be, I can say that I have the right experience, knowledge, and motivation for the job. People who are motivated by goodwill and good faith, with the capacity and willingness to be equipped, are always a necessity in whatever administration.”
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https://up.edu.ph/up-alumni-scientists-and-lawyer-grace-tawilis-summit/
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UP alumni scientists and lawyer grace tawilis summit – University of the Philippines
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UP alumni scientists and lawyer grace tawilis summit UP alumni scientists and lawyer grace tawilis summit March 6, 2019 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Philippine Society for Freshwater Science President and UP Diliman Professor Francis Magbanua (extreme left) awards certificates of recognition to NAST Academician Mudjeweekis Santos and Dr. Maria Theresa Mutia, both of NFRDI; Prof. Alicia Ely Pagulayan of UST; and Dr. Jonas Quilang of UPD, all UP alumni scientists, for contributing their latest research at the Tawilis Summit 2019 and sharing a common passion for Taal Lake and its threatened ecosystem. Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO UP alumni scientists continue to lead research and provide data on saving Philippine freshwater ecosystems such as that which supports the tawilis, recently declared an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). For example, key resource speakers in the Tawilis Summit 2019 were: UP alumni scientists, Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos and Dr. Maria Theresa Mutia, who graduated from UP Baguio and UP Los Baños, respectively, and are now with the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute; Dr. Jonas Quilang of the UP Diliman Institute of Biology; and, UP Diliman alumna Dr. Alicia Ely Pagulayan, now with the University of Santo Tomas. Hosted by the University of Santo Tomas, the summit was an immediate multisectoral response led by scientists to the IUCN red-listing of a Philippine endemic. It was held in the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, OP Building, España, Manila on February 19, 2019. Dr. Rey Donne Papa of the UST Department of Biological Sciences, the host of the summit, traces his interest in Taal Lake before delivering a presentation on the latest limno-ecological findings in the lake. Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO Saving the tawilis, found only in Taal Lake, has long been a rallying cry of freshwater scientists who advocate sustainable management and conservation of all Philippine freshwater bodies and their ecologies. As early as 2000, scientists such as Prof. Augustus Mamaril of the UP Diliman Institute of Biology had been raising red flags on the tawilis, with Mamaril even proposing its translocation to another Philippine freshwater body. Spearheaded by the recently launched Philippine Society for Freshwater Sciences, led by its interim president, Dr. Francis Magbanua also of the UP Diliman Institute of Biology, the recent tawilis summit was able to gather a sizeable number of government and non-government scientists and research staff, students, administrators, local government executives including two town mayors, and fishing and aquaculture organizations in the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL). DENR Region IV Director Maria Paz Luna stresses scientific and consultative management: “There is nothing like speaking with the scientists directly. Without them helping us in the management plan, the status of Taal Lake would have been worse.” Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO UP Diliman alumna, Atty. Maria Paz Luna, currently chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region IV-A and of the multi-sectoral management of the TVPL, was present in the summit to get the latest scientific research and recommendations from the scientists and other stakeholders. Luna gave an update on the TVPL management plan and her own recommendations to strengthen management and conservation initiatives in TVPL, including more research, which she found relatively lacking. She also joined roundtable discussions with stakeholder representatives. NAST Academician and NFRDI’s Mudjekeewis Santos reiterates the science behind the findings of dwindling tawilis populations contributing to its red-listing by the IUCN. Looking on is the round-table discussion moderator and freshwater scientist, Dr. Roberto Pagulayan, former director of the UP Institute of Biology and now with the Angeles University Foundation. Santos, Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and principal author of the assessment behind the inclusion of the tawilis in the IUCN Red List, talked about the rigorous and pro-active process of having a species classified for IUCN categories. Mutia, whose body of work dominated the scientific literature cited for the IUCN red-listing, discussed the latest tawilis fishery reserves and spawning grounds. Dr. Quilang, also author of IUCN assessment, presented the phylogeny of tawilis, making it a unique and fascinating species of Sardinella. PSFS President Francis Magbanua notes an emerging consensus of scientists on the close season for tawilis fishing, and expresses continuing scientific enthusiasm to ascertain the causes of dwindling tawilis population, in a round-table discussion. Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO The summit was also highlighted by updates from UST on limno-ecological or ecosystem studies on Taal Lake presented by Dr. Rey Donne Papa, revealing a multitude of unique life forms and phenomena. A presentation on another UST study on the reproductive biology of tawilis was delivered by Dr. Pagulayan. At the end of the summit, PSFS, through Magbanua, supported and conferred scientific soundness on: the decision of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the DENR to impose a “close season” in March and April; the implementation of a recommended mesh-size for fishing; and, the establishment of sanctuaries. It also agreed with environment managers who called for the participation of local government units and fisherfolk organizations in a multi-sectoral enforcement of regulations, including those on aquaculture practices. Agoncillo, Batangas Mayor Daniel Reyes raises a question for scientists, as Balete, Batangas Mayor Wilson Maralit looks on. Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO An open forum provides an opportunity for a representative of the Taal Lake aquaculture industry to raise their concerns and contribute their local knowledge in the scientific discussions. Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO PSFS also asked for regular, long-term monitoring of the lake by NFRDI and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in terms of “catch per unit effort” and water quality for yearly assessment of the effectiveness of management initiatives. Magbanua said the society is planning a program to involve more higher educational institutions and to harness its honorary members in getting the tawilis off the IUCN red list by utilizing their multidisciplinary expertise. The participants and organizers of Tawilis Summit 2019, after the closing ceremony, February 19, 2019 in the Dr. Robert C. Sy Grand Ballroom, Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building, University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila.
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https://up.edu.ph/holding-on-to-a-dream/
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Holding on to a dream – University of the Philippines
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Holding on to a dream Holding on to a dream May 4, 2018 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo It was a yearning she just couldn’t shake off. As a high school senior back in 1963, Virgie Garcia wanted to study painting and pursue a Fine Arts degree in UP Diliman. Fifty years later, she finally enrolled in the program. The dream had evolved over the course of those five decades, but its essence never really changed. She still wanted to study Fine Arts in UP. But it wasn’t about getting the degree anymore. She just wanted to learn. Passion for learning When Virgie tells the story of how she had to forego the Fine Arts program for a BS in Education, there’s no regret in her voice. “I had to be realistic and practical. I needed to earn a degree that could land me a job after graduation.” Back then, becoming a teacher was a much better option than becoming a starving artist—especially for someone whose father was a radio technician, whose mother was a dressmaker, and who was only the second of six children. It meant she needed to help support her family. Virgie wasn’t completely devastated over the decision she had to make. She simply saw it as an opportunity to learn and enrich herself intellectually. And that appetite for knowledge remains to this day. “Even at my age, there’s still so much to know. I’m still curious and fascinated by so many things in the world.” In her second year at UP, the teenager who wanted to be an artist but studied to be a teacher was so swayed by her interest in the natural sciences that she shifted to the BS Chemistry program. She graduated in 1969 and when the results of the licensure exams were released in 1970, she was number nine in the top-ten list of successful examinees. Artist, art gallery owner, and art supply store owner Virgie Garcia (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Climbing the corporate ladder Fresh off university life, Virgie’s first job was in quality assurance at Johnson & Johnson, where she stayed for six months. She then moved on to the UP College of Medicine as a project researcher, also staying there for six months. “That was where I got the idea for my next job,” she says and continues with a laugh, “from one of the reagents we used!” It was so random that she still couldn’t believe how well it turned out. Virgie saw the name of the company that produced that reagent and told herself to just apply for a job there. That company was Warner Chilcott (later Warner Lambert), where, for 25 years, she moved up the ranks—from a technician/analyst in quality assurance to production supervisor to managerial positions in procurement as well as production planning and inventory control. In 1977, seven years into her stint at Warner Lambert, she began to pursue an MBA at the Ateneo de Manila University. While she’s a thesis short of her degree, she was successful at applying everything she had learned as her position in the company got higher. In 1995, Virgie transferred to Century Pacific Food Inc., holding corporate managerial positions in procurement, production planning and inventory control, and warehouse and shipping. “I never would have thought, growing up as I did in Sta. Mesa, studying in public elementary and high schools, that I would reach the positions that I had in the corporate world.” She was later promoted to assistant vice president and had become such a valuable part of the company that they asked her to postpone her retirement when she turned 60 in 2007. After a few years, she again expressed her desire for retirement to pursue formal studies in Fine Arts. The company agreed to let her do the latter and in 2013, at age 66, she went back to UP while still with Century Pacific. A painting of a flamenco dancer Virgie did for one of her classes at the College of Fine Arts (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Art in her heart Throughout her life as an executive, she never really abandoned her childhood dream of painting. She had helped her siblings through school. Her two children had earned their degrees and were living on their own. She already had “more than enough money” to pursue her passion. Virgie could afford art materials and tutors for one-on-one classes, but she felt those weren’t enough. She wanted the experience that she had missed out on. “I didn’t even need to get the degree, I just wanted to be in that traditional education setting, to be in classes at the College of Fine Arts (CFA), learning from teachers along with classmates.” Perhaps it was the generation she belonged to that made her place a higher value on traditional learning. And she learned so much more than just painting from being back in the University. She saw the struggles of her classmates—from buying the materials to finish plates for class to finding venues that welcomed exhibitions from new and unknown artists to the uncertainties after graduation. “The idea of the struggling, starving artist, I’ve seen it here. Many times. It’s heartbreaking.” So “Mommy,” as she is fondly called by classmates, college staff, and even some faculty members, knew she had to help in some way. Aside from granting scholarships to select FA students, she established Start 101—an art gallery with an art supply store. Located inside the campus, its proximity and competitive pricing makes it convenient not just for CFA students but for everyone who needs supplies and exhibit space. Competitive pricing and proximity make Virgie’s art supply shop convenient for UP students. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Virgie’s advocacy is to not charge rental fees to students or new and budding artists who mount their shows at the gallery. While the store is able to sustain gallery operations, the gallery sometimes also earns from being a venue for art-related workshops such as those on art restoration, film, photography, and art therapy. Sometimes, her assistance goes beyond budget-friendly prices and free rent. She lets UP students get supplies and pay when they can. “Teach them trust and they become trustworthy,” she says. She even gives away supplies to UP students who come to the store out of sheer desperation because “Mommy” was their last hope. What was supposed to be a simple going-back-to-school stint five years ago to pursue her passion for painting had turned into a desire to help out her fellow Iskolar ng Bayan. She held on to her dream and has now become an instrument that enables others to get closer to achieving theirs. “I don’t have an endless supply of money and I’m certainly not filthy rich, but I also can’t refuse a UP student in need. Start 101 is a struggling business, but I hope I can keep it afloat for those who need it.”
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https://up.edu.ph/the-upmsi-a-tradition-of-scientific-exploration-public-service-and-partnership-with-govt/
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The UPMSI: A tradition of scientific exploration, public service and partnership with gov’t – University of the Philippines
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The UPMSI: A tradition of scientific exploration, public service and partnership with gov’t The UPMSI: A tradition of scientific exploration, public service and partnership with gov’t October 13, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI), one of the seven academic institutes of the UP College of Science in Diliman, has been serving as the University’s coordinating base for marine research since its establishment as the Marine Sciences Center in 1974. Since its elevation to an Institute in 1985, the UPMSI has been offering graduate programs in marine biology, marine chemistry, physical oceanography, marine geology, and related disciplines, training some of the country’s top marine experts over the past decades. In keeping with UP’s mandate to serve as a public service university, the UPMSI has been providing various forms of community and public service as well as scholarly and technical assistance to the government, the private sector and civil society. Some projects are aimed at rehabilitating seas and coastal sites in the country, including Manila Bay. Some of these seek to study and conserve the country’s lush marine biodiversity, such as the giant clams of the UPMSI’s Bolinao Marine Laboratory in Pangasinan, and the giant shipworms or tamilok in Sultan Kudarat. The UPMSI regularly conducts workshops, local and international conferences, and training courses. It also partners with coastal communities, people’s organizations, non-government organizations, local government units, and national government agencies in projects that directly address local and national needs, with funding from government, private groups or from international sources. Some of the UPMSI’s initiatives have gained prominence in media. One of these is the exploration of marine life in the West Philippine Sea and Benham Rise, with the UPMSI leading teams of scientists and researchers from various UP units and government agencies such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture and the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). In addition, the UPMSI are also engaged in many other collaborations with the DENR, including: research into the resilience of fish, coral reefs, and other ecosystems; the development of a management system in key biodiversity areas; coastal land use planning and rehabilitation; and, studies on ocean transport and ecological connectivity. In fact, UPMSI scientists have been presenting the results of their investigations into the West Philippine Sea and the Philippine Rise via the four-episode Philippine Seas: Webinar Series on the DENR BMB Facebook page. In response to DENR Undersecretary Benny D. Antiporda’s remarks during a recent press conference regarding updates on Manila Bay, the UPMSI affirms its continued commitment to make available to the government the services of its researchers, scientists and experts, including the DENR, as needed to further the country’s development. Antiporda’s remarks were made in reaction to the UPMSI’s September 30 official statement that the crushed dolomite sand would not help solve the root of the environmental problems in Manila Bay. However, with regard to Antiporda’s comment on working with the UPMSI as long as the services are “free”, adding that “every time we consult them, we pay so much money that people don’t know” and pegging this amount at the “hundreds of millions”, the UPMSI would like to clarify that the Institute provides the scientific advice and technical inputs of its experts for free, in accordance with UP’s mandate as national university. However, some questions and problems cannot be addressed without conducting research in the field or laboratory experiments so as to come up with science-based answers or to develop local capabilities. The costs of scientific research and investigation, from the use of laboratories and research equipment and facilities, to support for research assistants, should be, as they actually are shouldered by the clients, as the UPMSI is not a line agency in the government’s executive branch. Moreover, all of the UPMSI’s research and development activities are project-based, with very specific fund disbursement guidelines and limitations. The internal Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds of UPMSI are limited to maintaining the laboratory facilities and field equipment in Diliman and the Bolinao Marine Laboratory. UPMSI Director Dr. Laura T. David said in a statement: “Recognizing the need and the limited funds available, the University was given General Appropriations Act funding for the first time in 46 years so that UPMSI could conduct necessary marine scientific research in Philippine waters. Hence, for as long as the science inquiries of the national government agencies fall within planned marine scientific research, only minimal additional funding will be needed.” Director David reiterates that “UPMSI has had many productive collaborations with DENR, and we recognize DENR’s expertise in a wide variety of fields.” For the sake of protecting the country’s marine ecology for future generations of Filipinos, the working partnership between the DENR and other government agencies and the UPMSI will continue for many years to come.
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https://up.edu.ph/sentinels-of-the-sea/
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Sentinels of the sea – University of the Philippines
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Sentinels of the sea Sentinels of the sea May 16, 2018 | Written by Stephanie Cabigao Smooth boat ride to the giant clam nursery at Silaqui Island. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) For some people in this unique office, a day at work means getting up at the break of dawn to sail off to a nearby reef, and spend the rest of the day on an island in the sun, the salt crusting on their arms. Some stay behind at headquarters, tending saltwater tanks where colorful marine creatures reside. On the waves or onshore, these workers have special skills meant to sustain life in our vast and resource-rich oceans. These are the people of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute-Bolinao Marine Laboratory (BML). As in leading scientific research institutions in Southeast Asia, BML has these dedicated employees who have made BML the efficient and dynamic institution that it is today. UP BML’s laboratory aides (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Unlike typical UP employees, they ride speed boats to work, and have the ocean or marine water tanks as their offices. They use dive suits as their uniforms and dive gear as their gadgets. They also employ interesting specialized tools at work other than the regular calculators and staplers. BML’s sentinels Renato Adolfo landed his first job at BML as a boatman. He then turned into a laboratory aide, spending most of his time focused on the hatchery laboratory. He primarily assists in all experiments assigned to him by various marine science scholars and researchers stationed at the research center. His latest task is with the ongoing giant clam project, from the spawning all the way to the settlement phase. Handling the continuous sea cucumber and sea ranch projects, and the most recent invertebrate project under Prof. Marie Antonette Juinio-Meñez, is laboratory aide Tirso Catbagan. He is in charge of the spawning and restocking of sea cucumbers, as well as of managing a five-hectare sea ranch in coordination with a people’s organization in the area. Alfonso Rubio Jr. keeps good company with every marine researcher or visitor at sea. Alfon is one of BML’s four boatmen who give smooth and safe rides to the giant clam nursery at Silaqui Island. Besides the boat rides, he heads the dive gear unit. He ensures the overall condition and maintenance of all diving apparatus, especially the boats and oxygen tanks which are refilled by BML’s own heavy-duty oxygen compressors. Alfonso Rubio Jr., boatman and head of BML’s dive gear unit (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) BML’s longtime handyman is Christopher Diolazo. He takes care of both the electric and plumbing systems of the whole facility. Meanwhile, BML administrative officer Charina Caalim is the overall custodian of the research center. She manages all of BML’s engagements, support, and services from the use of the facility to project collaborations. Brando Padilla is BML’s newest face, taking on an important task as a volunteer patroller at the giant clam nursery at Silaqui Island. Only this year, he decided to volunteer along with a few others who are all residents of the island to watch over the giant clams and protect them. At the same time, he is a regular member of Bolinao’s local government fishing patrol unit known as Bantay Dagat. He monitors the safety and fishing activities covering the fifteen-mile sea stretch from Silaqui Island to San Fernando, La Union’s boundary. BML’s longtime handyman Christopher Diolazo (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Charina Caalim, BML’s administrative officer (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) From watchers to trainers Laboratory aides Renato and Tirso have been serving BML for 11 and 26 years, respectively. All these years have trained them in various aspects of marine research through their hands-on facilitation and assistance. Renato Adolfo, laboratory aide (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Surprisingly, both laboratory aides were able to discuss in scientific and descriptive detail the developmental stages of some marine species they have focused on for years, such as sea cucumbers and giant clams. They were also able to formulate their own observations, recommendations, and suggestions, to include government policies concerning marine management and conservation which may be able to improve existing ones. Tirso Catbagan, laboratory aide (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) They serve as trainers to various marine institutions such as SEAFDEC, and have also gone around the country as well as in Asia. “The years we spent here have really trained and shaped us,” Tirso gleefully emphasized. As non-UP contractuals, they still choose to stay at BML as they have breathed marine life for almost all of their lives. “I’ve grown old here and have come to love the job,” Renato said in recollection. They look forward to their work being valued and recognized, as they look forward to becoming regular employees in the University. When asked what made them choose UP and why they stay for the longest of time at BML, Chris (30 years), Alfon and Charina (both at 13 years), and the recent BML volunteer Brando answered back in similar high spirits. They are happy to grow with BML and see how it has progressed and developed over the years. As Chris put it, “I was here even before this building was built. I installed the cables and the electricity, so I might as well stay on to make sure everything is okay.” BML’s hatchery area (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Local, UP pride Chris could have found a job abroad, just like others at BML who could have received more lucrative and attractive job offers. However, they stayed at BML and humbly worked hard. The one thing that binds them and makes them take pride in their work is that they are part of UP. They very well know that through their own efforts, they contribute to making the University sustain its honor and excellence. In the same way, they all take pride being locals of Bolinao, able to add to their hometown’s prestige, identity, and preservation. Giant clam volunteer Brando Padilla from Silaqui Island (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) Brando dreams big for his little sitio in Silaqui Island. “I want to make sure that the island remains safe for our marine resources. For that to happen, and this is why I’m volunteering, I need to pass on my knowledge to the next generation. I want my children to pursue my love for the sea by studying Marine Science.” They take pride in being part of that continuing legacy of both UP and the local government of Bolinao in advancing marine research as well preserving the seas, while bringing this awareness closer to the public.
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https://up.edu.ph/poor-condition-of-reefs-in-the-west-philippine-sea-reveals-a-need-for-regional-efforts-for-better-management-and-conservation/
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Poor condition of reefs in the West Philippine Sea reveals a need for regional efforts for better management and conservation – University of the Philippines
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Poor condition of reefs in the West Philippine Sea reveals a need for regional efforts for better management and conservation Poor condition of reefs in the West Philippine Sea reveals a need for regional efforts for better management and conservation June 25, 2019 | Written by UP Marine Science Institute Upper mesophotic coral ecosystems in the West Philippine Sea have low abundance and diversity of corals and fish. Photo credit: Edwin Dumalagan A recent paper by University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute’s Timothy Quimpo and colleagues, published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (JMBA), revealed that coral reefs in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) have low abundance and diversity of corals and fish. Even the deeper areas of the reefs, the upper mesophotic coral ecosystems that are presumed to be buffered from disturbances, showed similar benthic and coral assemblage composition as the shallow water reefs, suggesting that both depths are vulnerable to disturbances. UP Marine Science Institute researchers and Philippine Navy divers work together to conduct the surveys in the West Philippine Sea. Photo credit: Edwin Dumalagan The West Philippine Sea (WPS) is a biodiversity hotspot and known source of fish and corals for reefs in surrounding countries. With the declining condition of WPS reefs, the abundance and diversity of fish and corals on other reefs could also be affected. This calls for regional efforts for better management and conservation of the area. Timothy Quimpo and a Philippine Navy technical diver conducting a mesophotic reef survey. Photo credit: Edwin Dumalagan The research team, composed of geologists, oceanographers, and coral reef ecologists, was formed under the Geo-Physical Coral Mapping project supported by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development. The team, headed by Dr. Fernando Siringan, Dr. Cesar Villanoy, and Dr. Patrick Cabaitan, aims to study upper mesophotic coral ecosystems throughout the Philippines. The expeditions to the WPS were funded and supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau and Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Ongoing efforts of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and partners include understanding the diversity of other reef biota, including marine plants, fisheries, ocean productivity, and oceanographic processes in the WPS.
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https://up.edu.ph/official-statement-from-the-up-marine-science-institute/
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Official statement from the UP Marine Science Institute – University of the Philippines
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Official statement from the UP Marine Science Institute Official statement from the UP Marine Science Institute October 15, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office This is to clarify the statement made by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda accusing the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) of charging the DENR half a billion pesos in consultation fees and being, in a word, “bayaran”. Specifically, the correct amount is Php364,073,909.40 total for the last decade, spanning 10 collaborative projects between the UPMSI and the DENR as well as co-sponsorship support for a symposium. This is hardly the half a billion the Undersecretary has been claiming. It is simply the cost of the collaborative projects for which the DENR had the need for the experise of the UPMSI. As was stated before, the Php364 million supported the cost of scientific research and investigation, from the use of laboratories and research equipment and facilities, to field work, to support for research assistants. The funds also supported capacity-building of national government agencies and Higher Education Institutions personnel. These costs are typically shouldered by clients requesting the UPMSI’s services, as the Institute has no access to funds that would support the conduct of scientific inquiry on top of the research it is already doing. To reiterate, all of the UPMSI’s research and development activities are project-based, with very specific fund disbursement guidelines and limitations. The internal Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds of UPMSI are limited to maintaining the laboratory facilities and field equipment in Diliman and the Bolinao Marine Laboratory. Moreover, the UPMSI welcomes being audited by the Commission on Audit at any time. This is only appropriate for any government office or agency, given the understanding that any funding received by the Institute is ultimately channeled into scientific projects meant to protect the Philippines’ marine ecology and to promote the development of the nation—as should be the case for any government office or agency. The UPMSI recognizes the DENR as a long-standing partner in its quest to conduct research and render public service to the Filipino. Indeed, many UPMSI graduates have gone on to work for the DENR—UP graduates who remain committed to UP’s principles of honor and excellence. Hence, the UPMSI remains willing and open to extending its services to the DENR, no matter the passing opinions of the day.
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https://up.edu.ph/this-bioinformatician-is-teaching-filipinas-to-code/
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This bioinformatician is teaching Filipinas to code – University of the Philippines
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This bioinformatician is teaching Filipinas to code This bioinformatician is teaching Filipinas to code June 13, 2018 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion A crowd of developers and engineers with laptops packed the small white room at the iAcademy in Makati City for the day’s workshop on data analysis and machine learning. The diverse audience contrasted with the fact that the event’s technical facilitators were all female. Casually dressed and with years of training behind them, the team featured UP molecular biologist Iris Diana Uy, who led participants last February through the meticulous process of slicing and merging arrays of data. As Uy took the stage, the rest stood at attention, ready to assist. Donning a red baseball cap, computer scientist Issa Tingzon later showcased introductory exercises on finding correlations to help machines make predictions. Meanwhile, Clau Yagyagan and Marylette Roa assisted individually. Roa, in particular, who had never fancied herself a skilled communicator, navigated all corners of the room helping participants stay on the same page and resolving their coding errors with well-placed suggestions. Roa, who works as a bioinformatician at the UP Marine Sciences Institute (UP MSI), says that what binds their group of experts together is a commitment to education and empowerment. As with fellow UP-trained researchers Uy and Tingzon, she is a member of Women Who Code Manila, the local network of a global community dedicated to inspire women to excel in technology careers. UP bioinformatician and coding mentor Marylette Roa with the server of the Lluisma laboratory. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Through study groups, panel discussions, and other events, members of the group provide a space for women (and men, as well) to develop their skills and connect with current and aspiring coders across the country. The shift from working strictly as a scientist to also being a part-time mentor was an opportunity that Roa fully embraced. Her path towards that role, however, while rewarding, was a journey in itself. A bioinformatics pioneer After graduating from the UP National Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UP NIMBB), Roa had her first professional coding stint as a pioneer member of the Philippine Genome Center’s (PGC) Core Facility for Bioinformatics, where Uy also was. “I just wanted to try it,” Roa says, who did disproportionately more “wet” laboratory work as an undergraduate compared to the data analysis that would become her forte. This post, in contrast, explicitly required her to use computer science and statistical techniques to solve biological problems. It was at the PGC that Roa would work under her mentor, the molecular geneticist and bioinformatician, Arturo Lluisma. It was Lluisma, she says , who decided that the group would use the programming language Python—the language she would soon be teaching. During their capacity-building phase, which began in 2012, the young scientists both trained as well as trained themselves in the tools to analyze genomics data. Mingled in with this scientific training were more practical skills, such as server administration and talking to clients, which would likewise slot into Roa’s future mentoring toolkit. Marylette Roa (left) with friend and fellow UP scientist Iris Diana Uy (right). (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) While her skills in coding grew at the PGC and in a brief stint at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), Roa did not yet arrive at her vocation as a mentor. What led her towards the coding community even before officially transferring to Lluisma’s MSI laboratory in 2017 was a desire that many women in technical fields likely experience—to have other women to talk to. “It was a little weird,” Roa says, “because I was coding and doing data analysis, while my lab-mates were doing wet laboratory-style basic research.” While she could still count on her teammates and Uy for conversation, she felt the need to connect with more women doing her kind of technical work. “People who develop tools and software, who you could talk to about best practices in the field.” The other side All of this changed in 2016. While giving a bioinformatics workshop in Cebu for the PGC, both Roa and Uy also took the opportunity to attend that year’s PyCon Philippines being held in the city. The event, which is a non-profit conference bringing together users and fans of the Python programming language, providentially featured ‘Diversity’ as its theme that year. Throwing caution to the wind, both Roa and Uy submitted a proposal to talk at the conference. For the first time since becoming colleagues, the academic pair talked genes and double helices to a large group of software engineers, programming enthusiasts and start-up founders. “It was refreshing having them for an audience,” Roa says. “Just knowing the practices they used, their culture, their overall outlook. We were just very curious about the other side of the fence.” The conference brought both Roa and Uy together with other female coders and technology leaders. Becoming permanent fixtures in that community, however, came a little later for both. For Roa, it was seeing an advertisement of Women Who Code Manila on TV, founded in 2017 by Director Michie Ang and Anj Cerbolles, that made her take the plunge and permanently join in on the fun. Becoming a mentor Roa’s initial motivation for joining the group was to have someone push her to practice coding consistently. After all, compared to those who develop software full-time, she was only required to do serious coding in the presence of genomic data sets. As a study group participant, however, she found herself gravitating towards helping beginners find their legs. That was when the suggestion came—why not become a mentor? “Actually, that’s how many of us start out,” she says. With the more laidback learning atmosphere and the prevailing bayanihan culture of the groups, many ladies are motivated to share what they have and become leaders in their topics of expertise. “That’s what Michie [Ang] said before. It’s not always about being the best. It’s more often about commitment. And if you can commit, you can take the lead.” Marylette Roa (2nd row, blue ID strap) with members of Women Who Code Manila at Pycon PH 2018. (Photo by Women Who Code Manila) With her group currently featuring study groups in other languages and systems such as Javascript, Ruby, R, and PHP, it does seem that Roa’s hope of seeing a more diverse tech industry may be on the horizon. “It may just be my bias,” she says, “but I think more diversity here is good. Not just in terms of gender, but in terms of background, as well .” Her journey as a mentor has certainly led her to encounter learners of all sorts. “Some of them are veteran developers who just want to switch languages,” she says. Others are still students, whom Roa particularly enjoys teaching for their enthusiasm and potential. Others still are complete beginners who want to get their feet wet in a friendly coding environment. Differences aside, however, Roa says that many newcomers stay for what she initially came for—the friendship. “I think, apart from learning something, what people enjoy is having new friends. The feeling that these are people that you can actually make something great with in the future, or who will invite you when something major happens in their lives. It’s that sense of community. And at the same time, you also get tested, because in my case, who ever thought that I would become a mentor?”
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https://up.edu.ph/scientific-findings-on-wps-and-philippine-rise-featured-in-webinar-series/
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Scientific findings on WPS and Philippine Rise featured in webinar series – University of the Philippines
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Scientific findings on WPS and Philippine Rise featured in webinar series Scientific findings on WPS and Philippine Rise featured in webinar series September 29, 2020 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc University of the Philippines Marine Science experts are presenting the results of their investigations into the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the Philippine Rise via the four-episode Philippine Seas: Webinar Series of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB). The webinar series consists of livestreamed lectures on the WPS, with the themes of “Biodiversity and Ecological Connectivity” and “Challenges and Threats”, on September 23 and October 8 at 10 AM. Lectures on the Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve, with the themes of “Biodiversity and Oceanography” and “Fisheries and Management Programs”, will be livestreamed on October 12 and 14, also at 10 AM. The public may visit the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Biodiversity Management Bureau Facebook page for the livestream, where they may also send questions and comments for Q&A segments with the experts and webinar attendees who, in turn, will be interacting via Zoom. The UP Marine Science Institute (MSI) is at the forefront of research and expeditions in the Philippine Rise, formerly called the Benham Rise, and the WPS. The DENR and the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) led expeditions in the marine regions as part of their mandates. The webinar series on the WPS will feature presentations on genetic diversity and population connectivity, new records of seaweed, state of coral reefs, plastic pollution, effects of reclamation and island building, and a 10-year management roadmap. On the Philippine Rise, the presentations will be on ecological connectivity and benthic diversity, oceanographic processes, deep reefs as refuge for shallow reefs, the marine resource reserve as a protected area, abundance of tuna larvae, and future programs.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-researchers-win-top-prizes-at-health-rd-expo/
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UP Mindanao researchers win top prizes at health R&D expo – University of the Philippines
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UP Mindanao researchers win top prizes at health R&D expo UP Mindanao researchers win top prizes at health R&D expo October 11, 2019 | Written by University of the Philippines Mindanao The UP Mindanao delegation to the 9th Health Research and Development Expo (left-right): Shem Gempesaw, Associate Professor Aleyla de Cadiz, Marlon Enano, Zairel Crish Sarillana, Kathleen Matullano, Assistant Professor Kenette Jean Millondaga, Associate Professor Noreen Grace Fundador (Photo courtesy of Prof. Aleyla de Cadiz) A professional researcher and undergraduate students of the University of the Philippines Mindanao received top awards during the 9th Health Research and Development Expo competitions organized by the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium-XI held on 3-4 October 2019 in Davao City. For the Qualitative Research – Professional/Graduate category, Assistant Professor Kenette Jean Millondaga of the Department of Social Sciences won 1st place for her paper “Women and ‘madness’ in peasant communities in North Cotabato, Mindanao.” Professor Millondaga’s paper forms part of her study on traditional medical practices and women’s reproductive health in rural areas. This is the first time that the qualitative research category was included in the history of the expo. For the Quantitative/Mixed Method – Undergraduate Category, two students received the first and third prizes: Marlon Enano (BS Biology 2019) and Zairel Crish Sarillana (BS Food Technology 2019), respectively. Enano’s paper entitled “Bioassay guided isolation of anti-lung cancer compounds from the leaves of DDHP-2095” is part of the UP Mindanao’s Discovery and Development of Health Products (DDHP) research project headed by Associate Professor Joel Hassan Tolentino (Department of Food Science and Chemistry) and Associate Professor Aleyla de Cadiz (Department of Biological Science and Environmental Studies). Sarillana’s paper entitled “Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) pod husk extract and evaluation of their anti-microbial activities” explores new areas in the continuing research of her adviser, Associate Professor Noreen Grace Fundador (Department of Food Science and Chemistry), on the use of waste from local bioresources to assist in the formation of nanoparticles with anti-microbial properties. This is the first time that the research competition adopted the 3-minute presentation format, where the presenter conveys the findings and significance of the research using common language to a mixed audience within a three-minute time limit. RHRDC-XI chairperson Dr. Warlito Vicente and vice chairperson and Department of Science and Technology regional director Dr. Anthony Sales conferred the awards in the closing ceremonies held on 4 October 2019 at Grand Regal Hotel.
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https://up.edu.ph/iucn-red-listing-of-tawilis-reveals-advocacy-of-philippine-scientists/
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IUCN red-listing of tawilis reveals advocacy of Philippine scientists – University of the Philippines
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IUCN red-listing of tawilis reveals advocacy of Philippine scientists IUCN red-listing of tawilis reveals advocacy of Philippine scientists May 16, 2019 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Sardinella tawilis, Bombon Sardine. Photo courtesy of Mudjekeewis Santos, NFRDI The humble Tawilis is famous for being the only Sardinella fish to live entirely in freshwater, and it can only be found in Taal Lake. Surrounding towns and cities consider the tawilis a staple food, and tourists love them deep-fried and served with Batangas bulalo. But all good things come to an end—and in this case, it was an abrupt one. A cursory Google search on tawilis as an endangered species yields a slew of news articles that echoed public panic in the wake of a reassessment of the fish’s status by the Switzerland-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in October 2018. Before then, news on the endangerment of the tawilis had been few and far between, even after multiple warnings from the scientific community. A gathering of freshwater scientists, led by UP’s Dr. Francis Magbunua, and stakeholders of the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape at UST in early 2019. Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO Despite moderate progress being made via recently imposed fishing regulations, there has been pushback from people who depend on the lake for their livelihood. In the brine-soaked hands of a handful of scientists lay the full story of the tawilis, as well as the key to its survival— tale of declining catch, pollution, wanton fishing, and careless human development. The advocacy of scientists “The catch was dwindling, and fish size was smaller and thin,” Augustus C. Mamaril of the UP Diliman Institute of Biology, quotes general observations from the lakeside town as far back as the 1990s. He raised the alarm on the lake which has been a field demonstration and specimen collection site for his Biology class since the late 1980s. The southern portion of Taal Lake and the stretch of land separating it from the sea. Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO His motivations for proposing the translocation of tawilis to Lake Lanao in northern Mindanao in 1997 were scientific as well as sentimental: he was inspired by the all-out assistance extended by the late Raymundo Punongbayan, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. “Tawilis and practically all of the Taal biota, including a highly venomous marine snake, are the end product, or captives, of a violent volcanic eruption in geologically recent times,” Mamaril says. “The organisms are of marine origin. There was a time when sharks swam in Taal!” UP’s Prof. Augustus Mamaril in an open forum of the 2nd Philippine Symposium on Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystems at UP. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO Maria Theresa Mercene-Mutia of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) points to declining catch, observed through at least 20 years’ worth of research dating back to the 1990s. Initial exploitation rates were contributed by studies published in 1996 by the Southern Tagalog Integrated Agricultural Research Center, led by Leah Villanueva. Mutia, a UP Los Baños alumna, was a research assistant of the Taal Lake pioneer environmental scientist, Dr. Macrina Zafaralla, also of UP Los Baños. Mutia serendipitously found herself assigned to a biological station in Taal, Batangas, when she worked for BFAR in the early 1990s. Her immersive devotion to the study of the lake fisheries led to a love for the town, which she has since called home. Her work now forms the backbone of most studies on the tawilis. Dr. Maria Theresa Mercene-Mutia, an authority in tawilis, during a presentation in the 2019 Tawilis Summit at UST. Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO She is not alone in her work. Before 1991, the spawning characteristics of tawilis were studied by a BFAR team headed by Simeona Aypa; and around 1999, aspects of its reproductive biology were further researched by Alicia Ely Joson-Pagulayan, a UP Diliman alumna currently with the University of Santo Tomas. In 2008, Rey Donne Papa of the University of Santo Tomas looked into the fish’s diet, which mostly consists of tiny floating zooplankton animals. Papa has put together a team of UST-based researchers to further research Taal zooplankton. In 2011, a team from the UP Diliman Institute of Biology, headed by Jonas Quilang and Brian Santos, did a DNA analysis of the tawilis. Dr. Alicia Ely Joson-Pagulayan did a paper in UP in 1999 on the aspects of tawilis reproductive biology. Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO All of these studies provided much-needed data for the environmental planners responsible for the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL). Sadly, despite numerous public consultations and symposia, the scientists’ recommendations fell on deaf ears. Dr. Jonas Quilang from UP Visayas now with UP Diliman is one of the scientists who worked to establish the identity of tawilis among its marine relatives. Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO The serendipity of red-listing Then in 2017, their published works were used as the bases for the IUCN assessment that red-listed the tawilis. Mudjekeewis Santos, the principal author, said that the IUCN report merely reiterates the work and advocacy of the Filipino scientists. Santos, a UP Baguio alumnus and a National Academy of Science and Technology Academician, belongs to the same institution as Mutia. The co-authors of the IUCN assessment include BFAR’s Francisco Torres, a Fisheries alumnus of UP Diliman, and Quilang of the UP Diliman Institute of Biology. They came together during the formation of the Philippine Aquatic Red-List Committee in early 2017. “By law, we were late [in convening the committee] by seven years or eight years,” Santos adds. Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos, NAST Academician based in NFRDI and the country’s authority on the Clupeidae family, is a key figure in the IUCN assessment of tawilis. Photo courtesy of Mudjekeewis Santos As the Philippine point person for Clupeidae, the family of sardines, Santos headed the assessment of its Philippine species. And this he coordinated with the IUCN global assessment group, which had also been set for sardines. He and his IUCN colleagues had earlier ascertained the marine origins of the tawilis. The international and local initiatives came together at the 2017 conference in Siargao. The local assessment of the tawilis, being found nowhere else in the world, thus came to inform the global assessment. This prompted the IUCN to include the tawilis in its red list. It recognized “the very small extent of occurrence of tawilis as it is endemic to Taal Lake and evidence of population decline of up to 50 percent in the past 20 years due to numerous threats such as overfishing, pollution, invasive species, habitat degradation, among others,” Santos says. The resulting public interest has prompted more attention in the national management of resources, but scientists realize this is simply not enough. Policy, implementation, and the cooperation of all stakeholders are essential to saving the species and its ecosystem. Sustaining the science of conservation A manager such as Atty. Maria Paz Luna of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region IV-A, a UP Diliman alumna who heads the TVPL, says interventions can only be credible through the support of scientific data and consultation with stakeholders. “There is nothing like speaking with the scientists directly. Without them helping us in the management plan, the status of Taal Lake would have been worse,” Luna said in a conference as she asked for more studies. Atty. Maria Paz Luna of DENR Region IV-A oversees the TVPL management, shown participating in a forum of the 2019 Tawilis Summit at UST. Photo by Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO With the tawilis red-listing by the IUCN, other freshwater scientists have found a common rallying point. Francis Magbanua of the UP Diliman Institute of Biology, the interim president of the Philippine Society for Freshwater Science (PSFS), said in its advocacy for Taal Lake and tawilis that these are just two of many threatened freshwater bodies and fauna in the country. Its first summit after its two Symposia on Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystems was the Tawilis Summit 2019 in UST. The managers of TVPL, local government officials, the aquaculture and fishing industry representatives came to meet with scientists and researchers, giving each other feedback on what still needed to be known. Specific measures endorsed by the scientists were proposed. A portion of the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape seen from the North, with aquaculture visible in the middle and lower right. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO “So many threats exist. Somehow they were lessened in recent years, but still the numbers have not yet shown any increase,” Mutia, the chief tawilis counter of the country, worriedly says. The IUCN red-listing was a much needed boost to the humble tawilis’ plight; but until studies reveal a sustained revival of the fish population, scientists’ work is far from over.
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https://up.edu.ph/71-earn-rank-of-up-scientist/
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71 earn rank of UP Scientist – University of the Philippines
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71 earn rank of UP Scientist 71 earn rank of UP Scientist June 3, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The UP Scientists with University officials (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Seventy-one faculty members and researchers from across the UP System received the rank of UP Scientist for the period 2018-2020. They were recognized during the UP Scientific Productivity System (SPS) awarding ceremony on May 28 at the School of Statistics Auditorium, UP Diliman (UPD). Forty-four were named UP Scientist I, 11 earned the rank of UP Scientist II, and 16 were awarded UP Scientist III. The faculty members and researchers named UP Scientist I (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The UP Scientist II awardees (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Recipients of the UP Scientist III rank (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Per constituent university, the breakdown is as follows: UPD, 41; UP Los Baños, 11; UP Manila, nine; UP Visayas, two; UP Open University, three; UP Mindanao, one; and UP Baguio, four. The last award given was a posthumous recognition to Dr. Perry Ong, who passed away on March 2, almost halfway through his term as dean of the UPD College of Science. At the ceremony, it was noted that when Ong first received the UP SPS award for 2012-2014, he earned the highest rank of UP Scientist III. He earned the same rank for 2015-2017 and again for 2018-2020. He was Professor 11 at the UPD Institute of Biology. Dr. Perry Ong (left photo) was awarded UP Scientist III for 2018-2020. In the right photo, his widow, Dr. Susan Aquino-Ong of the UP Los Baños College of Agriculture, and their son Leandro, receive Ong’s posthumous recognition. With them, from left to right, are UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista, UP Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa, and UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Research and Development Fidel Nemenzo. (Photos by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The UP SPS award is valid for three years. Apart from the rank of UP Scientist, each awardee receives a monetary incentive: a UP Scientist I is given P150,000 per year; a UP Scientist II, P200,000 per year; and a UP Scientist III, P250,000 per year. To view the full list of UP Scientists for 2018-2020, click here: https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SPS-Batch-2018-2020.pdf.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-asian-journalism-research-conference-2019/
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The Asian Journalism Research Conference 2019 – University of the Philippines
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The Asian Journalism Research Conference 2019 The Asian Journalism Research Conference 2019 April 16, 2019 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office AJRC Speakers (from the left): UST Prof. Felipe Salvosa; Canadian Amb. John Holmes; CNN Philippines AVP Tress Reyes; ABS-CBN Jeff Canoy; NTU Edson Tandoc; UP CMC Assoc Dean Rachel Khan; Journalism Asst. Prof. Terry Congjuico With the theme “Journalism in Crisis. Crisis in Journalism,” this year’s annual Asian Journalism Research Conference 2019 (AJRC) highlighted the need to remain vigilant against so-called fake news, especially amidst disasters and conflict. Morning plenary keynote speaker Edson Tandoc of the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore said that one of his recent studies showed that most people were passive in their reaction to ‘fake news’. He said that to fail to take action against disinformation would translate to being complicit in the spread of ‘fake news’. Similarly, McLuhan fellow and ABS-CBN reporter Jeff Canoy said that even amidst covering Marawi, reporters had to battle disinformation, especially those that caused confusion and panic. He noted that covering a war zone was already difficult in itself but this became more so because reporters had to distinguish between reliable information and fake ones. AJRC is the annual research conference for undergraduate students organized by the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP-CMC) Department of Journalism of the in collaboration with the Journalism Program of the University Santo Tomas. This year, the Penang-based Universiti Sains Malaysia served as their Asian partner. On far left: CHED Technical Committee Journalism Chair Ben Domingo; UST Professor Felipe Salvosa From the right: Journalism professors Yvonne Chua, Kara David and Rachel Khan; Dean Armi Santiago; UP VP Elena Pernia; and, UP Manila Prof. Roland Simbulan. In the afternoon, a research competition is held among Journalism students. This year’s winners of the Chit Estella Student Journalism Awards are: Academic Research Category Leian Adriatico, Angelie Payuyo and Julieanne Tabilog of Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) for their analysis of editorial cartoons by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines about extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration; Angelica Yang of the UP Diliman for her research on the quality of science journalism in the country; Special Projects Category AdMU’s Anna Luna and Loreben Tuquero for their multimedia report on the experiences and struggles faced by underage vagrants amid the Duterte administration’s anti-loitering crackdown; Investigative Reporting Category UP Diliman’s Agatha Gregorio, Nica Hanopol, and Angela Ng for their investigative report that found the university’s cops were allowing illegal gambling on campus. The awards are given as a tribute to veteran journalist and UP Journalism Department professor Chit Estella-Simbulan, a VERA Files trustee who died in a road crash in 2011 along Commonwealth Avenue. On hand to give the award was Prof. Roland Simbulan of UP Manila, spouse of Chit Estella and UP CMC Dean Arminda Santiago. The AJRC seeks to promote academic research in Journalism as well as print, broadcast and online in-depth projects. Moreover, AJRC provides a venue for students to share their work with fellow students in the region. The activity is in line with the Department’s thrust of fostering excellence in journalism practice and research as a CHED Center for Excellence. AJRC Academic partners include the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Trinity University of Asia. The conference was made possible through sponsorships by the University of the Philippines Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (UP OVCRD); UP Office of Initiatives for Culture and the Arts (OICA); VERA Files; the Philippine Press Institute; the Roland Simbulan and Family; Jollibee Corporation and the Embassy of Canada-Manila.
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https://up.edu.ph/bangko-sentral-presents-up-experts/
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Bangko Sentral presents UP experts – University of the Philippines
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Bangko Sentral presents UP experts Bangko Sentral presents UP experts November 29, 2019 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc “The timely assessment of the movements of the variables are important to guide decision makers in formulating appropriate policies to mitigate, say, the impact of a shock,” says National Statistician and BSP Sterling Professor of Government and Official Statistics Dennis Mapa on “nowcasting” GDP and inflation rate. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) presented lectures from its five professorial chair holders in the University of the Philippines, through a public forum on November 18-19, 2019 at the Executive Business Center, BSP Complex, Manila. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno welcomes participants of the 2019 BSP-UP Professorial Chair Lectures. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO The lectures tackled issues and trends in economics, statistics, and business: “nowcasting” GDP growth; integrating macroeconomic data in market risk estimation; building trust in financial services e-government; examining regulatory issues on tender offers and their effect on stockholders; and, determining rate of return in the privatized water sector. The lectures are results of the research and expertise of the featured BSP Professorial Chair holders: BSP Sterling Professor of Government and Official Statistics Dennis Mapa; BSP UP Centennial Professor of Statistics Peter Julian Cayton; BSP UP Centennial Professorial Chair in Business Administration Erik Paolo Capistrano; BSP UP Centennial Professor of Accounting Arthur Cayanan; and, BSP UP Centennial Professor of Banking and Finance Joel Yu. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno, BSP Monetary Board Member V. Bruce Tolentino (extreme left), and BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. (second from right) welcome the first lecturers in the series, Dennis Mapa and Peter Julian Cayton. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO The 2019 BSP-UP Professorial Chair Lectures also featured a lecture by the former dean of the UP School of Statistics, Ana Maria Tabunda, who discussed how Filipinos navigate disruptions in the economy. Economists, statisticians, business managers, and finance experts fill the BSP Executive Business Center for the BSP-UP Professorial Chair Lectures. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO Discussants of the lectures were: Professor Emeritus Roberto Mariano of the University of Pennsylvania; President and CEO Conrado Bate of COL Financial Group; and, Director Benjamin Radoc of the Philippine Competition Commission. An audience member asks a lecturer about a formula for the Mixed Frequency Vector AutoRegressive Model used in “nowcasting”. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO “The BSP recognizes the contributions of the academe in the delivery of its mandates on monetary and financial stability, and we expect to continually tap them going forward,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in his welcome remarks. UP Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili delivers the opening remarks of UP President Danilo Concepcion for the 2019 BSP-UP Professorial Chair Lectures. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO “Each one is working for the same end: strong, sustainable, and inclusive socio-economic growth and development , and better quality of life for all Filipinos,” UP President Danilo Concepcion said in his message read by Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili.
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https://up.edu.ph/dzups-up-nating-mahal-wins-golden-dove/
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DZUP’s UP Nating Mahal wins Golden Dove – University of the Philippines
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DZUP’s UP Nating Mahal wins Golden Dove DZUP’s UP Nating Mahal wins Golden Dove August 8, 2019 | Written by DZUP DZUP’s UP Nating Mahal is Best Special Program (Radio) at the 27th KBP Golden Dove Awards UP Nating Mahal, DZUP’s drama-talk radio program, bagged the Best Special Program (Radio) award at the recently concluded 27th KBP Golden Dove Awards, July 23. Hosted by Dr. Elizabeth L. Enriquez of the UP Department of Broadcast Communication, UP Nating Mahal features moving stories from and about the UP community, and its ties to Philippine society. The two-hour special featured Enriquez’s paper on the history of radio, titled “Iginiit na Himig sa Himpapawid: Musikang Filipino sa Radyo sa Panahon ng Kolonyalismong Amerikano.” It was aired on DZUP on April 17, 2018. The lecture concert aimed to simulate the radio production era during the Philippines’ American colonial period, where members of the audience were able to witness live musical performances from various singers. The songs were arranged by Benedic Velasco, guitarist and Padayon Rondalla member, and sung by UP Broadcast Communication alumni and students Darien Bas, Jessamae Gabon, Christel Lagdameo, Hannah Paguila, and Terrence Tolentino, who gave their own renditions of Filipino 1920s classics. IT’S A BIRD. DZUP Station Manager Asst. Prof. Jane O. Vinculado receives the Golden Dove Award of “UP Nating Mahal” for Best Special Program (Radio), July 23. She is joined by DZUP’s Program Director Chryl Bhefer Martinez, DZUP’s Webmaster Annicalou Tañaquin, and DZUP’s Assistant Program Director Hannah Melizza Paguila. (Photo by Krystelle Ymari Vergara/Joanna Ellina Reyes) UP Nating Mahal airs every Tuesday, 6:00 to 7:00 pm. DZUP, the official AM radio station of UP Diliman, was also named finalist for the Best AM Radio Station in Metro Manila. Its programs DZUP Balita, Tropang RadYo!, and Health Republic were also recognized as finalists for Best Newscast Program, Best Comedy Program, and Best Science and Technology Program, respectively. To date, DZUP has received seven Golden Doves. The Golden Dove, awarded by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), is conferred to individuals, groups, and stations who have outstanding performance, standards, and contributions to their respective fields. It aims to promote professionalism in broadcasting, as well as to elevate the standards of excellence and professionalism in the industry. DZUP was also recognized in the 13th Gandingan Awards earlier this year. This story was first published on the UP Diliman website under DZUP’s UP Nating Mahal wins Golden Dove.
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https://up.edu.ph/forum-on-data-science-and-society-applications-in-public-education/
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UP EIDR hosts Forum on Data Science and Society: Applications in Public Education – University of the Philippines
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UP EIDR hosts Forum on Data Science and Society: Applications in Public Education UP EIDR hosts Forum on Data Science and Society: Applications in Public Education September 20, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Deploying data analytics to investigate public education issues: The public is invited to attend the upcoming forum “Data Science and Society: Applications in Public Education” on September 27, 2018, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at University Hotel, UP Diliman, Quezon City. This forum is FREE of charge, but there are limited seats available. Register via this link on or before September 21 (Friday) to reserve your slot: http://bit.ly/DataScienceAndSociety. The Data Science and Society Program (Grant No. C 06-013) is among the initiatives of the UP Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs under the Emerging Interdisciplinary Research (EIDR) Program.
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https://up.edu.ph/concepcion-to-up-baguio-class-of-2020-live-the-spirit-of-up/
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Concepcion to UP Baguio Class of 2020: “Live the spirit of UP.” – University of the Philippines
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Concepcion to UP Baguio Class of 2020: “Live the spirit of UP.” Concepcion to UP Baguio Class of 2020: “Live the spirit of UP.” August 4, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Screenshots from the livestream of the UP Baguio Pagtatapos 2020. The replay is available at the UP Baguio Systems and Network Office’s YouTube channel. On July 24, 2020, a historic event took place as the University of the Philippines Baguio celebrated its Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2020, titled “Pagtatapos 2020”. Due to mass gathering restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the event was held virtually, streamed via UP Baguio’s official Facebook page at 11:00 AM that day. Screenshots from the livestream of the UP Baguio Pagtatapos 2020, with replay available at the UP Baguio Systems and Network Office’s YouTube channel. The online program began with a demonstration of the historic and cultural importance of the UP sablay, the University’s official academic costume. The paglilipat ng sablay or shifting of the sablay from one’s left to right shoulder is done before the conferment of a degree on a candidate during UP’s commencement exercises. Making a difference was one of the central themes of the event, which was immediately made evident by a message from one of the representatives of UP Baguio’s Class of 2020, Paul Jeremiah D. Naraval. The BS Computer Science graduate cum laude opened the ceremonies by stating that making small but meaningful changes is a completely viable start for idealistic graduates of the University who dream of making an impact. Representative of UP Baguio’s Class of 2020, Paul Jeremiah D. Naraval, who graduated with a BS Computer Science degree, cum laude, delivering his message. Screenshot from the livestream of the UP Baguio Pagtatapos 2020, with replay available at the UP Baguio Systems and Network Office’s YouTube channel. “For us Com-Sci people,” he began, “we don’t expect that we can create a platform that can overtake Facebook in connecting people or Google in answering questions. We dream of it, but for now we can create a system that automatically computes an employee’s leave credits. It could be anything just to improve the state of others.” This call to service was echoed by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, who also put into perspective just how special the graduating batch is for graduating under difficult circumstances. “Kayo ang katangi-tanging Batch 2020. Natatangi sapagkat nakapagtapos sa gitna ng pandemya,” (You are the one and only Batch 2020. Unique because you managed to graduate in the middle of a pandemic.) he said. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion addresses the graduates. Screenshot from the livestream of the UP Baguio Pagtatapos 2020, with replay available at the UP Baguio Systems and Network Office’s YouTube channel. Despite the uncertainties of the times, Concepcion advised the graduates not to forget the quality and integrity of the training they received from the country’s only national university. “Ating tandaan na 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. Isabuhay natin ang diwang UP—ang pagkakaisa, ang paglilingkod ng buong husay at dangal; at patunayan nating walang hangganan ang pag-aambag ng ating Unibersidad at ng kanyang alumni sa paghahanap at paglalapat ng mga alternatibo at solusyon sa anumang suliranin.” (Let us remember that times of crisis are not merely bad dreams, but noble opportunities to strive, to attain expertise, and to serve the country. Let us live the spirit of UP—to stand united, to serve with excellence and honor; and let us be evidence that there are no limits to our University’s and its alumni’s search for alternatives and solutions to any problem.) This rousing speech was followed by the presentation of graduates from UP Baguio’s three colleges by their respective deans. Prof. Jimmy Fong represented the College of Arts and Communication; Prof. Dymphna Javier represented the College of Science; and, Prof. Arellano A. Colongon, Jr. represented the College of Social Sciences. The entire Class of 2020 was then presented by UP Baguio Chancellor Raymundo T. Rovillos to President Concepcion for the conferment of their titles. UP Baguio Chancellor Raymundo Rovillos passes on words of wisdom as the light of knowledge is passed on by the deans of the three UP Baguio colleges during the Ritwal ng Pagtatanglaw. Screenshot from the livestream of the UP Baguio Pagtatapos 2020, with replay available at the UP Baguio Systems and Network Office’s YouTube channel. After the graduates virtually gave their oaths to the University, UP Baguio held its historic Ritwal ng Pagtatanglaw, where the flame of a single candle is used to light even more, smaller candles to symbolize the pursuit and sharing of knowledge. The program was punctuated by a final message from a student from the graduating class, this time delivered by Miguel Ulrick Rillorta, BA Communication, cum laude. Rillorta highlighted the fact that in more ways than one, his graduating class took the path less traveled on the way to their degrees. “Breaking the mold does not mean failure or inadequacy,” he said. “I would like to believe that breaking the mold serves as a symbol of growth and change.” The Ritwal ng Pagtatanglaw concludes with the light passed on to a representative of Class 2020, Miguel Ulrick Rillorta, BA Communication, cum laude, who delivered his own message to his fellow graduates. Screenshot from the livestream of the UP Baguio Pagtatapos 2020, with replay available at the UP Baguio Systems and Network Office’s YouTube channel. Rillorta said that now more than ever, these difficult times call for what he called people of the broken mold.’ “We know what uncertainty feels like and we know how much it can get in the way of our day-to-day. If we are to maneuver through the coming uncertainties, we need to draw from the experiences that led us to this point. We need to be strong and proactive to be ready for all challenges to come. Most importantly, we need to stay hopeful and grounded through it all.”
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https://up.edu.ph/ups-language-warriors-fight-to-equalize-access-to-covid-19-information/
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UP’s ‘language warriors’ fight to equalize access to COVID-19 information – University of the Philippines
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UP’s ‘language warriors’ fight to equalize access to COVID-19 information UP’s ‘language warriors’ fight to equalize access to COVID-19 information August 17, 2020 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Photo from the Language Warriors PH Facebook group page. It may seem a long time ago for many, but it was only on March 16, 2020 that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte first imposed an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on the island of Luzon in response to reports of rising cases of COVID-19. As with many, the women and men of UP Diliman’s Department of Linguistics (DL) felt a heightened urge to provide any meaningful help possible to counter the dire situation. “Team Ginhawa” or the people behind Language Warriors PH (LWPH) from the Department of Linguistics. Clockwise from top-left: Prof. Aldrin Lee, Prof. Jesus Federico Hernandez, Prof. Kristina Gallego, Prof. Mary Ann Gaitan-Bacolod, Prof. Elsie Marie Or, Prof. Vincent Christopher Santiago, Prof. Michael Manahan, Ms. Jurekah Chene Abrigo. (Volunteer faculty not in photo: Prof. April Perez, Prof. Divine Angeli Endriga, and Prof. Ria Rafael). Photo courtesy of LWPH, logo created by Elsie Marie Or. We felt like we needed to come up with something that would contribute to the efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Prof. Kristina Gallego, a faculty member of DL and currently a PhD candidate at the Australian National University. Assessing how public health information was being disseminated while the virus was spreading, Gallego and her colleagues observed that a great majority of the material produced was communicated in only Filipino and English, to the detriment of many who did not use either language. Noting the powerful role that language plays in any effort to contain the pandemic and the rise in community translators working on DOH-released information, DL officially launched Language Warriors PH (LWPH) in late March. Dubbed a “meta-translation initiative”, the project aims to connect the disparate community translation projects and “language warriors” across the country that are translating materials related to COVID-19 into the country’s estimated 180 or so languages. Making connections Building on recent BA Linguistics graduate Soleil Vinoya’s work done on explaining public hygiene in Philippine languages and tapping into existing networks already actively translating COVID-19 materials, the project members decided that rather than duplicating what was already being done, they could best help by bringing all these initiatives under one roof. “LWPH serves as a platform for these community translators to collaborate, share resources, and get informed about overall translation efforts in the country,” Gallego explained. All these are in service of the broader aim of relaying public health information in languages people use and understand. A summary of the work done by LWPH volunteers with sources mostly coming from the Department of Health and the World Health Organization. Photo courtesy of LWPH. One of the project’s most important aims is the creation of a repository of all translated material for easy access, monitoring and dissemination. The group provides frequent status reports on the state of these materials, as well as on individual translators and projects, while connecting the right people to translation jobs where they are needed most. While Gallego admits that a more thorough study must be done on how equitable the access to government-produced COVID-19 materials has been, the group’s March to May 2020 data revealed that most materials produced on this and other important issues were produced through grassroots efforts. “This clearly shows that the local communities are aware of the need to provide information about the pandemic in the languages the people understand,” Gallego said. While LGUs typically provide information in major Philippine languages, smaller languages are usually left out. Material from UPD PsycServ on mental health, which volunteers translated into a number of Philippine languages. Cases of anxiety and depression in the time of COVID-19 necessitates the move for translating material concerning more than physical health. Photo courtesy of LWPH. “The communities where these languages are actually spoken are actually the most vulnerable to the pandemic,” Gallego said. “They don’t have access to basic medical facilities, no direct access to news and they lack institutional support in all directions.” “In addition,” Gallego added, “the Filipino Deaf community is often left in the periphery. New outlets rarely provide FSL interpretations. As a result, some members of the Deaf community were not aware of the implementation of community quarantine procedures in the initial months of quarantine.” She credits one group, FSLACT4COVID, for partly addressing this problem by providing FSL interpretations of new broadcasts on their Facebook page. The repository The volunteers of LWPH, who come from a staggering array of backgrounds, have certainly been busy. The is reflected in the group’s material repository, which can be accessed via their Facebook page. As of their May 8, 2020 report, the group had done work in 70 languages, having translated 927 materials in 10 thematic domains, including physical and mental health. Gallego cites the enthusiasm and activity of their volunteers as the secret behind the considerable material they amassed in such a short period. According to the report, the languages with the highest number of materials include Bikol Sentral (222), Tagalog (143), Hiligaynon (41), Ilocano (37), Cebuano (37), Chavacano de Zamboanga (36), Kapampangan (30), Maguindanaoan (26), Akeanon or Aklanon (26), and Surigaonon (24). Gallego warns, however, that despite its breadth, the repository should not be taken as representative of the collective translation efforts in the country due to difficulties in acquiring material to translate. A chart tracking the languages with the highest numbers of translated materials by LWPH volunteers. Photo courtesy of LWPH. Many of these languages have online communities, which connect language users and can serve as springboards for the propagation of translated materials. While Gallego admits this method of dissemination is not enough to completely serve the users that the project hopes to reach, she cites the work done by groups such as Mag Bikol Kita and the Surigaonon Studies Centerw ho share their materials to local communities and medical facilities. This step is important because smaller, more remote communities largely beyond the reach of the internet need the information the most. The next battlefield While the group’s brief existence has seen several considerable successes, especially in terms of producing materials, its members hope that its existence extends far beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. And one part of ensuring that these efforts are made sustainable is through a retrospective look at its gains and losses. On that note, Gallego said that the next proximal step is doing an impact assessment to judge how meaningful the group’s efforts have been, especially in reaching its target users. Translated material by the Surigaonon Studies Center in response to the call by the Department of Health. They are also one of the groups responsible for distributing material to communities. Photo courtesy of LWPH. “Production of materials is one aspect of the overall aim to push for inclusive and equal access to information, but dissemination is an equally important part of the goal,” Gallego said. “This phase of the LWPH group would hopefully highlight the gaps in the current translation efforts and direct us to where to take the project.” The larger overall battlefield for the group, however, beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, is pushing for stronger state support for indigenous communities by ensuring that all relevant information concerning these communities and the country reaches everyone, a goal which she calls a “basic human right”. Gallego said that the findings from the project will be used to publish policy recommendations, which they will do in the future. Through these actions, LWPH’s members hope that the Facebook group maintains its function as a space for language activists to work together and fight for the language rights of indigenous communities in the Philippines. “I encourage people interested in language activism to join the Facebook group and participate in the activities we will be having in the future,” Gallego said. “Share posts, contribute to the discussions, and let your voices be heard!” The trusty team of LWPH volunteers who collected material for the repository. Clockwise from top left: Manuel Tamayao, Soleil Vinoya, Joey Auxilian, Sander Ayala, Yeddah Piedad, Glenn Huerto, Shiela Tamparong. Photo courtesy of LWPH.
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https://up.edu.ph/upgrade-giving-back-to-the-upd-main-library/
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“UPgrade”: Giving back to the UPD Main Library – University of the Philippines
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“UPgrade”: Giving back to the UPD Main Library “UPgrade”: Giving back to the UPD Main Library June 22, 2022 | Written by Fred Dabu The University Main Library, the stately building in the very heart of the academic oval of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus (UPD), has been a witness to many, many generations of Iskolar ng Bayan journeying through college and postgraduate studies. The people who have passed through the “UP Main Libe’s” time-cherished reading rooms, archives, hallways, and corners have created their priceless collection of memories of the place: the serene quiet and studious stillness; the comfort of the sturdy narra tables and chairs; the sense of welcome found within the rows and rows of book-lined shelves; the treasure troves of knowledge open to UP students studying for class, doing research, socializing and engaging in various academic activities hosted there, ever since the University Library’s transfer to the Diliman campus during the term of University Librarian Gabriel Bernardo. Aerial view of the UP Diliman Main Library (Gonzalez Hall). Members of the UP community may leave a lasting legacy in the UP Diliman Main Library, named Gonzalez Hall after UP President Bienvenido Gonzalez, by supporting its renovation and restoration on the occasion of the University Library Centennial. Alumni and friends of the University can adopt a narra hardwood chair or table and help upgrade the UPD Main Library. The project will benefit not only the present and future generations of Iskolar ng Bayan but also researchers and students from other learning institutions and the general public. “UPgrade,” the UP System’s project, allows donors to dedicate a chair or table to a loved one or an entire family, honor a memory of a favorite teacher, celebrate a milestone birthday or anniversary, or give proper recognition to their batch, barkada, fraternity/sorority, or student organization. For a minimum donation of P10,000, the donor name(s) will be engraved on a brass plaque and placed on the restored narra hardwood chairs and tables. Here are the descriptions, corresponding amounts to be donated, and the number of furniture units to be upgraded: Narra Chairs / P10,000 / 150 units; Single Carrel Desks / P10,000 / 30 units; and, the Long Narra Table (8-seater) / P100,000 / 15 units. Examples of the UPD Main Library furniture awaiting adoption by UP alumni in their current state (left) and what they would look like after renovation (right)—the narra chair with armrest (top), the carrel desk (middle), and the long narra table (below). Photos by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO). These rehabilitated and upgraded pieces of furniture will be strategically situated in the UPD Main Library’s ground floor public reading room in the North Wing. The said venue will also feature resplendent cathedral windows that aim to evoke a world-class ambiance and memories of the University’s repository of knowledge and culture. Donors will also have access to the room-use books and references through a special library card and receive discounted rates for special events reservations. Donations via credit card or bank transfer may be coursed through the Give to UP Portal at: https://giveto.up.edu.ph/. Through this unique initiative, UP alumni will also be encouraged to participate in University activities while their information is updated in the UP Alumni Database. Please get in touch with the UP offices working together for the success of this fundraising project via giveto@up.edu.ph, padayon@up.edu.ph, or up.alumnioffice@up.edu.ph for more details on how you can leave an indelible mark that our students, faculty, REPS, admin, alumni, and the general public can truly benefit from.
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https://up.edu.ph/diwata-2-second-ph-microsatellite-set-for-launch/
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Diwata-2, second PH microsatellite, set for launch – University of the Philippines
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Diwata-2, second PH microsatellite, set for launch Diwata-2, second PH microsatellite, set for launch October 26, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Diwata-2 is set to be launched on October 29, 2018 between 12:08 to 12:30 GMT+08 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan via H-IIA F40 rocket. It is the Philippines’ second microsatellite developed and built under the Development of Philippine Scientific Earth Observation Microsatellite (PHL-Microsat) Program, which is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), monitored by DOST-Philippine Council for Industry and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), and done through the collaboration between the University of the Philippines Diliman, the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), Hokkaido University and Tohoku University. It is one of five small satellites that are the secondary payloads which will be launched together with the satellites IBUKI-2 or also known as GOSAT-2 (JAXA’s Second Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite) and KhalifaSat, a remote sensing Earth observation satellite developed by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates. Maintaining the momentum in satellite development Diwata-2 will orbit at a higher altitude (~620km) for an increased lifespan and a sun-synchronous orbit, which will enable fixed revisit intervals that would make repeated environmental monitoring of specific areas possible. Like Diwata-1, it will also carry a Wide Field Camera (WFC), Middle Field Camera (MFC), High Precision Telescope (HPT) and Spaceborne Multispectral Imager (SMI) with Liquid Crystal Tunable Filter (LCTF). All these mission instruments have undergone rigorous ground calibration and testing to ensure that they will perform optimally at the new orbital conditions of Diwata-2. Major features that distinguish Diwata-2 from its predecessor include deployable solar panels for increased power generation output and an Enhanced Resolution Camera (ERC), for increasing the resolution of images taken by SMI. Furthermore, it will feature two locally made experimental modules: an Amateur Radio Unit for emergency communications and a Satellite Orientation Module for increased pointing accuracy and future satellite development initiatives. Diwata-2 has undergone major iterations since planning and design began in 2016, right after Diwata-1 was released from the International Space Station (ISS). These include a simulation model, a mechanical test model, an engineering model, and finally, the flight model. On August 29, 2018, the Diwata-2 Flight Model was completed and handed over to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) the following day. Both Diwata-1 and Diwata-2 are Earth-observing microsatellites capable of capturing images of Earth for environmental assessment. The satellite control, operation, and acquisition of experimental data will be done at the Philippine Earth Data Resource Observation Center (PEDRO), which is housed by DOST-ASTI. More than building and launching satellites, the Philippines is also committed to starting a healthy and sustainable local ecosystem for space technology. The PHL-Microsat Program is succeeded by the Sustained Support for Local Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement (STAMINA4Space) Program, which aims to build a local industrial base and enhance local space science and engineering expertise, which will ultimately prepare the country in the establishment of the Philippine Space Agency. To reserve your slots for the live viewing of this historic launch at the GT Toyota Auditorium, UP Diliman, visit: https://bit.ly/2yU4hg3. Program starts at 11:00 AM. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit phl-microsat.upd.edu.ph/updates and follow Facebook (facebook.com/PHLMicrosat/) and Twitter (@phlmicrosat).
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https://up.edu.ph/up-breaks-new-ground-with-smart-farm/
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UP breaks new ground with ‘smart farm’ – University of the Philippines
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UP breaks new ground with ‘smart farm’ UP breaks new ground with ‘smart farm’ March 5, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office L-R: Institute of Biology Director Ernelea P. Cao; National Scientist and Professor Emeritus Edgardo D. Gomez; College of Science Dean Perry S. Ong; DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara; and Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa participate in the lowering of the time capsule (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) The University of the Philippines Institute of Biology and the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute marked the start of the construction of a nursery for indigenous and endemic plants through a groundbreaking ceremony at the UP DOST-ASTI Complex on March 2. The soon-to-rise facility signifies the initial phase of a larger project which is the development of the Smart Plant Production in Controlled Environments (SPICE), a project of the UP Institute of Biology and Electronics Engineering Institute, with the support of the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara revealed that “the nursery will be a standalone, smart farm.” Taking pride in that it is the first of its kind in the Philippines, Guevara added that “the project is a P128-million pioneering research, which will be a game changer–promoting urban farming and high technology plant conservation. Modern farming methods, such as vertical farming, micropropagation, cryopreservation, and hydrophonics, will be practiced in this nursery to grow native plants in an environment where the climate, the lighting, and the irrigation system can be monitored, controlled, and changed real-time through the use of electronics, sensors, and automation.” DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) In turn, such technology will yield efficient crop production and also take away the image of farming as a labor-intensive, backbreaking type of work, according to Guevara. Also present in the ceremony were: National Scientist and Professor Emeritus Edgardo D. Gomez; Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa; College of Science Dean Perry S. Ong; Institute of Biology Director Ernelea P. Cao; Deputy Director for Research and Extension of the Institute of Biology Jonathan A. Anticamara; project leader, and Institute of Biology Assistant Professor Dr. Jessica D. Rey; and Office of the Campus Architect Director Enrico B. Tabafunda. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) College of Science Dean Ong stressed the importance of the nursery as it will ensure the protection of the country’s rich biodiversity. Meanwhile, Executive Vice President Herbosa also underscored the valuable effort of the project and its role in knowledge sharing and expertise promotion. (Stephanie S. Cabigao, UP MPRO)
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https://up.edu.ph/looking-beyond-covid-up-stop-covid-deaths-webinar-to-zero-in-on-measles/
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Looking beyond COVID, UP “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar to zero in on measles – University of the Philippines
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Looking beyond COVID, UP “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar to zero in on measles Looking beyond COVID, UP “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar to zero in on measles April 28, 2022 | Written by Deina Blancaflor The University of the Philippines (UP), in partnership with UP Manila National Institutes of Health (N.I.H.), National Telehealth Center (NTC), and cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), invite you to join the fight against COVID-19. As we enter the third year of our online “Stop COVID Deaths” (S.C.D.) community webinar series, we transition to broader discussions on how the pandemic has affected health outcomes beyond COVID-19. We will still maintain the title “STOP COVID DEATHS” but will expand our talks to C for “current COVID-19 problems”; O for “other outbreaks”; V for “viruses”; I for “infections”; and D for “disasters”— or C.O.V.I.D for short. The S.C.D. Series levels up to take a closer look at other emerging health problems in the community while keeping an eye out for COVID-19 developments in the Philippines and the rest of the world. This week, using a virtual grand rounds format, the “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar will discuss the case of a healthy eight-year-old honor student who, a month before admission, had sudden episodes of falling forward and her legs jerking uncontrollably. The episodes would happen once or twice a day. Two weeks before admission, the family noticed that the child could not remember things. She was also unable to concentrate on her studies. The condition later progressed to difficulty walking and losing her ability to control her bowel movements. What could this be? The medical team ran numerous tests and checked her history. They discovered that the child did not receive vaccination for measles, contracted the disease, and remained asymptomatic until four years later. Many tend to think of measles as a mild disease and that natural immunity will follow an infection. This case shows otherwise. Measles in an unvaccinated child may cause severe complications even years later, resulting in untreatable conditions. This Friday’s episode aims to uncover how the country is doing with routine vaccination against measles with this case study. What complications could arise for children who missed their vaccinations in the past few years? Can they still get a measles shot if they missed it during the pandemic? Did the pandemic make it more challenging to sustain measles vaccination coverage? Titled “Batang Biglang Hindi Makalakad: Siryosohin Natin ang Tigdas,” this week’s “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar will be held on April 29, 2022, from 12 to 2 pm, focusing on the case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in an unvaccinated child at the UP-PGH. The main presenter will be Dr. Marie Abigail R. Lim, Chief Resident of the Department of Pediatrics at the UP-PGH. At the same time, the discussant is Dr. Sally Andrea D. Gaspi, Chief Fellow of the Division of Pediatric Neurology, also at UP-PGH. Dr. Marissa Lukban, Chair of the UP-PGH Department of Pediatrics, will also be sharing her insights and reactions. Dr. Adolfo D. Solis, President of the Child Neurology Society, Philippines, Inc., will deliver the opening remarks. Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla, Chancellor of UP Manila, will provide the synthesis and closing remarks. Register here and catch our weekly live tweets and streams via the UP System Twitter Account and TVUP’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. The UP “Stop COVID Deaths” webinar series is the Philippines’ first and only frontline-focused medical webinar series. It pioneered the discussion, dissemination, and adoption of knowledge on COVID-19 treatment and management. Follow our accounts to stay connected with your credible online community.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-and-the-ins-and-outs-of-the-data-privacy-act-interview-with-dpo-atty-gaby-fernandez/
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UP and the Ins-and-Outs of the Data Privacy Act: Interview with DPO Atty. Gaby Fernandez – University of the Philippines
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UP and the Ins-and-Outs of the Data Privacy Act: Interview with DPO Atty. Gaby Fernandez UP and the Ins-and-Outs of the Data Privacy Act: Interview with DPO Atty. Gaby Fernandez November 11, 2019 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Atty. Marcia Ruth Gabriela Fernandez, UP System Data Protection Officer (DPO), and the DPOs of the constituent universities have a complicated job: helping UP, an institution mandated under its Charter to teach, do research and generate and disseminate knowledge and provide public service, to navigate Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act (DPA) of 2012. Fernandez notes that a common misconception of the DPA is that consent of the data subject is needed to process information all the time. The law lists several conditions or cases, aside from consent, where personal information can be processed. Personal information may be processed (i.e., collected, used, stored, etc.) when needed to comply with a legal obligation, to protect the vital interests of the data subject to life and health, to respond to national emergency, and to fulfill the functions of public authority. Sensitive personal information (i.e., confidential education records, age, civil status, health information) may be processed, for example, when allowed by law. Regulatory enactments provide for the following: to protect such information, and the consent of the data subject is not required for such processing; to protect the life and health of the data subject or another person when the data subject cannot physically or legally express consent, and when needed for medical treatment subject to conditions; and, to protect lawful rights and interests of natural and legal persons in the exercise or defense of legal claims and where these are provided to public authority. “It is possible for UP to invoke, in applicable cases, our mandate under the Constitution and the UP Charter to exercise the right and responsibility of academic freedom as our lawful basis for processing personal and sensitive personal information,” Fernandez said. The DPA itself also provides for exemptions from the applicability of the DPA such as when the processing of information is necessary in order to carry out the functions of public authority and personal information processed for journalistic, artistic, literary or research purposes. Still, the law itself is complex, and the UP community needs to know how to traverse it. Photo by Jonathan M. Madrid, UP MPRO. UP researchers and the DPA With the penalty of imprisonment as well as hefty fines for the punishment of various acts or omissions involved, the DPA can feel like a sword hanging over the heads of UP researchers, especially for those in the social sciences, who often use approaches that may or may not involve written, electronic or recorded consent. Fernandez herself, before her appointment as DPO, pointed out in position papers she submitted to the National Privacy Commission (NPC) in her personal capacity the dysfunctional unintended consequences of a too narrow interpretation of the DPA that requires written, electronic or recorded consent in all instances from research participants for the processing of sensitive personal information. This could be used by groups or agencies with ulterior motives to force researchers to divulge their research participants’ personal data under threat of jail time and/or other penalties. “That’s why I said, such an interpretation of the DPA could have a chilling effect,” Fernandez said. “We have to go back to the spirit, the purpose behind the law. The law recognizes that while the State has the duty to protect the right to privacy of individuals, the State must also promote the free flow of information by upholding other Constitutional rights and freedoms.” There are laws and issuances that UP researchers can invoke to lawfully process sensitive personal information under Section 13b of the DPA. These include the Philippine Statistical Act, the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Act, and the National Ethical Guidelines on Health and Health Related Research (NEGHHR). The NEGHHR, which was issued pursuant to the PNHRS Act, provides for instances when research ethics committees (RECs) or research ethics boards (REBs) may waive the requirement of informed consent, as in the case of archival research or naturalistic observation, or alter some of the requirements of informed consent, such as waiving the requirement of a signed consent form. Noting that the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board, which was established pursuant to the PNHRS Act, allows for several REBs or RECs in one academic unit, Fernandez recommended that constituent universities that have yet to establish REBs or RECs consider the creation of RECs at the college level, considering the diverse range of disciplines throughout the UP System. “It is really our duty, as the national university and as a research institution, to uphold research ethics, which requires among others the protection of the privacy of research participants and the establishment of research ethics committees or boards.” UP students and the DPA The UP System has a privacy notice (https://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/university-of-the-philippines-up-privacy-notice-foi/) informing UP students on what personal and sensitive personal information will be collected from them, for what purpose, the legal basis for processing such information, as well as measures adopted by UP to safeguard the same. Students are asked to indicate on their Form-5s that they have read the notice, recognize the authority of UP to process such information, and give their consent. The notice also informs students that UP will disclose their personal and sensitive personal information when required or allowed by applicable laws or with their consent. For example, the notice states that UP may disclose a student’s personal and sensitive personal information to their family or next of kin to promote the student’s best interests as required by law; when necessary to respond to an emergency, to uphold the student’s vitally important interests including her/his life and health or to prevent harm to her/him and/or others; or with the student’s consent. UP recognizes that there are cases where the student may be struggling with a serious condition or has become suicidal or his or her life is in jeopardy. Photo by Abraham Q. Arboleda, UP MPRO. UP employees and the DPA For UP employees, personal information not covered by the DPA under Section 4 include names, salary grades, and official job functions. UP processes employee information in order to make decisions regarding their respective appointments, promotions and other personnel actions, as well as to process their applications for grants, leaves, benefits and the like, pursuant to the UP Charter. UP is also duty-bound to process information of University personnel in order to comply with the requirements of other existing laws and regulations. For example, UP must process information pursuant to R.A. 6713, which requires the submission of Statements of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), and comply with the GSIS, Philhealth, Pag-ibig, tax and other applicable laws and issuances. UP alumni and the DPA The UP System also has a privacy notice for UP alumni (https://alum.up.edu.ph/index.php/university-of-the-philippines-system-up-privacy-notice-for-alumni/), informing them that various UP offices and the UP Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) will be collecting their information and for what purpose. The UP Registrar’s Offices archive all student records in accordance with the National Archives of the Philippines Act of 2007, and provide relevant information to the OAR in order to enable UP to comply with its duty under the UP Charter to promote the participation of alumni. UP alumni may voluntarily update their records with the OAR through an alumni update form. Fernandez also helped the UPAA draft their own consent form. The UPAA chapters and the UP alumni foundations can get in touch with the UPAA to get a copy of this consent form. UP Webmail and the DPA Fernandez urges all members of the UP community to use the Mail service (@up.edu.ph). “UP Mail is our official mail, and uses a two-step verification process to reduce the probability of accounts being hacked.” The goal is to have UP Mail serve as the sign-on system for the various online processing systems of UP to help prevent security incidents and personal data breaches. “Aside from safeguarding their email communications, faculty, staff and students can get Microsoft Office 365 when they use their UP Webmail account,” she added with a smile (https://itdc.up.edu.ph/uis/microsoft-office-365-for-up). The University’s duty to process personal and sensitive personal information in order to carry out its functions entails the responsibility of securing and protecting such information. UP’s DPOs need the help and cooperation of all members of the UP community in order to uphold the right to data privacy. Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. You may access the digital copy here.
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https://up.edu.ph/coming-soon-from-upou-dpo-certification-course/
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Coming Soon from UPOU: DPO Certification Course – University of the Philippines
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Coming Soon from UPOU: DPO Certification Course Coming Soon from UPOU: DPO Certification Course November 20, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO. It has been three years since the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10173, or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, were promulgated by the National Privacy Commission. Full compliance remains a goal to be accomplished by many organizations in the country. One of the key players in the implementation of the law is the data protection officer (DPO), also called the compliance officer or data privacy officer, of organizations that control and process personal information. The appointment of a DPO by personal information controllers and personal information processors is a legal requirement. The DPO has the overwhelming task of ensuring compliance, mainly by: making sure data privacy policies and processes are in place; monitoring and assessing their efficiency and effectiveness; and, proposing necessary changes to improve implementation, among others. This is why the UP Open University is set to offer a program that will train and certify DPOs. Currently being finalized, the 32-hour course will be conducted over a period of four days, with the participants taking a certification exam at the end. The program will begin with a diagnostic exam to assess the extent of the participants’ knowledge on data privacy, followed by two modules on general privacy concepts and the fundamentals of the Data Privacy Act of 2012. The next group of modules will be on the rights and obligations of data subjects and the offices that will process and control these subjects’ personal information; and, on the enforcement of the law, including penalties for violations. Establishing a privacy management program and managing data breach incidents are the next set of modules to be discussed. In the latter, participants will be given different data breach scenarios to handle. The last two modules will be on information security for government, which DPOs from private organizations may opt out of, and on information security management system. The UPOU DPO certification course is part of its 2019 initiatives launched during its 24th anniversary celebration on March 1 in its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. Visit the UPOU website for updates and inquiries on this program. Links to the official social media accounts of UPOU are in the homepage. Get your FREE copy of the UP Forum magazine now. Please send an email to upforum@up.edu.ph or visit the UP Media and Public Relations Office at Room 6B, Fonacier Hall, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. You may access the digital copy here.
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https://up.edu.ph/what-is-a-struggling-artist/
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What is a struggling artist? – University of the Philippines
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What is a struggling artist? What is a struggling artist? June 25, 2018 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The Crab Mentality Invasion Acrylic and Textile Paint on Canvas 3.38 ft x 2.35 ft 2014 (Photo from wyndelle.wordpress.com) First is the art. Wyndelle Remonde’s works are catchy. Comic. Contemporary. They would have to be, to be exhibited alongside other urban and edgy works in the annual Moniker Art Fair, which took place in New York in May 2018; and the Coaster Show at La Luz de Jesus Gallery in LA in mid-2017. Then the appreciation intensifies with knowledge of how, from province and poverty, they came to be. The number one metanarrative of Remonde’s art actually and graphically recurs in his works, consisting of the head of the carabao, as in kayod-kalabaw; and an anatomical heart, puso. These are very local icons presented to the world by the struggling artist, in jarring self-imagery within the world of his art. A life of struggle “I started using the symbol when I went back to school for a bachelor’s degree, for my thesis. I was a working student, supporting myself and my family. It was a very difficult time,” he says. “There was Papa and my two younger siblings. Mama had died. My father was a casual government employee, until he got laid off. He became a tricycle driver. Mama, when she was alive, sold food at the school.” Entry for the Joya Art Awards (Posted on March 17, 2014 wyndelle.wordpress.com) Remonde earned money designing and selling shirts, doing commissioned work, joining art and design contests, penetrating Cebu’s pop-underground scene where his bizarre comic style found an audience. All the while, he struggled to develop his works to become truly an art form and to be appreciated as such. “My style is a product of blood and tears. I came up with it after several years of working it out. That is why now, I do not compromise my style.” Precocious years The years began with a child in Argao town, Cebu, finding escape from life’s difficulties in cartoons, which he would himself draw with skills he derived from a self-taught father. His father’s realistic and pragmatic style must have left the young Wyndelle with the notion that his art was not as serious. It must have been a proud moment for him to be recognized in high school for his talent for cartooning, which found an outlet in the editorial page of the school paper. Yet, while still in UP Cebu for a certificate course in Fine Arts Major in Painting, cartooning took a back seat, as UP gave him the opportunity to explore mediums and other styles. And of course, nobody in Painting school did cartoons, and he did not do cartoons in UP until he earned his certificate. But when he set out for the outside world, the opportunities offered by companies—graphic, animation, book illustration, and design—called for comics. Nag Aalab na Puso Acrylic and Textile Paint on Paper 2.25 ft x 2 .32 ft 2017 (Photo from wyndelle.wordpress.com) Five years of this in Cebu City finally enabled him to support a bachelor’s degree education, and he went back to UP all set on comics as the way to go. True to its character, UP gave him the freedom to pursue this style in his Fine Arts course Major in Studio Arts. And thus, Remonde’s art, new to the art world but one he always had from the beginning, was enriched, distinguished at the onset by a sense of social awareness typical of a life of struggle. With UP’s academic freedom and a deeper knowledge of the world, he found the courage to stand by the interest he had had since childhood. The cradle of his art “In UP, I was free and encouraged to express what we felt and had in mind, in art or otherwise; and that freedom I still carry to this day,” Remonde says. Until now, he is free to regard issues with the humor and irony of a satirist, rendering many of his works counter-cultural. The works are rife with similarly bizarre, surreal, cartoonish imagery of the contemporary as viewed from his strange inner world, which does not necessarily alienate the masses, with whom he has identified with through the years. “Yes, sir, Cebu is really on my mind when making art. Since I am from Cebu province, I want to take off from here and I want to contribute in developing the local art scene, which is smaller compared to Manila,” Remonde, who has also been exhibited in Manila galleries, says. Remonde with his work at UP Cebu’s Sentenaryo exhibit. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) “At the same time, I hope the world outside Cebu gets to see what we have going on here despite the smaller circle and fewer venues. We need to break out of these limitations so that we would not feel our art has nowhere else to go. Many have already succumbed to the limitations and stopped,” he adds. Thus another struggle of the artist, located far from the center, has been to break into the center. “I am lucky to be stubborn, and because I haven’t stopped, I have been noticed by Manila art circles and other galleries.” And so, the journey continues. The carabao plods and the heart beats—for his family, his fellow Cebu youth artists, and his art.
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https://up.edu.ph/a-journey-in-dance-and-in-life/
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A journey in dance and in life – University of the Philippines
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A journey in dance and in life A journey in dance and in life October 8, 2018 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble performing Ugat, Sanga, Dahon atbp. (Music: Dasal at Katutubong Musika (Asin)) Choreography by R.Dy, K. Morales and J.Delgado Ira Sisa A. Apara, a UP Mindanao BA Communication Arts graduate, has been dancing all her life. She joined dance groups and ensembles as a child; then her love for dance really took off in high school when her mother enrolled her in a jazz dance class. As a self-proclaimed dance “fangirl,” she found other venues where she could learn other techniques and dance styles besides her jazz class. “Whenever I went to class at the dance school, I would observe the classes before ours or the dances of the other classes, like modern dance, hip hop, ballet,” Apara shares. “I kept watching dance videos on YouTube as well. And I would take notes, and I would try to recreate or mimic the moves on my own. Ultimately, I found my own groove, which I felt is really more in the neo-ethnic style.” Her passion for neo-ethnic dance was enhanced when she entered UP Mindanao in 2012. At the time, she had only one goal: to join the UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble (UPMinDE). “I remember it clearly. June 6 was our first day of class then a week or two weeks later, I auditioned for the UPMinDE. The Office of Student Affairs advised us freshmen not to join any orgs yet and to let ourselves adjust to UPMin life. But I was certain: I was going to join that ensemble. So I became a member from 2012 to 2016.” A portion of the UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble’s 2012 Concert, showing the Kappa Malong-malong. 19 years and counting The UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble, founded by Prof. Alma Flor M. Brigole, is the resident dance company of UP Mindanao. The UPMinDE or the Ensemble focuses on exploring social commentaries, advocacies and experimental performances through neo-ethnic, contemporary dance and improvisation techniques. It holds yearly full-length dance-concerts, the most recent being “Baylanan” held on May 10, 2018, which celebrated the UPMinDE’s 19th anniversary as a resident company by portraying through dance a story inspired by the life and culture of the baylans or community healers, priests and priestesses. During the UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble’s 19th anniversary dance-concert, “Baylanan”, held last May 2018. (Photo from Ira Apra, UPMinDE) Apara refined her skills throughout the four years she spent dancing, learning, teaching, training and choreographing with the UPMinDE. In 2016, the year she graduated, she became a finalist in the World Championship for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California. She was chosen for her interpretation of a Tausug version of the Pangalay, a traditional dance in Sulu. Still, the lessons she learned over the course of her journey as a UPMinDE member go beyond dance. Over the years, the UPMinDE has overcome challenges that other UP performing groups have gone through at some point. The experience of overcoming these challenges has instilled within her and her fellow members qualities that prepared them for life, whether onstage or in the real world. Initiative, resourcefulness, and teamwork One challenge is functioning as a student-driven performing group in UP without an official coach, artistic director or adviser. UPMinDE has gone through times when they had no coach, sometimes lasting years. Apara recalls how hard it was: “It’s very difficult when a varsity team or school organization doesn’t have a coach or adviser. It’s hard to get a budget or to have your proposed events approved because there’s nobody to sign for them. There were times when we got suspended or couldn’t join competitions because having no coach or adviser was not allowed according to the rules.” During those coach-less years, the UPMinDE’s members found ways to keep on doing what they had to do. “We trained on our own. Whatever techniques each of us learned, we just shared with one another. We just repeated the techniques and ultimately, we even managed to hold a concert.” A scene from the UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble’s 2016 performance entitled Pagsalop sa Adlaw. (Photo from Ira Apara, UPMinDE) Respect for indigenous culture The UPMinDE is known for its performances that showcase the dances and culture of indigenous people. However, the research that goes behind every piece is just as much a trademark of the Ensemble. This was discipline its founder, Prof. Brigole, instilled in the group. The Ensemble’s research process includes visiting the communities and immersing themselves in the indigenous culture, learning the dances directly from the tribal members themselves. “Research really plays a big part, because we cannot perform something that is not well-thought of,” Apara says. After Prof. Brigole left the group around the time of Apara’s freshman year, the UPMinDE shifted more toward modern dance and jazz. “The ethnic spirit was still there, though, so during that time, it was like the Western-style dances and the ethnic dances were kind of mashed up.” This commitment to indigenous cultures, now combined with touches of the modern, was kept alive by Arch. Gloryrose Dy, herself a UPMinDE alumna, when she became UPMinDE’s coach and artistic director during Apara’s third year in college. The new graduates of the UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble graduating just this June 2018, with Coach Ira Apara in the middle. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UPMPRO) Passing on the torch Seeing UPMinDE members develop and improve themselves, and seeing the Ensemble explore indigenous cultures and create something new, are things that Apara deeply appreciates, because she’s seen it from both sides. In May 2017, she visited the Ensemble again to give a workshop on contemporary dance. There, she learned that, due to certain circumstances, the group was again falling into that same predicament of having no coach. “So I applied as coach. Because I was thinking that I should help, in a way, because I know how it felt. That’s why I came back, and I’ve been a coach for over one year now. And I’m still planning to continue,” she says. Besides coaching the UPMinDE, Apara works as a PR officer in a young advertising agency, and on the occasions when she has to focus on work, she calls on the officers of the UPMinDE to take the lead during practice sessions. This way, she, like Arch. Dy before her, is continuing another long-time tradition of the UPMinDE—training the next generation of leaders. Looking to the future, the UPMinDE has lined up certain projects, such as joining competitions outside the University, aside from their usual performances in UP Mindanao. “We hope that this year, we can immerse ourselves in an indigenous community, because we will be getting new members and they have to know what the group is all about. They have to know that if you do an ethnic dance, you have to do it right. You have to know not just by the movement, but by the spirit, by heart, what that dance signifies. When the UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble performs, especially the ethnic or neo-ethnic dances, we always make a stand that this is not just about entertaining you, it’s about educating you. This is what the lives of the indigenous peoples are about. This is a part of their culture—our culture—so you have to know it. There is a spirit to it. This is what life is,” Apara asserts. UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble members posing with friends after a performance, circa 2014-2018. (Photo from Ira Apara, UPMinDE) For more videos of the UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble, subscribe to their YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBTCSNRcohmoXf0sXz2BsYQ. You can also visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/upmindanceensemble/. List of other videos, click the title to view: UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble 2012 Concert (Asik) Dancer: Katrina Grace Tan UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble 2012 Concert (Asik) Dancer: Katrina Grace Tan Finale Dance of UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble during the “Galaw, Indak, Sayaw”, annual dance concert, April 30, 2015 Performed during the UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble concert entitled “Galaw, Indak, Sayaw” April 30, 2015 Performed during the UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble concert entitled “Galaw, Indak, Sayaw” April 30, 2015. Performed by Ira, Jeal and Keziah. Choreography by R.Dy Performed during the UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble concert entitled “Galaw, Indak, Sayaw” April 30, 2015. Performed by Steph, Mauriel, Christopher, Isko, Eloise, Rojer. Choreography by K.Morales “Liwanag” , a dance about hope in genuine friendship and empathy performed by Ira Aparra, Justine Lumingkit, Shane Largo, Choreography by K.Morales, 2015 Finale Dance of UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble during the “Galaw, Indak, Sayaw”, annual dance concert, April 30, 2015
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https://up.edu.ph/from-computers-to-communities/
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From computers to communities – University of the Philippines
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From computers to communities From computers to communities January 10, 2019 | Written by J. Mikhail Solitario One thousand three hundred kilometers from the airconditioned halls of the Batasang Pambansa is an open-air barangay gymnasium jampacked with hundreds of members from a Lumad community. This is where Chad Errol Booc, a volunteer teacher for high school students in the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV), has been staying for almost a week prior to the president’s state of the nation address (SONA). Their community fled the agricultural school, which is also a boarding school, due to continued threats from the military presence in their areas. The sign welcomes guests to ALCADEV. It loosely translates to “Tuloy po kayo!” (Photo from Chad Booc) ALCADEV was established in 2004 as an “alternative learning system especially designed to provide secondary education to indigent indigenous youth from the Manobo, Higaonon, Banwaon, Talandig, and Mamanwa” in the Surigao and Agusan provinces comprising CARAGA. Academic courses are taught in a way as to include vocational and technical skills, often rooted in agricultural traditions in their respective communities. The need for establishing schools arose when Lumad leaders realized how education could shield them from abuse. In the past, they were tricked into signing spurious contracts which gave away their ancestral land for a few cans of sardines. It was when the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur was created, which then gave birth to ALCADEV. Hailing from the College of Engineering in Diliman, Chad earned his Computer Science degree cum laude and was recognized for his undergraduate research project which he had presented in academic forums abroad. He was cut out for a corporate life just like most of his peers. But exactly five SONAs ago, he joined a rally for the first time and began seeing other realities and possibilities. Chad became an activist and found himself in the middle of Manilakbayan 2015 on the eve of the killing of the ALCADEV executive director at that time. “I witnessed how the Lumad stood up as a tribe for self-governance and self-determination. The fact that they built and ran their own school without our help, even if we are deemed more educated because we finished college,” he recalls. This encounter inspired and challenged him at the same time; and after graduating, he veered off the corporate track and finally decided to volunteer in Mindanao in 2016. During a solidarity program in commemoration of the September 1 Lianga massacre. (Photo from Chad Booc) He chose ALCADEV because, prior to graduation, he had the chance to integrate with the community for several weeks. It was particularly difficult explaining the decision to his family. But through several Facebook posts and even more hours patiently sharing his firsthand struggles and adventures with his worried family, he finally made progress. His choice appealed to the humanitarian sensibilities of his parents, both active members of their church. Serving the oppressed and marginalized was a value they shared. Agriculture as source code The primary goal of ALCADEV is to empower and equip its students to be self-sufficient and self-reliant and to rear the next generation of leaders in their communities. They are trained to take on leadership roles in community-based work as future teachers, health workers, agriculturists, and local leaders. Some graduates of ALCADEV are now helping pilot their own agricultural schools in SOCSARGEN in solidarity. The “boarding school” format ensures a more holistic style of education. Chad remarks, “Agriculture is at the center of each learning area. For example, in English we teach translation of agricultural terms. In math, we learn how to compute for the most equitable distribution of yield from the plantations. We also teach basic farming so what they harvest is what we consume together here in ALCADEV.” Chad poses with his students as they return to ALCADEV after weeks in evacuation. (Photo from Chad Booc) Chad is currently handling Math classes for second- and third-year students and science classes for freshmen. On a typical school day, he wakes up at 5 or earlier to work on the farm with his students and to prepare for classes later that day. Morning sessions are usually spent on academic classes, while afternoons are for more leisurely activities, such as sports, games, and value education workshops. “Our roles as teachers are not confined to teaching; we are sometimes advisers, even doctors or nurses when something happens to them,” Chad confides. “We also schedule engagements outside the comfort of our campus, such as when there are military attacks when we put on the hats of paralegals and human rights workers.” With Chad in ALCADEV are two other UP Diliman Psychology and Education graduates. He also handles the promotion arm of ALCADEV by establishing the school’s social media presence as a way to advance its advocacy and show outsiders what its around 150 students are accomplishing. Debugging misconceptions There are still many conflicting stories reaching Manila on the situation in Mindanao, particularly in Lumad schools like ALCADEV. But when asked what the biggest misconception about his vocation is, Chad replies, “I’m still taken aback when people tell me ‘Wow, what a big sacrifice you’re making!’ when I tell them I’m volunteer teaching in a Lumad school.” He realizes that what people perceive as a more burdened life has actually felt lighter. Chad believes serving the people shouldn’t be romanticized as sacrifice. (Photo from Chad Booc) “Now, I’m no longer alone in what I do because we perform all the tasks as a collective. I’m not chained to self-enrichment because I don’t have to worry about paying bills as a corporate slave in a cutthroat environment. In that set-up, one can easily lose a sense of purpose. What is all this work for? For whom?” He relates that his work gives him drive because he knows he directly contributes to furthering the cause of an aggrieved sector in society. His advice to fresh graduates and fellow iskolars looking to volunteer? Go for it. Immerse and integrate with basic sectors, from Lumad, to peasants, farmers, workers. During his tenure, he is learning many useful skills such as basic journalism and documentation, community organizing, even public relations. He believes there is no point romanticizing what he does because it should not be viewed as a deviation, but rather the baseline of what a UP student must offer the people he or she serves.
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https://up.edu.ph/college-of-fine-arts-launches-israel-philippines-ceramics-collaboration/
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College of Fine Arts launches Israel-Philippines Ceramics Collaboration – University of the Philippines
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College of Fine Arts launches Israel-Philippines Ceramics Collaboration College of Fine Arts launches Israel-Philippines Ceramics Collaboration April 2, 2019 | Written by Andre DP Encarnacion Video by the UP Media and Public Relations Office Guests from the art worlds of Israel and the Philippines flocked to the UP College of Fine Arts (UP CFA) Corredor Gallery in UP Diliman for the opening of “Common Ground: A Ceramic Art Collaboration Between Israel and the Philippines” on March 28, 2019. The exhibit was a culmination of a weeklong series of ceramic art-centered activities led by Israeli guest artist Roy Maayan, who gave a series of talks and workshops as a lead-up to the launch. The launch aimed to use clay as a medium to establish stronger cultural ties between Israel and the Philippines. This spirit was echoed by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion in his opening message. “There may be barriers in language,” he said, “but when it comes to art we speak one language.” Guests from both Israel and the Philippines admire the ceramic artworks featured in ‘Common Ground’. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO Concepcion also congratulated the proponents of the launch, led by Maayan and the UP College of Fine Arts Ceramic Studio under Prof. Ma. Rita B. Gudiño, for building bridges that brought the two cultures closer. The same general sentiment of bringing cultures and peoples together through art was echoed by Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Rafael Harpaz and UP College of Fine Arts Dean Leonardo Rosete in their own messages. The three guests of honor later led the ribbon cutting ceremonies that opened “Common Ground”. Starting on March 23, Maayan led Master classes, artist talks, and open studio sessions on creating ceramic art that were open to the public. These included sessions from forming, casting and decorating bisque fired artworks to soda finch kiln firing. These events are in line with the UP CFA Ceramic Studio’s plan to institute a multidisciplinary Ceramic Arts Program as a new minor in the College of Fine Arts that aims to widen the knowledge, skills, and conceptualization skills of students in the use of the medium. The opening of ‘Common Ground’ brought artists and culture lovers from two countries to UP Diliman for a taste of ceramic art. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO “Common Ground: A Ceramic Art Collaboration Between Israel and the Philippines” runs from March 29 to April 12, 2019.
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https://up.edu.ph/chinese-migration-to-the-philippines/
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Chinese Migration to the Philippines – University of the Philippines
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Chinese Migration to the Philippines Chinese Migration to the Philippines May 18, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP-CIFAL Philippines will be holding a webinar presenting its research on the Chinese migration to the Philippines. This will also serve as a venue for people to express their insights and recommendations regarding the issues linked with Chinese migrants in the Philippines. This will be the first installment of our webinar series. Register here: https://bit.ly/2zzKhDq
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https://up.edu.ph/up-president-appoints-experts-to-philippine-energy-research-and-policy-institute/
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UP President appoints experts to Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute – University of the Philippines
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UP President appoints experts to Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute UP President appoints experts to Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute October 20, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP President Danilo L. Concepcion (extreme left) administers the oath of the new PERPI Executive Board at the Executive House, UP Diliman. They are (from left to right) Dr. Renato E. Reside, Jr., Atty. Jose M. Layug, Jr., Engr. Andrea May Caguete, and Atty. Richie Ramos-Pilares. University of the Philippines (UP) President Danilo Concepcion appointed experts to the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI). The Institute was created under Republic Act No. 11572, signed into law on July 30, 2021. PERPI is an independent energy research institute attached to the University. It will study recent developments and scientific breakthroughs in energy. It will also identify key policy areas in the Philippines’ energy sector and formulate research-based policies and strategies for cost-effective and environmentally sound use of energy resources. Eventually, the Institute will promote and strengthen research efforts on sustainable, efficient, and indigenous energy resources. Under the law, the PERPI is an independent agency attached to the University of the Philippines, with its budget separate from UP. PERPI was envisioned by Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, the former Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and author of the law, to be the independent think tank for energy policy and sustainability in the Philippines. [https://powerphilippines.com/gatchalian-proposes-think-tank-for-energy-security-sustainability/] The Institute will spearhead the need to provide research to address policy gaps in the energy sector reforms that will directly benefit the consumers. The Institute commenced its initial organization with the appointment of the members of the Executive Board of Directors and Executive Director. UP President Concepcion, as ex-officio Chair, administered the oath-taking of the Executive Board last September 17, 2022, at the Executive House in the UP Diliman campus. The newly appointed members of the Executive Board, who are recognized energy experts from engineering, law, science, economics, and social science, with backgrounds from the academe, public, and private sector, are Atty. Jose M. Layug, Jr., who previously served as Department of Energy Undersecretary and Chair of the National Renewable Energy Board and is currently the President of the Developers of Renewable Energy for AdvanceMent, Inc. (DREAM), a professor at UP College of Law and Dean of the University of Makati School of Law; Atty. Richie Ramos-Pilares, who previously served as Assistant Secretary of the DOE and is currently the Corporate Secretary of DREAM and professor at the Ateneo de Manila School of Law; Dr. Renato E. Reside, Jr., now a Director of Research and Associate Professor at UP School of Economics and an expert in macroeconomics and investment in infrastructure; Engr. Melita V. Obillo, who previously served as DOE Director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau, Director of the Energy Planning and Policy Bureau, and an expert in downstream oil and gas; Assistant Professor Roderick Catriz, currently the Chair of UP Los Baños Electrical Engineering Department and Project Development Associate of the Office of the UPLB Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development; and Engr. Andrea May Caguete, Manager of the Legal Department and currently the spokesperson of the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines with expertise in trading operations of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. The PERPI Executive Board, with UP President Concepcion as ex-officio Chair and the newly appointed Executive Director, Ms. Mia Camila Urbano-Africa (2nd from left). Upon the PERPI Executive Board’s recommendation, Concepcion appointed Ms. Mia Camila Urbano-Africa, an energy sector professional with 15 years of experience, as Executive Director. Ms. Urbano-Africa has a Master’s degree in Petroleum Geoscience. She has worked previously at the DOE Petroleum Resources Development Division and with various petroleum companies in the private sector, most recently as Senior Geologist at PXP Energy Corporation. She was involved in exploring petroleum service contracts in the Philippines, specifically in the Northwest and South Palawan Basins, Cagayan Valley Basin, and the Sulu Sea Basin. With these appointments, Concepcion declared that the Philippines will now have an institute of academics with a wide range of expertise covering all fields of energy and disciplines. UP President Concepcion and the newly appointed PERPI Executive Board and Executive Director. PERPI Executive Director Africa is accompanied by her husband, Mr. Mark John S. Africa, and their three daughters.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-climbs-up-the-the-world-university-rankings/
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UP breaks into top 500 in world rankings – University of the Philippines
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UP breaks into top 500 in world rankings UP breaks into top 500 in world rankings September 12, 2019 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office London-based magazine Times Higher Education (THE) has placed the University of the Philippines in the world’s top 500 universities according to the 2020 THE World University Rankings. The national university is listed in the 401-500 group of 1,396 ranked research universities. This is UP’s fourth year in the rankings. It was included for the first time in 2017 among the top 1,000. The succeeding rankings showed marked improvement for UP as it climbed to the top 800 in the 2018 edition and to the top 600 for 2019. THE assesses research-intensive universities based on 13 performance indicators in five areas: teaching (30 percent), research (30 percent), citations (30 percent), international outlook (7.5 percent) and industry income (2.5 percent). For 2020, UP has been ranked 159th in citations which places it in the top 11 percent of prestigious universities that have “influence in spreading new knowledge and ideas.” Its score in citations went up from last year’s 69.1 to 86.9. THE examines research influence by capturing the average number of times a university’s published work is cited by scholars globally. This year, bibliometric data supplier Elsevier examined 77.4 million citations to 12.8 million journal articles, article reviews, conference proceedings, books and book chapters published over five years. The data include more than 23,400 academic journals indexed by Elsevier’s Scopus database and all indexed publications between 2014 and 2018. Citations to these publications made in the six years from 2014 to 2019 are also collected. Rankings data for the University of the Philippines. Source: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-philippines UP also scored better in teaching (from 21.7 to 24.1), research (from 16.4 to 17.2) and industry income (from 35.8 to 39.4). A global academic reputation survey partly determines the scores for teaching and research. UP, however, slipped in international outlook, with its score down from 39.5 to 37.9. International outlook considers the number of international students and staff as well as international collaboration. Only two universities from the Philippines appeared in the latest table. UP is still the leading university in the country. THE publishes some of the most influential rankings used by the global academic community which include the Asia University Rankings, Asia-Pacific University Rankings, Emerging Economies University Rankings, and the World University Rankings by Subject.
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https://up.edu.ph/upso-to-offer-series-of-chamber-performances-in-upcoming-concert/
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UPSO to offer series of chamber performances in upcoming concert – University of the Philippines
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UPSO to offer series of chamber performances in upcoming concert UPSO to offer series of chamber performances in upcoming concert July 16, 2021 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office Chamber music fans celebrate! If you enjoy the music of trios, quartets, and quintets, here’s a treat for you: The UP Symphony Orchestra will present a series of chamber performances by its members in their upcoming concert, Sketches. Covering a wide range of emotions and sounds, the concert program includes a pleasant flute trio serenade by Saverio Mercandante, a playful string trio of Antonin Dvorak, and a passionate string quintet of George Onslow. The orchestra will also premiere an arrangement of Hector Berlioz’s Quaerens Me from his Requiem for viola ensemble, Edward Grieg’s Sarabande from Holberg Suite for cello and bass ensemble, and a surprise song of Ernani Cuenco for string quartet. The concert will end with the entire orchestra reunited on the (virtual) stage, to perform the well-loved Mindanao Sketches by Col. Antonino Buenaventura. Not all performing is done the same way. Performing along with only three people requires a kind of attention and skill different from performing embedded within a full 65-piece orchestra. Performing solo, on the other hand, is a whole different matter on its own. With this concert, the UP Symphony Orchestra aims to highlight its members’ volatility in performance, showcasing their skills not only as orchestra performers, but chamber musicians as well. Sketches is the sixth and final installment of the orchestra’s ongoing third concert season which began last October 2020. Their virtual hour-length productions include a mix of archive videos from past performances, and new, remotely recorded works. But the group has no plans of slowing down after this release: Their fourth season immediately kicks off in August, starting an exciting, jam-packed lineup of concerts, guest artists, and more that should not be missed. Sign up for their newsletter at tiny.cc/upsomail to receive updates! Catch the premiere of Sketches along with all previous and upcoming UPSO concerts on the orchestra’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. The premiere is set for Friday July 23, 7pm, and will be available for viewing until July 31.
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https://up.edu.ph/the-up-symphony-orchestra-evokes-the-filipino-spirit-in-upcoming-online-concert/
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The UP Symphony Orchestra evokes the Filipino spirit in upcoming online concert – University of the Philippines
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The UP Symphony Orchestra evokes the Filipino spirit in upcoming online concert The UP Symphony Orchestra evokes the Filipino spirit in upcoming online concert May 24, 2021 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office A playful ballet divertissement, nostalgic melodies, and experimental sounds—think orchestra with traditional Philippine instruments. This is just a glimpse of what can be expected from the UP Symphony Orchestra’s next online concert entitled Kayumangging Lahi. Though seemingly a random mix of works, they are all tied together by a common thread: the celebration of Filipino creativity, talent, and culture. The concert will feature numbers borrowed from sarsuwelas (Jose Estella/Lucio San Pedro, and Bienvenido Lumbrera/Lucio San Pedro), well-loved serenades (Antonio Molina), and beloved works both old and new (Lucio San Pedro, Robin Estrada). The numbers all evoke the feeling of hearing music, reading words, or seeing art from our own country—the feeling of connecting with it on a very deep level that is hard to articulate. This concert is full of music that hits those precise feels for every Filipino. The concert will also give a tip of the hat to the highly anticipated reopening of the Metropolitan Theater that is happening this year. Photo by the UP Symphony Orchestra. The UPSO proudly features its own members as soloists for this online production, namely its concertmaster Janine Samaniego, and trumpeter John Paulo Ramos. Viewers will also be treated to a performance of UP Tugtugang Musika Asyatika (UP TUGMA). This Independence month, the UPSO is taking the opportunity to celebrate our heritage, our talents, and our music. Kayumangging Lahi is the fifth installment of the orchestra’s ongoing third concert season that began last October 2020. Their virtual hour-length productions include a mix of archive videos from past performances, and new, remotely recorded works. The season will conclude with a concert in July. Watch the concert on the orchestra’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. The premiere is set for Friday, June 18, 7pm, and will be available for viewing until June 25.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-to-host-international-workshop-on-mathematical-biology-on-09-11-june/
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UP Mindanao to host international workshop on mathematical biology on 09-11 June – University of the Philippines
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UP Mindanao to host international workshop on mathematical biology on 09-11 June UP Mindanao to host international workshop on mathematical biology on 09-11 June June 7, 2021 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao will host the 4th International Workshop on Mathematical Biology or IWOMB 2021, to be held online via Zoom from 09 to 11 June 2021, with the theme “Strengthening Decision-Support Systems for Better Public Policy through Infectious Disease Modeling”. Since its establishment in 2018, IWOMB has aimed to promote mathematical biology research in the Philippines and provide an opportunity for researchers to establish collaborations across the Philippines and abroad. IWOMB 2021 will gather Filipino and foreign experts working in mathematics and the life sciences such as population dynamics, ecology, development biology, biophysics, physiology, and epidemiology, including the COVID-19 pandemic, to name a few. The IWOMB 2021 keynote speakers are Dr. Tyll Krueger of Wroclaw University of Science and Technology on Day 1, and Dr. Jomar Rabajante of the UP Los Baños on Day 3. The plenary speakers for Day 1 are: Dr. Alastair Jamieson-Lane of the University of Oldenburg; Dr. Wolfgang Bock of Technische Universität Kaiserslautern; and Dr. Alejandra Herrera-Reyes of the University of Nottingham. For Day 2, the plenary speaker is Dr. Aurelio de los Reyes V of UP Diliman, while Dr. Youcef Mammeri of the Université de Picardie Jules Verne is plenary speaker for Day 3. The IWOMB 2021 keynote and plenary talks on Day 1 and all of Day 3 will be open to the public via live-streaming on YouTube. Interested persons may access the free livestream at bit.ly/AMDABiDSSHealth. Upon clicking the URL, click the “subscribe” button, click the Notification Bell icon, which will open a drop-down menu, and click “All.” On the day of IWOMB, the subscriber will receive an email from YouTube containing the link to the livestream. For more information, visit IWOMB 2021’s official website and the official IWOMB 2021 Facebook page. A scientific poster presentation on Day 2 will feature three-minute talks by eight finalists who will communicate their scientific discoveries using popular language. IWOMB 2021 is designed as a workshop or mini-course wherein selected participants are given lectures, learning materials and projects to be solved in workshop groups. The participants are expected to have learned and applied relevant mathematical modeling in solving biology-related problems by the end of the three-day event. The scope and instructors of IWOMB Workshop Series #1 to #6 are: “Introduction to Numerical Methods for Stochastic Models” with Dr. Herrera-Reyes and Dr. Jamieson-Lane; “From Infection to Disease Spread – Multiscale Modeling” with Dr. Alexis Erich Almocera; “Seeing you every day! Understanding Disease Dynamics using Panel Regression Approach” with UP Mindanao’s Dr. Pedro Alviola IV and Mr. Zython Paul Lachica; “Optimizing Logistical Operations in Health Services: Application of Location-allocation Models” with Dr. Rhoda Namoco; “Introduction to Mathematical Epidemiology: Ordinary Differential Equations” with Dr. Stacey Smith and Mr. Abel Lucido; and “Spatiotemporal Pattern of Infectious Diseases” with Dr. Jayrold Arcede, Dr. Randy Caga-anan, and Dr. Mammeri. The UP Mindanao Center for Applied Modeling, Data Analytics, and Bioinformatics for Decision Support System in Health (AMDABiDSS-Health) is the lead organizer of IWOMB 2021. AMDABiDSS-Health is a newly-established research center in UP Mindanao focusing on deriving insights from patterns and correlations in health-related data using quantitative methods, data analytics, and applied mathematical modeling approaches. Its main objective is to create decision-support systems that will empower local government units and public health officials. AMDABiDSS-Health may be contacted through nicer.upmin@up.edu.ph.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-debaters-hailed-champions-in-international-tournament/
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UP Mindanao debaters hailed champions in international tournament – University of the Philippines
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UP Mindanao debaters hailed champions in international tournament UP Mindanao debaters hailed champions in international tournament September 2, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP Mindanao Debate Society team emerged as champions in the first edition of The Novice Debate (TND) in an online competition on 15 and 16 August 2020. Frederick Omalza, an alumnus of the BS Biology program, and Michael John Galendez, a second-year BS Agribusiness Economics student, triumphed in a 5-2 split decision with convincing rebuttals to a motion for capable individuals to forgo non-essential activities in times of crisis. “We argued that people in vulnerable situations need alternatives to avoid psychological degradation and for people to help in ways they can be most effective,” said Galendez. The Omalza-Galendez duo survived rigorous elimination rounds and reached the semi-finals where they won by unanimous decision against a Malaysian team in their opposition to the motion for the United States to intervene in the India-China conflict. “We argued that the US should not intervene because it has the potential to give a strategic excuse for the Chinese Communist Party to legitimize further military actions in the Himalayas,” said Galendez. The UP Mindanao Debate Society has previously competed and placed in various regional and national debates and were champions in the Mindanao International Humanitarian Law Debates 2017. Omalza was awarded 4th Best Judge in the Taiwan Debate Open 2019. TND was in British Parliamentary format and joined by 40 teams from debate institutions all over Asia. This year’s edition span motions in philosophy, law, international relations, crisis, pop culture, technology, and tourism. Novice debaters are ones who have not participated in major international debate tournaments.
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https://up.edu.ph/national-artist-ryan-cayabyab-leads-2021-upaa-awardees/
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National Artist Ryan Cayabyab leads 2021 UPAA awardees – University of the Philippines
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National Artist Ryan Cayabyab leads 2021 UPAA awardees National Artist Ryan Cayabyab leads 2021 UPAA awardees May 25, 2022 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, National Artist for Music [2nd from left], receives his UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus 2021 award from UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia [extreme left], UP Alumni Regent and UPAA President Reynaldo Laserna [2nd from right], and UPAA Board Member Romeo Nones [extreme right]. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). National Artist for Music Raymundo Cipriano “Ryan” Cayabyab was named 2021 Most Distinguished Alumnus by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA). Thirty-three other alumni, one organization, and five families received recognition for lifetime achievement, contribution to their fields, and service and loyalty to the University at a dinner ceremony on May 19, 2022, at the UP Ang Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman. Recognized for their lifetime achievements were nurse-educator Phoebe Cabotaje-Andes, Justice Francis Jardeleza, Architect Antonio Turalba, and an agriculturist-academician, Dr. Reynaldo Villareal. Named distinguished alumni were: Henry Rhoel Aguda for banking innovation; Dr. Julie Caguiat for community development; Dr. Leonora Angeles for community planning; Cecilia Cayosa-Borromeo for corporate governance in banking and finance; Engr. Jose Maria Ochave for corporate governance in the pharmaceutical industry; Dr. Edgardo Manguiat for music; and Florencio Louis Antonio Quintos for theater. The next batch of distinguished alumni awardees includes Dr. Eligia Clemente for educational innovation; Engr. Ramon Allado for engineering and construction management; Engr. Raymund Arnold Albert for entrepreneurship and employment creation; Prof. Herman Mendoza for environmental conservation and sustainable development; Atty. Generoso Calonge and Atty. Jaime Victor Ledda for foreign service; Ramon Eleuterio Alikpala for water governance; and Santa Rosa, Laguna Mayor Arlene Arcillas and Andrea Domingo for good governance. The large hall in Ang Bahay ng Alumni comes alive once again as the UPAA honors this year’s jubilarians and crop of Distinguished Alumni awardees. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). The third batch consisted of Dr. Rodrigo Angelo Ong and Evelyn Calica-Mayuga for humanitarian services; Dr. Herbert Gaisano for medical health research; Dr. Abraham Rasul, Jr. for overseas health professional empowerment; Dr. Manuel Vallesteros for public health promotion; Sen. Pilar Juliana Cayetano for public service; Atty. Roberto Rafael Lucila for legal empowerment and development; and Eleanor Guerrero-Campbell for public service for the welfare of Filipino migrants and urban planning and innovation. Mia Joy Oallares-Cawed is the awardee for legal development and empowerment in protecting women and children; Prof. Reynaldo Libunao Garcia for molecular biology; Dr. Armand Salvador Mijares for archaeology Engr. Francisco Arellano, for water conservation and sustainable development. Ethel Rubio of UPAA-Greater Los Angeles and the UPAA in America Inc. are UPAA awardees for Distinguished Service. The Uson-Noel family is the four-generation UPAA awardee. The Cariño, Papasin-Tapang, Pineda-Romero, and Turalba families are recognized for producing three unbroken generations of UP alumni. UP President Danilo Concepcion gives a virtual toast in honor of the UPAA Distinguished Alumni awardees. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). Malaki ang responsibilidad ng isang alumnus ng UP.” The 2021 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus, Mr. C, delivers his address on behalf of his fellow awardees. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). The UPAA awards are traditionally held in conjunction with the organization’s annual general alumni homecoming. This year’s jubilarians were Batches ’96, ’81, ’71, and ’61. Because of the pandemic, their presentations were videotaped. The first face-to-face awarding ceremony during the COVID-19 pandemic was also an opportunity to hand over the trophies and plaques to the 2020 UPAA awardees, the UP health front-liners represented by the UP constituent university chancellors. The UPAA decided to give an unprecedented collective award, the UPAA Most Distinguished Alumni Award, for their service in the face of the global pandemic. UP President Danilo Concepcion, who hosted the event, sent a video message to the awardees. “This recognition from the UP Alumni Association is distinct. Your Alma Mater and your fellow alumni honor you for bringing pride and glory to UP and embodying the Tatak UP to the fullest,” he said. Concepcion described the awardees as “heroes” and “exemplars.” “Our people, especially our UP students, need to see more demonstrations of the values to help them navigate this ‘new normal,” he pointed out. Cayabyab described the award as “very special,” coming from the University where he lived since birth, the son of a College of Music faculty member and opera singer, studied from elementary to college, and taught for two decades. “Malaki ang responsibilidad ng isang alumnus ng UP. . . . Hindi po natatapos ang paglilingkod nating mga isko at iska sa bayan. Ang alam ko, titigil lamang ang paglikha ko ng musika kapag ako’y patay na,” Cayabyab stressed. He made a point about UP alumni knowing how to sort through the mass information, lies, and errors online.
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https://up.edu.ph/fighting-maroons-take-down-soaring-falcons/
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Fighting Maroons take down Soaring Falcons – University of the Philippines
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Fighting Maroons take down Soaring Falcons Fighting Maroons take down Soaring Falcons September 17, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo The Mall of Asia Arena watches the ball from Bright Akhuetie’s second free throw that would give UP the lead against Adamson in the last seconds of the game. This was the winning shot for the Fighting Maroons. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) It was a nail-biter reminiscent of last season’s finals bid: the UP Fighting Maroons head to head with the Adamson University Soaring Falcons. Last year’s semifinals saw UP snatching the finals spot away from Adamson, knocking away its twice-to-beat advantage in what was arguably the two most exciting games of Season 81 of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament. Denied! Ricci Rivero rejects Jerom Lastimosa’s last attempt for the Soaring Falcons. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) In their much anticipated first meeting in Season 82, UP’s Bright Akhuetie and prized recruit Kobe Paras rallied the Fighting Maroons to victory in overtime, 83-82. Akhuetie filed his second double-double of the season with 18 points and 18 rebounds, while the debuting Paras successfully emerged from his baptism of fire with 20 markers and six boards. Save for Juan Gomez de Liaño’s one trip to the line, Akhuetie and Paras received the most charity chances. Both also clocked in the longest playing times among the UP squad this season, with Paras playing for 41:05 and Akhuetie for 34:38. Top scorer in the match against Adamson, Kobe Paras celebrates the UP victory in his first game of the season. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The tight first quarter saw the Maroons ahead with the first lead change of the match happening in the last few minutes, ending with a two-point deficit for UP at 18-20. Six of those points were off David Murrell’s field goals, six from Paras’s basket and free throws, four from Akhuetie’s field goal and charities, and two courtesy of Jun Manzo’s basket. Soaring Maroon? David Murrell flies to an early basket. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) No fear. Kobe Paras takes on the taller Lenda Douanga to sink a Maroon basket. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) But Adamson was hell-bent on widening the gap in the next quarter. One-and-done Falcon guard Val Chauca surely made his presence felt by banking 15 of his team’s 21 points: nine points from three treys, four from two inside the arc, and two from the line. UP struggled against Adamson’s 11-0 run in the second half of the quarter, with only one inside shot by Akhuetie and one of two free throws from Paras. The team from Diliman trailed by 16 at the end of the first half, 25-41. Bright Akhuetie tries to snatch the ball off Lenda Douanga. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Jaydee Tungcab on the way to make two for UP (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The UP Pep Squad shows the “puso” in the UP mantra, “Utak at Puso” (mind and heart). (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) As if the double-digit damage to UP wasn’t enough, Adamson veteran Jerrick Ahanmisi shot two, less than 30 seconds into the third quarter, marking the biggest lead in the game at 18. But the Fighting Maroons weren’t about to take it lightly. Fresh off the bench, James Spencer goes for three. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Whatever happened in the Maroon dugout during half-time was the much needed shot in the arm as UP retaliated with three runs after Ahanmisi’s basket: 9-0, 7-0, and 6-0, with the in-betweens accounting for only three Adamson points. Less than two minutes remaining, Falcon AP Manlapaz stopped UP’s run with a two-pointer, only to be answered by Paras’s inside shot. Adamson center Lenda Douanga sank another basket before Juan Gomez de Liaño’s trey sealed the deal for UP to end the third quarter with a two-point lead, 52-50. Juan Gomez de Liaño drives to the basket as Jerrick Ahanmisi tries to step on the brakes in this fast break. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Noah Webb tries to get up after taking the shot as everyone waits for the ball to drop. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Double high-fives. UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics Dean Francis Diaz (in maroon) and former Maroon captain Paul Desiderio celebrate after Juan Gomez de Liaño banks a three to give UP a two-point lead at the end of the third quarter. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Heart-stopping would be one of the best ways to describe the last quarter, with five deadlocks and six lead changes across the last ten minutes of regulation time. UP’s James Spencer kicked things off with a three-point shot a few seconds in and Adamson replied with a 7-0 run. With 22 seconds left and the team from Ermita up by three, Paras drove to the basket against three Falcons as fellow Maroon Javi Gomez de Liaño ran outside the arc. As if guided by a sixth sense, Paras executed a smooth no-look pass to the UP forward who was free to take the three-pointer. With 17.8 seconds remaining and 10 left in the shot clock, Gomez de Liaño’s trey slid into the ring to tie the game. With no answer from Adamson, the match went into overtime. It’s one against four as Ricci Rivero rises above the Soaring Falcons to take the two. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Man on a mission. Focus is etched on Javi Gomez de Liaño’s face as he takes the three-pointer to tie the game for UP. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) The first three minutes of the five-minute overtime saw UP behind by seven, 75-82, with only a two-pointer from Akhuetie against nine Falcon points. But Adamson began to unravel after its shot clock violation in the last two minutes. Akhuetie made his two charities. With less than a minute to go, Paras scored two. Manzo stole the ball from Ahanmisi with 39 seconds left and went for the layup, cutting down the Falcon lead to one. “U-ni-ber-si-dad-ng-Pi-li-pi-nas,” chants the Maroon crowd. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Bright Akhuetie goes for the paint points two minutes into overtime. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Kobe Paras takes the ball to the basket from Juan Gomez de Liaño’s inbound pass to bring UP’s deficit down to three with 52 seconds left in the game clock. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Jun Manzo lays it up after swiping the ball from Falcon Jerrick Ahanmisi across the court, with 39 seconds left to play. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) With Adamson in possession and looking to set up its play, Maroon Juan Gomez de Liaño intercepted a pass from Ahanmisi to Manlapaz and ran with it. A mad scramble in the dying seconds of overtime ended with Akhuetie getting fouled. Sinking both his free throws with 2.8 seconds remaining, he gave UP the one-point lead. Ricci Rivero then foiled Falcon Jerom Lastimosa’s attempt at a three by tipping the ball and securing UP’s win. The UP Fighting Maroons will be facing the National University Bulldogs next, on September 18, 10:30am, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
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https://up.edu.ph/upaa-sends-out-a-call-for-nominations-for-up-alumni-awards-2023/
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UPAA sends out a call for nominations for UP Alumni Awards 2023 – University of the Philippines
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UPAA sends out a call for nominations for UP Alumni Awards 2023 UPAA sends out a call for nominations for UP Alumni Awards 2023 January 23, 2023 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) has launched the search for nominees for the UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards 2023. The awards are given to honor UP alumni who have pre-eminently distinguished themselves, based on the concept that “when the prestige of the alumni increases, the prestige of the institution is thereby increased.” The awards ceremony for 2023 will be held on Saturday, August 19, at 4:30 p.m., at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City. The UPAA grants awards to UP alumni who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in their chosen fields of endeavor and have given outstanding contributions that bring about significant benefits to society and distinct honor to the University. Recognition is given to those with accomplishments that impact the communities in which they are or have been active, whether on the local, national, or international level. The categories for nominations are: UPAA Most Distinguished Alumna and Alumnus Award – given to an alumnus/alumna who, in addition to qualifying for a UPAA Distinguished Alumni Award, also satisfies the criteria for the Most Distinguished Alumna/Alumnus Award described below; UPAA Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Awards – given to senior alumni who have achieved professional distinction and demonstrated meritorious service throughout their career; UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards – conferred on alumni who have demonstrated exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions in their chosen field of endeavor; UPAA Distinguished Service Awards – given to individual alumni and alumni chapters or groups who have rendered exceptional service in the pursuit of the goals of the University and the Association; UPAA Multigenerational UP Alumni Family Awards – bestowed on families who have produced, as of the end of 2019 and 2020, at least three successive generations of UP alumni. The 2023 UPAA Awards Committee urges sectors and groups to identify alumni nominees who are everyday heroes or unsung achievers who make a difference through their quiet work in obscure areas of the country or foreign territories. Nominations for the awards are accepted from any UP alumnus or alumni chapter until Friday, March 31, 2023. For details, please get in touch with the UPAA Secretariat at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, Magsaysay Ave, UP Diliman, Quezon City, tels. 7910-6390; 7587-8722; or email upaa.awards2023@gmail.com. Conceived in 1933, the UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards began with the UPAA Gold Medal of Merit and the Diploma of Honor. Until 1938, only two UP alumni were chosen annually to receive the awards. The awards were suspended in 1939, and again in 1941 to 1946, due to World War II. However, in 1947, four UP alumni were posthumously awarded as war heroes. As the University grew older, more and more UP alumni attained distinction. Thus, in 1957, the UPAA began giving awards in the different service categories, which today are the UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards. In addition, as the UPAA’s activities multiplied and it began calling on the assistance of some of its members, the UPAA Service Award was created in 1968. In 2020, the first year of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the UPAA decided to give just one unprecedented collective award, the UPAA Most Distinguished Alumni Award, to all UP Health Frontliners all over the world, living and deceased, who heroically continued to serve in their various lines of work in the face of the hazards of contagion to their lives.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-to-launch-official-email-service-for-its-alumni/
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UP to launch official email service for its alumni – University of the Philippines
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UP to launch official email service for its alumni UP to launch official email service for its alumni October 29, 2021 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines (UP) is proud of its vast academic community, especially its over 300,000 alumni. They include among their ranks outstanding leaders and professionals in the country and around the world who continue to make their mark in their respective fields. UP is launching its Alumni Email Registration (AER), an online application platform on the UP System Office of Alumni Relations (UP OAR) website. The virtual launch of the AER, dubbed “Let’s KONEK: Taralets!” will be held on November 12, Friday, at 10:00 a.m. Manila standard time, via TVUP’s YouTube channel, and the official UP YouTube and Facebook page. The OAR hopes to bind this global UP community even more closely and keep communication lines between the University and its alumni. The UP alumni email is a service created for bona fide UP alumni who have been verified by the UP OAR. UP alumni are provided with their very own UP alumni email account, @alum.up.edu.ph, which bears the mark of a proud Iskolar ng Bayan and reflects the alumni’s shared membership in the UP community. In addition, the UP alumni email aims to serve as the gateway to many benefits in the University. It has unlimited storage and will be the vehicle for the latest information on University and UP alumni events and opportunities for donation or volunteerism straight to the inbox. The UP alumni email also guarantees that its account-holders receive the monthly Alumni eNewsletter. It will be the keystone in updating the alumni’s personal information in the UP Alumni Database. The UP OAR clarifies that the email account may not be issued to anyone other than the UP alumnus/alumna requesting the service. Only one email account per alumnus/alumna is allowed. The OAR will request periodic status updates from UP alumni to confirm their continued relationship with the University. Be part of the launch of this email service for UP alumni on November 12!
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https://up.edu.ph/up-honors-ched-chair/
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UP honors CHED chair – University of the Philippines
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UP honors CHED chair UP honors CHED chair January 10, 2019 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University held a testimonial dinner in honor of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III on January 4 at the Executive House, UP Diliman. The honoree, Commission on Higher Education Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III says he is privileged to be with friends “in our quest to make Filipinos’ lives better through education.” (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) De Vera, who is an alumnus, professor, and former UP System official, was recognized for his chairmanship of CHED and of the UP Board of Regents, “for consistently exhibiting the outstanding qualities required of the highest implementer of policies and laws on higher education.” His “unwavering resolve to expedite the implementation” of Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act is a testament to de Vera’s character, the citation read. De Vera’s “comprehensive understanding of the issues surrounding higher education,” which was attributed to his being a professor at the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) and his administrative experience in UP Diliman and the UP System, “enabled him to craft timely and relevant policies and reforms.” He was acknowledged for “successfully steering UP’s Padayon Public Service Office in promoting synergy between academic institutions and the government” as VP for public affairs from 2011 to 2016. And finally, de Vera was lauded “for his service as a scholar of the nation, displaying excellence in both national and international fronts of policy development, having served as adviser to the Government of the Philippines negotiating panel, president of the Association of Political Consultants in Asia, director of the Center for Policy and Executive Development, and executive director of the Center for Leadership, Citizenship and Democracy at the [UP NCPAG], among many others.” (Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP MPRO) From left, Atty. Benjamin Moraleda, de Vera’s classmate at Quezon City Science High School; Dr. Edna Co, the honoree’s colleague at UP NCPAG; CHED Commissioner Lilian De Las Llagas, who was also University and BOR secretary when de Vera was VP for public affairs of UP; and National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Lisa Grace Bersales, who served as VP for planning and finance and was de Vera’s colleague in former UP President Alfredo Pascual’s executive team. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) De Vera (left) receives the citation and tokens from UP President Danilo Concepcion. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Regent Angelo Jimenez leads the toast to de Vera. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO)
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https://up.edu.ph/call-for-papers-asian-journalism-research-conference-2019/
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Asian Journalism Research Conference 2019 – University of the Philippines
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Asian Journalism Research Conference 2019 Asian Journalism Research Conference 2019 March 29, 2019 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Department of Journalism of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication invites journalism and communication students to submit entries to the 2019 Asian Journalism Research Conference (AJRC 2019), scheduled on April 12, 2019 (Friday) at the University of the Philippines, Diliman campus. The AJRC 2019 theme is: “JOURNALISM IN CRISIS, CRISIS IN JOURNALISM” The conference will begin with a plenary session on this year’s theme. Invited speakers are: Prof. Edson Tandoc of the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Jeff Canoy of ABS-CBN, 2018 McLuhan Awardee and 2018 Palanca Awardee for Essay Tress Reyes of CNN Philippines Robert Jaworski Abano of Philippine Daily Inquirer This will be followed by an undergraduate student research competition in three categories: Academic Researches in Journalism (Journalism issues/theory) Investigative Reporting (original student work, in-depth print stories) Journalism Projects (original student long form journalism in print, broadcast or new media) The AJRC seeks to promote academic research in Journalism as well as print, broadcast and online in-depth projects. Moreover, AJRC provides a venue for students to share their work with fellow students in the region. The activity is in line with the Department’s thrust of fostering excellence in journalism practice and research as a CHED Center for Excellence. It is organized by the UP CMC Journalism Department in collaboration with the Universiti Sains Malaysia and the University of Santo Tomas Journalism Program. Academic partners include the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Trinity University of Asia. The conference is sponsored by the University of the Philippines Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (UP OVCRD), VERA Files, the Philippine Press Institute, Roland Simbulan and family, Jollibee Corporation and the Embassy of Canada in Manila. For more information email up.journ.dept@mail.com.
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https://up.edu.ph/upous-space-for-lifelong-learning-in-kaohsiung/
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UPOU’s space for lifelong learning in Kaohsiung – University of the Philippines
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UPOU’s space for lifelong learning in Kaohsiung UPOU’s space for lifelong learning in Kaohsiung January 31, 2019 | Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Its name may be Philippines Learning Commons (PLC), but it isn’t just for Filipino workers in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It’s for all overseas workers who wish to acquire knowledge, whether for personal development or career advancement. And yes, locals are welcome, too. A result of the UP Open University’s (UPOU) partnership with the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK), the PLC was inaugurated in November 2018 at the main campus of NUK. It was a highlight of the UPOU-organized 3rd International Conference on Open and Distance e-Learning, which was held abroad for the first time. National University of Kaohsiung President Leon Shyue-Liang Wang during the inauguration of the Philippines Learning Commons in its main campus (Photo from https://www.nuk.edu.tw/files/16-1000-19661.php?Lang=zh-tw) The initiative was also supported by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education, Manila Economic and Cultural Office, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Taiwan Ministry of Labor, Taiwan Ministry of Education, and Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association Kaohsiung. Two months prior to the inauguration, a soft launch was held at the UPOU headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, where NUK President Leon Shyue-Liang Wang captured the essence of collaboration in his statement: “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.” At the inauguration program itself, he said the PLC sparked hope in people “who didn’t even dream of going to college before”. That spark of hope is what UPOU intends to ignite by widening access to quality higher education, for those who need to work or take care of family, for those who can’t physically attend traditional universities, wherever they may be in the world. As the acknowledged leader in open learning and distance education in the Philippines, the UPOU adds another achievement with the PLC and UP, a milestone in its history. Standing, from left: Director-General Cheng Tai-Yun, Kaohsiung-Pingtung-Penghu-Taitung Regional Branch, Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor; UP VP for Planning and Finance Joselito Florendo; and National University of Kaohsiung President Leon Shyue-Liang Wang; Seated, from left: Director General Huang Chiu-Kuei, Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor and UP Open University Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria (Photo from the UP Open University) The latest University statistics from 2017 show that UPOU’s student population only accounts for almost seven percent of the UP System’s population of more than 53,547. It is not an impressive figure. But when one considers that UPOU has the second highest student enrollment on the graduate level across the UP System, then its strength as a provider of advanced and continuing education cannot be ignored. Having global reach means UPOU is no stranger to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) hoping to earn their degrees from UP. One of them is Joanne Gerio, who graduated with a Master of Development Communication degree in 2018. “How fortunate we are now to live in a world where learning is not only confined within the four walls of the classroom,” she said in her valedictory address. The UP Open University (UPOU) caters to those who are unable to attend traditional universities because of familial and professional obligation or because of physical disability. Some of the University’s students and graduates are overseas Filipino workers. Here is the UPOU Class of 2018 during the graduation ceremony in September. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) And it is true. In today’s technology-driven world, anyone, not just OFWs, with internet access can avail of UPOU’s learning materials. They can even become UPOU students, whether through its degree programs or its massive open online courses. There is just a little something extra for those in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. With the PLC, lifelong learners not only have a technology-equipped educational facility, but also the space to converge and converse, where they can learn from quality resource materials and from each other. And UPOU won’t remain the only Philippine institution involved in the PLC. As part of the national university system, it is not only expected to lead but to help build the capacities of other Philippine universities, public and private, so that higher education in the country is strengthened. According to UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria, “This is in consideration of UPOU’s initiative and mandate to cascade our best practices and really include other Philippine universities to have their opportunity to serve and be part of this Philippines Learning Commons.”
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https://up.edu.ph/up-co-hosts-aun-2nd-international-health-promotion-conference/
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UP co-hosts AUN 2nd International Health Promotion Conference – University of the Philippines
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UP co-hosts AUN 2nd International Health Promotion Conference UP co-hosts AUN 2nd International Health Promotion Conference September 24, 2019 | Written by Fred Dabu Officials and participants of the ASEAN University Network-Health Promotion Network (AUN-HPN) 2nd International Health Promotion Conference. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The University of the Philippines (UP), together with the ASEAN University Network (AUN), co-hosted the AUN’s 2nd International Health Promotion Conference, with the theme, “Moving towards Healthy Universities in Asia”, on August 20-21 at the Novotel Manila, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines. With the aim of enhancing the development of health-promoting universities and the implementation of programs based on the “Healthy Universities Framework”, the conference culminated with the signing of the “Manila Declaration: Universities as Centers of Health and Wellness”, a vital and historic output of the conference, on August 21. The AUN-Health Promotion Network (AUN-HPN), a thematic network of the AUN, primarily aims to “create a platform for ASEAN higher education institutions for collaboration and networking among themselves and with other key stakeholders in order to enhance the health promotion efforts in the region”. UP Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa, delivers the welcome message of UP President Danilo L. Concepcion. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. AUN Executive Director Choltis Dhirathiti welcomes the participants of the 2nd International Health Promotion Conference. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Dr. Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti, vice president for International Relations and Corporate Communication, Mahidol University, Thailand, delivers her welcome message. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHEd – Philippines) Chair J. Prospero de Vera III delivers his welcome message. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Welcome messages were delivered by: UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, represented by UP Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa; AUN Executive Director Choltis Dhirathiti; Mahidol University (Thailand) Vice President Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti; and, Commission on Higher Education (CHEd – Philippines) Chair J. Prospero de Vera III at the opening ceremony on August 20. Secretary of Health (Philippines) Francisco Duque III, delivered his keynote message on “Challenges and Opportunities in Promoting Health through Healthy Universities” based on the experiences and accomplishments of the Department of Health and the Universal Health Care law. Hon. Francisco Duque III, Secretary of Health, Philippines, delivers his keynote message, “Challenges and Opportunities in Promoting Health through Healthy Universities: DOH Perspective”. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Plenary and parallel discussion sessions were held, covering a broad range of topics on health-related research, programs, policymaking, institution and country-based experiences, best practices, and networking initiatives in health promotion; as well as addressing prevailing issues, such as mental health, non-communicable diseases, and others. There were a total of 48 poster presentations, 57 parallel oral presentations, and 10 plenary presentations by expert resource persons. Conference participants view research posters outside the plenary hall. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Various topics were discussed in the parallel sessions. Photo by Jun Madrid. Health promotion in universities in Asia Coordinator for Formation and Ethics Guia Tan, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines); and AUN-HPN Executive Director Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn discussed health promotion in Asian universities. Mahidol University (Thailand) Vice President for International Relations and Corporate Communication Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti, Dr. Manuel M. Dayrit, former dean of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, and former Secretary of Health (Philippines), and Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla of UP Manila shared lessons and insights on teaching and learning health promotion. The UP Dance Sport Society, Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club, and De La Salle Innersoul student groups performed special numbers at the welcome dinner. Coordinator for Formation and Ethics Guia Tan of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, Ateneo de Manila University, discusses health promotion in Philippine universities. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. AUN-HPN Executive Director Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn discusses health promotion in universities in Asia. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Translating research to policy The second day of the conference, August 21, marked the signing of the “Manila Declaration: Universities as Centers of Health and Wellness” and the continuation of the plenary and parallel session discussions. Professor Hiroyasu Iso of the Department of Social Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University (Japan), Vice Director Daisaku Nakatani of the Center for Global Health, Osaka University (Japan), and Dr. Orratai Waleewong, researcher in the International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Public Health (Thailand), at the plenary presented key lessons and experiences on translating health promotion research to policy. Professor Hiroyasu Iso of the Department of Social Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University, Japan. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Global health promotion initiatives for universities Health Promotion Technical Officer Riita-Maija Hämäläinen of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, Senior Health Specialist Gerard Servais of the Asian Development Bank, Dr. Supaporn Sudnongbua of the Faculty of Public Health, Naresuan University, Thailand, and Dr. Mark Dooris, Chair of the United Kingdom Healthy Universities, and Professor of Health and Sustainability, and Director of Healthy and Sustainable Settings Unit, University of Central Lancashire, England, discussed specific health promotion programs and global initiatives focusing on universities. Health Promotion Technical Officer Riita-Maija Hämäläinen, of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office discusses specific health promotion programs and global initiatives focusing on universities. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Senior Health Specialist Gerard Servais of the Asian Development Bank discusses specific health promotion programs and global initiatives focusing on universities. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Signing of the “Manila Declaration” The “Manila Declaration for Healthy Universities” focuses on the role of universities as centers of health and wellness, in addition to their being centers of learning, research, and service. “Universities can also serve as hubs for health promotion, health literacy and culture, adoption of healthy lifestyles, and creation of safe and healthy teaching and learning environments,” the Declaration states. The Declaration identifies globalization, changes in human behaviors and relationships, and impact on natural and social environments as factors “resulting in the rise of non-communicable, lifestyle and chronic diseases, injuries, mental health issues”, spread of diseases, and other challenges. With the AUN-HPN and the Healthy Universities Framework it formulates “to address these concerns early in our society’s youth”, member universities are primarily called upon to support and implement the said Framework “to contribute to human development and healthy societies of the future”. The Declaration also emphasizes that addressing global health challenges calls for “the development of innovative approaches, methods and technologies” and “requires the collaboration, coordination, and collective actions of State and non-state actors, parties, and organizations”. “As social, behavioral and natural scientists, health professionals, researchers, administrators, students and staff, we recognize and commit to our task and obligation of creating nurturing, healthy and safe universities and environments necessary for the promotion of the health and wellness of our constituents and the general population,” the Declaration states. Dr. Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn and Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa lead the signing of the “Manila Declaration: Universities as Centers of Health and Wellness”. Photo by Jun Madrid. Conference participants also sign their names on the tarpaulin poster to express their support of the “Manila Declaration: Universities as Centers of Health and Wellness”. Photo by Jun Madrid. “Manila Declaration: Universities as Centers of Health and Wellness”. Photo by Jun Madrid. Conference participants More than 300 participants attended the conference, comprised of experts, researchers, academics, students, and officials of government agencies and non-governmental organizations who are working on health promotion. They came from 12 countries, namely: Brunei (University of Brunei Darussalam); Cambodia (Royal University of Phnom Penh); United Kingdom (University of Central Lancashire); Hong Kong (BSR Asia Pacific Ltd.); Indonesia (Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Airlangga); Japan (Okayama University Medical School, Osaka University, Shinshu University); Malaysia (University Kebangsaan Malaysia, University Putra Malaysia); Myanmar (Defense Services Medical Research Center, University of Economics); Singapore (National University of Singapore); Vietnam (Vietnam National University); Kingdom of Thailand (Mahidol University, Burapha University, Chiang Mai University, Chulalungkorn University, Naresuan University, Thammasat University, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Mahasarakham University, Walailak University, Thai Health Promotion Board); and, the Philippines (UP System offices, UP Manila, UP-Philippine General Hospital, UP Diliman, UP Open University, UP Los Baños, Ateneo de Manila University, Central Mindanao University, Centro Escolar University, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, De La Salle University, Emilio Aguinaldo College in Manila, Department of Health, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Far Eastern University, Institute of Health Policy and Development Studies, Mariveles Medical Hospital, Mariano Marcos State University, National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions, New Era University, Physicians for Peace Philippines, St. Paul University Manila, San Beda University, University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing, Western Mindanao State University, World Health Organization -Western Pacific Regional Office). The Philippines, as host, had 269 registered participants. The country’s initial members of AUN are: UP, De La Salle University, and the Ateneo de Manila University. Thailand had the largest foreign delegation, with 55 participants. Participants of the conference tour the UP Diliman campus. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO.
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https://up.edu.ph/pelikula-lektura-up-film-institute-philippine-cinema-centennial-lecture-series/
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A Filipino in America: 1930s Pelikulang Filipino, Amerikanong Kolonialismo, at Negosiasyon ng Kolonyalidad – University of the Philippines
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A Filipino in America: 1930s Pelikulang Filipino, Amerikanong Kolonialismo, at Negosiasyon ng Kolonyalidad A Filipino in America: 1930s Pelikulang Filipino, Amerikanong Kolonialismo, at Negosiasyon ng Kolonyalidad February 19, 2019 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Pelikula Lektura: UP Film Institute Philippine Cinema Centennial Lecture Series supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines continues with the former Dean of the UP College of Mass Communication and the current director of the UP Institute of Creative Writing Dr. Rolando B. Tolentino—February 28, 2019 (Thursday) 9:30 AM at the UPFI Film Center – Cine Adarna in UP Diliman. Admission is FREE and open to the public. Certificates will be awarded to non-UP Film Institute students and only upon request. For interested participants, you may register at tinyurl.com/PelikulaLekturaRBT LECTURE TITLE A Filipino in America: 1930s Pelikulang Filipino, Amerikanong Kolonialismo, at Negosiasyon ng Kolonyalidad (A Filipino in America: 1930s Filipino Films, American Colonialism, and the Negotiation of Coloniality) ABSTRACT The 1930s marked a beginning in the Philippines to transition from a colony into an independent nation via the Tydings-McDuffie Act that provided for a ten-year commonwealth government beginning in 1935. This meant a trial self-rule initially through the Filipinization of the heads of government offices prior to the granting of independence by the U.S. Film provided a focal point in nation-formation, allowing for a coloniality under the supervision of the U.S. and an experimentation in colonial governance for the Philippine elite on the other hand, and the soft-selling of the official nation-formation through film’s evocation of a new media for middle-class decorum, national language policy, and ideological colonial subject transformation of the masses that patronized the movies on the other hand. In this presentation, I map out the little available materials on the 1930s Filipino films as a successful commercial venture that saw the rise of the first generation studios, and the taking over of the Big Four studios in the late 1930s. The adaption of films provided for a newer popular culture of stars and genres, a devolution of the middle class experience in the expansion of stand-alone moviehouses nationwide, and the popularization of Tagalog as the national local language of choice of the Commonwealth government. I look into two pioneering filmic texts–the film A Filipino in America (Doroteo Ines, 1938, 32:57 min.) and a critical essay “Ang Pelikulang Tagalog” (The Tagalog Film, 1938) by Teodoro Virrey—as discursive formation of the liminal colonial subject—one that remains colonial even as it transitions to independence and post-independence subjectivities. The texts represent the articulation of a local colonial subjectivity—a diasporic laboring subject in the film, and nationalist local subject in the critical essay—within the larger transitioning nation-formation and transformation of the 1930s era and beyond. BIO Rolando B. Tolentino is faculty of the UP Film Institute and former dean of the UP College of Mass Communication. He is Director of the UP Institute of Creative Writing where he also serves as fellow. He has taught at the Osaka University, National University of Singapore, and University of California, Berkeley. His research interests include Philippine literature, popular culture, cinema and media, interfacing national and transnational issues. He writes and has published books on fiction and creative non-fiction. He is a member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Filipino Film Critics Group), Altermidya (People’s Alternative Media Network), and Congress of Teachers and Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND-UP). The Pelikula Lektura: UPFI Philippine Cinema Centennial Lecture Series aims to highlight key historical events and phenomena in Philippine cinema in the last 100 years and reflect upon what history can teach us for the next 100 years of our journey. The lectures will be presented by the leading scholars and respected critics & artists in the roster of the UPFI faculty and lecturers.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-osds-accepting-applications-for-student-learning-assistance-online/
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UP OSDS accepting applications for Student Learning Assistance Online – University of the Philippines
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UP OSDS accepting applications for Student Learning Assistance Online UP OSDS accepting applications for Student Learning Assistance Online November 7, 2022 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Office of Student Development Services has reopened the Student Learning Assistance Online (SLAS Online) to accommodate UP students who require learning assistance in AY 2022-2023. This is also to allow students affected by Typhoon Paeng to apply for financial aid. Undergraduate students, including Juris Doctor and Doctor of Medicine students, may file applications for the UP Grants-In-Aid Program (GIAP) and Remote Learning Assistance through the SLAS Online. Beneficiaries of Free Higher Education (RA 10931) may also apply. The SLASOnline will accept applications beginning on 3 November 2022. Applicants must log in using their respective UP Email (@up.edu.ph). Details of the 3rd round of applications for student learning assistance are as follows: Assistance Application Period 3 – 13 November 2022 Release of Results 14 November 2022 Submission of Appeals 14 – 20 November 2022 Students are encouraged to contact the SFA Helpdesk of their campus should they encounter issues when filing applications to the SLAS Online. Heads of CU Student Affairs Units are requested to disseminate the information to eligible students. For your guidance.
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https://up.edu.ph/tiamzon-relishes-return-to-form-in-win-over-adamson/
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Tiamzon relishes return to form in win over Adamson – University of the Philippines
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Tiamzon relishes return to form in win over Adamson Tiamzon relishes return to form in win over Adamson July 10, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net Nicole Tiamzon has had a diminished role as an attacker with BanKo Perlas with other spikers like Ella De Jesus, Amy Ahomiro, and Amanda Villanueva in the lineup. On Sunday, however, the former University of the Philippines stalwart had the opportunity to start the game. And Tiamzon paid instant dividends with a team-high 14 points in their four-set win over Adamson University, 25-18, 25-16, 21-25, 25-21, in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference. “I guess I’ve been put into the game a little more frequent now and I’m exposed to the game more and to the situation itself,” said Tiamzon as they won their first match in three outings. Tiamzon was absent in the Perlas Spikers’ first game in the conference and when she returned just in time for their second match she rode the bench the whole time. And now that BanKo Perlas was able to win its first game, Tiamzon hopes they can build off from their victory and improve for the rest of the eliminations. “This should be the start because it would be a waste of effort if we don’t capitalize on it,” said Tiamzon. “And I think we finally had the confidence and it’s like this was the first time that we won since last conference.” (Bong Lozada, Inquirer.net) Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/255673/tiamzon-relishes-return-to-form-in-win-over-adamson
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https://up.edu.ph/underdogs-fight/
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Underdogs, fight! – University of the Philippines
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Underdogs, fight! Underdogs, fight! July 14, 2017 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office All smiles for the members of the UP men’s basketball team and coach Bo Perasol after signing a sponsorship agreement with 8990 Holdings chief Januario Jesus “JJ” Atencio for their training in Las Vegas. (Photo from Inquirer.net) Feeling like an underdog is not unusual. A lot of people must have probably felt neglected some time in their lives—that feeling when people underestimate you and they don’t see your true potential and think you are not valuable. Yet, the process of proving them wrong is the sweetest victory that the underdogs can ever experience—enough to start a party by the bonfire. This kind of grit is what property developer 8990 Holdings and the University of the Philippines men’s basketball team (UP Fighting Maroons) have in common. Being underdogs in their respective fields—the latter in collegiate basketball and the former in the housing industry—brought them together in this unique partnership. Last June 24, 8990 Holdings president and chief executive Januario Jesus Gregorio “JJ” Atencio III signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with UP to sponsor the training of the men’s basketball team in Las Vegas in time for the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80. Interestingly enough, Atencio —a true-blue Atenista, but undeniably has a heart for the Maroons—agreed to sponsor the team’s training in one of the best training camps in the world. Although unwilling to disclose the specific amount, he humbly said it would cost him a few million pesos. This is the training camp where NBA and NCAA teams in the US practice and where national teams would want to set foot in. “This is going to be our first time to get them to go there,” Maroons coach Dolreich “Bo” Perasol said in an interview. The underdogs The training camp will be a big help for the Fighting Maroons—always the bottom dwellers in recent years. Last season, their five wins astounded many fans and alumni. From being at the bottom of the rank, the team was two wins away from making it to the final four. 8990 Holdings, on the other hand, is still considered an underdog in the housing industry in spite of its success. This is despite having been listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange in the past seven years. 8990 Holdings is currently valued by the stock market at around P35 billion. This is just a drop in the bucket compared to property blue chips like Ayala Land, which has a market capitalization of around P595 billion, or SM Prime Holdings, which is now valued by the market at close to P1 trillion. 8990 Holdings is also valued at less than half of how much Vista Land is trading for (P77 billion) or less than a third of Megaworld Corp.’s valuation of P145 billion. “Early on, we realized that success is not just a result, it’s a process. And so you got to enjoy the process of becoming champions in the same way that we are in the process of becoming champions in the industry where we are in,” Atencio told the team. 8990 Holdings President Januario Jesus Atencio (center) receives a Toym Imao sculpture as a symbol of appreciation from the UP community for sponsoring the UP men’s basketball team’s training in Las Vegas. From left: UP Fighting Maroons manager Dan Palami, Nowhere to go but UP Foundation founder Renan Dalisay, Atencio, UP President Danilo Concepcion, and Fighting Maroons coach Bo Perasol. (Photo from Inquirer.net) Not smart enough for UP? “My parents are not from UP. My grandparents are not from UP … My mother told me, ‘You know what J? You’re not too smart to study there,’” Atencio recalled. But he can always say he has that UP connection, having taken swimming classes there when he was nine years old. Atencio said he found out about the financial need of the Fighting Maroons from his friends, Renen Dalisay of nowheretogobutUP Foundation and veteran fund manager and entrepreneur Kevin Khoe. “One of the things that interests me with this sponsorship is this: You are the only team in the UAAP and in the NCAA that carries the name, not only just of the school, but also of the country,” Atencio told the UP team. Deca Homes, 8990 Holdings’ banner project offering affordable housing, was similar to the UP community, Atencio said. It’s a community where people from all walks of life are present, he said. Atencio said the basketball team’s potential, commitment and attitude were the reasons why he would root for them. In return, 8990 Holdings wants to encourage the team to join basketball clinics for the homeowners of Deca and become the brand ambassadors of the project. The Las Vegas dream The team members are thrilled for having the chance of training in Las Vegas. Perasol said the training would be on July 22 until August 5. “That’s a two-week training program. The training there is three times a day, so we have two sessions in the morning and one session in the afternoon. It’s [going to be] all about basketball,” Perasol said. The team would also get a chance to train with an expert who has helped players get drafted in the NBA. Perasol said the experience would give them that world-class edge by the time they return for the fresh season. Players Diego Dario and Gelo Vito are also hoping for a stronger and better team after their Las Vegas stint. “The main reason for us in going to the US is to build chemistry within the team. We feel that it’s really important coming in to the season, knowing that they’re saying that we are contenders. Everything starts with team chemistry,” Vito said. During the off-season, the Fighting Maroons participated in the FilOil Flying V Premier Cup, which the players said helped them get their act together. Ibrahim Ouattara, the 6-foot-9 find from the Republic of Mali, has easily adapted to the Maroons’ style, thanks to the camaraderie within the team. He showed his exceptional skills in the court and posted a 22-point, 25-rebound double-double to lead UP in the FilOil semifinals game against San Beda. At the very least, Ouattara said the training would help them be on par with other leading teams in the UAAP. “I think it’s a pretty good thing because for a team to really be ready on a higher level like La Salle and Ateneo, you have to be ready not only with the resources but also with the performance in the court. There is work before that. Like this preparation for example, the team going to Vegas is going to help us to be better and to perform well,” Ouattara said. Members of the team can only thank their supporters, including 8990 Holdings. “We’re always grateful to anyone who helps the team and we’re looking forward [to the trip]. I think that’s going to help us be more competitive this coming season,” Dario said. It only takes one person to believe in a team like the Fighting Maroons to become more motivated in their quest for success. Atencio may have once been a stranger to the UP community, but is now one of the biggest benefactors of the underdogs in the UAAP. (Caselda Cruz and Odelinne Jan Lina, Inquirer.net) Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/232762/underdogs-fight
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https://up.edu.ph/ups-charmed-season-81-ends-with-runners-up-trophy/
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UP’s Charmed Season 81 Ends with Runners-Up Trophy – University of the Philippines
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UP’s Charmed Season 81 Ends with Runners-Up Trophy UP’s Charmed Season 81 Ends with Runners-Up Trophy December 6, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office In a game that rallied the UP community to a degree rarely seen in the last 32 years, the UP Men’s Basketball Team settled for the runners-up trophy, falling to now back-to-back champions Ateneo Blue Eagles, 99-81 at the Araneta Coliseum on December 5, 2018. It was a passionate showing for the Fighting Maroons and their supporters, who stayed to cheer their boys on long after the contest had been decided. Ateneo ace Thirdy Ravena, who was forced to shoot from the outside by good defense from Javi Gomez de Liaño, was simply too much for the Maroons. He scored 38 points, including two consecutive 3-pointers in the 4th quarter, which effectively put away any comeback hopes for UP. Fresh from a near-triple double performance in Game 1, Ravena’s point total is the highest in a UAAP Finals game since 2003. Ange Kouwame, who, before the game, was named the first foreign-born Rookie of the Year in UAAP Men’s Basketball history, was unstoppable in the paint, outplaying the injured Season 81 MVP Bright Akhuetie en route to 22 points of his own, with 20 rebounds. Ateneo’s pick-and-roll plays, with Kouwame as the roll man, were a constant thorn in the side of the Maroons, as the 19-year old Ivorian feasted on smaller defenders off switches with easy dunks all evening. Despite shooting woes, both from the field and from the line, the Fighting Maroons played intense basketball until the final whistle, led by a resurgent Paul Desiderio and Season 80 Rookie of the Year Juan Gomez de Liaño. They found themselves in an 11-point halftime hole, however, having shot just 35% from the field and getting outrebounded 30-18. These difficulties would persist in the second half, and Ateneo’s lead was never truly threatened from then on. Desiderio bounced back from his Game 1 struggles to score 15 points, grab 7 rebounds and dish out 3 assists in his last game as a Fighting Maroon. Juan Gomez de Liaño valiantly led most of UP’s runs in the second half, finishing with a team high 24 points and 7 rebounds. Akhuetie, whose left knee brace became a source of controversy and delay before the game, finished with 19 points. Despite the setback, the UP fans among the more than 23,000 Game 2 attendees, showed their appreciation for the team’s impressive showing throughout the season up until the singing of school hymns. It was the first time since 1986 since the Men’s Basketball Team last had a taste of the Finals, and the team never quit despite seemingly insurmountable odds. (Andre DP. Encarnacion, UP MPRO)
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https://up.edu.ph/irelands-ambassador-to-the-philippines-visits-up/
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Ireland’s Ambassador to the Philippines visits UP – University of the Philippines
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Ireland’s Ambassador to the Philippines visits UP Ireland’s Ambassador to the Philippines visits UP August 8, 2022 | Written by Fred Dabu From left to right: UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia; Assistant to the Ambassador Nicole Mempin; UP Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Evangeline C. Amor; Ambassador of Ireland William John Carlos; UP President Danilo Concepcion; UP Assistant Vice President and Office of International Linkages Director Imee S. Martinez; and UP OIL Senior Project Assistant Chynna Riego. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). His Excellency William John Carlos, Irish Ambassador to the Philippines, met with University of the Philippines (UP) President Danilo L. Concepcion and UP System officials in Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, on Aug. 4, 2022, to discuss potential partnerships between UP and universities in Ireland. The visit signals the start of academic collaboration between UP and Irish universities, such as University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and the National University of Ireland. With Amb. Carlos and President Concepcion were: Nicole Mempin, Assistant to the Ambassador; Elena E. Pernia, UP Vice President for Public Affairs; Imee S. Martinez, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Internationalization) and Director, Office of International Linkages (OIL); Evangeline C. Amor, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Instruction and Curriculum); and, Chynna Riego, Senior Project Assistant, OIL. UP President Concepcion and Ambassador Carlos discuss potential partnerships between UP and universities in Ireland. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO).
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https://up.edu.ph/uppo-launches-online-hub-during-hybrid-conference/
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UPPO launches online hub during hybrid conference – University of the Philippines
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UPPO launches online hub during hybrid conference UPPO launches online hub during hybrid conference November 11, 2022 | Written by Fred Dabu The UP System Procurement Office holds a conference for procurement officers across the UP System. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). The University of the Philippines System Procurement Office (UPPO), in cooperation with the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), held a conference on the procurement process at the University on October 28 at the International Center for Public Administration (ICPA), UP NCPAG, UP Diliman, Quezon City. The event also served as a venue for the launch of the website created by the UPPO for all its stakeholders. UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo addresses the UPPO conference participants. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). Dubbed “Demystifying Procurement, Making the Right Choices,” the event was attended by administrative personnel from UP constituent units across the country. About 200 participants were physically present at the ICPA, and more than 160 joined online via Zoom. The UPPO enlivened the conference by conducting educational games in familiar formats: multiple choice, family feud, rearranging the letters to form words, and role-playing activities that imparted knowledge on different terms, stages, and members involved the procurement process. The UP Procurement Hub, the website created by the UPPO for all its stakeholders (the UP constituent units, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) members, BAC secretariat, and end-users), was launched in the afternoon. This website contains useful information such as procurement manuals, sample technical specifications based on previously awarded projects, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) that provide users with workflow and detailed instructions. Visit the UPPO website at www.upprocurement.wordpress.com. According to Atty. Flor “Rissa” Ofilada, Director of the UPPO, the hub aims to “streamline and harmonize the procurement process, maximize the utilization of human and institutional resources, and create a collaborative and engaging environment for the office and the University.” She explained that the website contains information that can be accessed by the public and contents that are accessible only to authorized UP personnel. The website users are assisted through self-explanatory documents available in the hub while promoting economy and efficiency in government transactions. The conference culminated with a cocktail party featuring performances by the UPPO Band. The UPPO Band brings the jams to the UPPO conference. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO).
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https://up.edu.ph/up-opens-new-training-center-for-fighting-maroons/
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UP opens new training center for Fighting Maroons – University of the Philippines
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UP opens new training center for Fighting Maroons UP opens new training center for Fighting Maroons February 1, 2023 | Written by Fred Dabu Members of the UP varsity teams, collectively called the UP Fighting Maroons and UP System officials pose with the thumbs-up sign at the start of the inaugural ceremony. UP officials at the center, from left to right: Vice-President for Administration Nestor G. Yunque, Vice President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pernia, Vice President for Development Elvira A. Zamora, President-elect Angelo A. Jimenez, President Danilo L. Concepcion, UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo, CHK Dean Francis B. Diaz, Fighting Maroons manager Agaton O. Uvero, and NowheretogobutUP Foundation Inc. (ntgbUP) Chair Jed M. Eva III. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO) The varsity teams of the University of the Philippines (UP), collectively called the “UP Fighting Maroons,” will have a new training center starting this year to hone their skills and pursue excellence in sports. Officials of the UP and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) led the inauguration of the UP Varsity Training Center (UP VTC) on January 25, 2023. Located at the UP College of Human Kinetics (CHK) grounds at E. Jacinto Street corner Magsaysay Avenue in the UP Diliman campus in Quezon City, the center has a total floor area of 1,879.42 square meters. It offers a wide range of “state-of-the-art resources to help UP student-athletes reach their full potential.” Faculty and students can also use the center for academic purposes such as research and instruction. The project, which had an allocated budget of Php130 million for the period 2019-2023, was completed with the support of Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and the DPWH under the leadership of Sec. Mark A. Villar. The CHK’s new facility provides UP athletes with the latest training and conditioning equipment. Team members can also use the conference rooms for meetings and the court for basketball and other indoor sports. Construction of phase one of the training facility started in July 2019. Completion of phase three is scheduled for April 2023. The DPWH Quezon City 2nd District Engineering Office serves as an implementer. DEVEX Incorporated is the contractor for the project. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo, UP President-elect Angelo A. Jimenez, UP Fighting Maroons manager Agaton O. Uvero, Department of Public Works and Highways – National Capital Region (DPWH – NCR) Assistant Regional Director Juby B. Cordon and UP CHK Dean Francis B. Diaz delivered messages of support for the student-athletes during the event. AVP for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili served as program emcee. This training center is the latest facility for UP athletes built and completed in the Diliman campus during the Concepcion administration, adding to the baseball field, football stadium, and the Epsilon Chi health and fitness center that opened in previous years. The new UP Varsity Training Center. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). UP President Danilo L. Concepcion leads the ceremonial ribbon cutting and unveiling of the marker of the new UP Varsity Training Center located at the College of Human Kinetics ground at E. Jacinto Street corner Magsaysay Avenue in the UP Diliman campus in Quezon City. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). UP President Danilo L. Concepcion leads the ceremonial ribbon cutting and unveiling of the marker of the new UP Varsity Training Center located at the College of Human Kinetics ground at E. Jacinto Street corner Magsaysay Avenue in the UP Diliman campus in Quezon City. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). Photos showing some of the UP varsity teams’ new gym equipment being installed on the ground floor of the training center. Photos by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). UP President Danilo L. Concepcion delivers his inspirational message. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo thanks the UP System, College of Human Kinetics, and DPWH officials for completing the project for the varsity teams. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). Atty. Agaton O. Uvero, manager of the UP Men’s Basketball Team, urges the UP community and officials to continue supporting the varsity teams. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). Incoming UP President Angelo A. Jimenez pledges to continue supporting the CHK’s initiatives for its students, faculty and personnel, and the Fighting Maroons. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). DPWH – NCR Assistant Regional Director Juby B. Cordon delivers her message to UP’s athletes and the UP community. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). CHK Dean Francis “Kiko” Carlos B. Diaz thanks Senators Chiz Escudero and Mark Villar for their support for the UP and DPWH officials and the UP community. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). The UP Fighting Maroons’ multi-purpose court. Photos by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO). With UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and UP College of Law professor Atty. Ma. Gabriela “Gaby” Roldan-Concepcion at the center. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UP MPRO).
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https://up.edu.ph/mindanao-fractured-promises-continuing-challenges/
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Mindanao: Fractured Promises, Continuing Challenges – University of the Philippines
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Mindanao: Fractured Promises, Continuing Challenges Mindanao: Fractured Promises, Continuing Challenges March 6, 2020 | Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) is hosting the second installment of the Mindanao: Fractured Promises, Continuing Challenges forum series on March 13, 2020 (Friday), 1:00–5:00 PM, at the UP CIDS Conference Hall, Lower Ground Floor, Ang Bahay ng Alumni, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. This event is organized in cooperation with the Program on Alternative Development (AltDev), Assessment, Curriculum, and Technology Research Program (ACTRP), Decolonial Studies Program (DSP), Program on Escaping the Middle-Income Trap: Chains for Change (EMIT C4C), Islamic Studies Program (ISP), and Political Economy Program (PEP) of the UP CIDS. About the Forum Series The forum series aims to harness the research of the various UP CIDS programs conducting policy-oriented studies to examine some of the issues and concerns that define the Mindanao conundrum and arrive at recommendations addressed to the country’s decision-makers and other stakeholders. The second forum will tackle political, historical, and educational issues with specific focus on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Speakers PANEL 1: POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL ISSUES IN MINDANAO 1:15 to 2:45 PM Moderator: Aaron Abel T. Mallari (UP CIDS Decolonial Studies Program) From ARMM to BARMM: Transition Plan and Implication Julkipli M. Wadi Professor, UP Institute of Islamic Studies Decolonizing Polity Based on Muslim Thoughts: Reflections on BARMM Nassef Manabilang Adiong, Ph.D. Project Leader, UP CIDS Decolonial Studies Program National Workshop and Conference on Philippine Muslim History (PMH) Darwin J. Absari Assistant Professor, UP Institute of Islamic Studies PANEL 2: EDUCATION 3:15 to 4:45 PM Moderator: Darwin J. Absari (UP Institute of Islamic Studies) Sustainability Concerns of the Madrasah Education Program: Basis for Philippine Islamic and Madrasah Education Policy Review Arlyne C. Marasigan, Ph.D. Senior Researcher, UP CIDS Islamic Studies Program Proposed Policy Review on BARMM Madaris Education Yassen Ala Co-founder, Youth Peace Hub and Philippine Collaboration for Inclusive Economies Alternative Delivery Modes of Education in the BARMM Marie Therese A. P. Bustos, Ph.D. Convenor, UP CIDS Assessment, Curriculum, and Technology Research Program Download the full concept note and schedule of the forums here. Registration The forum is free and open to the public, but pre-registration via bit.ly/cidsmindanao is required. (Note: The registration form is both for the February 20 and March 13 forums.) Inquiries For inquiries, kindly contact Ms. Liza Villanueva (Administrative Officer, UP CIDS Assessment, Curriculum, and Technology Research Program) at l.villanueva@actrc.org or at (02) 8981-8500 loc. 8682.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-hosts-delegates-from-southern-taiwan-universities/
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UP hosts delegates from Southern Taiwan Universities – University of the Philippines
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UP hosts delegates from Southern Taiwan Universities UP hosts delegates from Southern Taiwan Universities January 25, 2019 | Written by Fred Dabu Officials and faculty from the University of the Philippines, Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association, and Southern Taiwan Universities. Photo by Jun Madrid. University of the Philippines (UP) officials met with visiting officials and faculty from Southern Taiwan Universities and the Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association, Kaohsiung on Jan. 22, 2019 at the Tearoom of the UP College of Home Economics in Diliman, Quezon City. The lunch meeting was held to start off a weeklong itinerary that aims to promote deeper friendships among the delegates of the collaborating institutions and organizations and to provide them with updates on continuing initiatives in pursuit of national and of Southeast Asian development. Representatives from the Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Shu-Te University, National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, National University of Kaohsiung, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung Medical University, Chang Jung Christian University, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Nanhua University, National Chung Hsing University, Yuan Ze University, Tung Fang Design University, Kainan University, 18H Coffee Co., Hua Hsi Chang Enterprise Co., KAGRO Biotech Co., Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, Formosa Social Innovation Development Institute, and The Greater Southern Branch of the Taiwan Yunus Foundation, together with officials from the UP System, UP Diliman, UP Manila, UP Open University, UP Baguio, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) were briefed on activities conducted since the group’s first formal meetings were held a couple of years ago. In his welcome message, UP System Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa said, ”The meetings are continually bearing the desired fruits: academic partnerships, harnessing of identified strengths, and mutually beneficial upgrading of skills of our networks’ personnel.” Herbosa added that these international, inter-university and multi-sectoral dialogues “promote collaborations for academic, economic and technological developments beneficial to our region and most especially to our peoples.” Dr. Yuan-Hsiang Chu, President of Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association, Kaohsiung. Photo by Jun Madrid. Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association President Yuan-Hsiang Chu thanked UP for having been their “second home” since 2015, wherein the friendships among UP and Taiwan universities’ faculty as well as the Taiwanese delegation have also grown to include wider participation and more representatives from various sectors. Professor Pearl Lin, President of National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, acknowledged the officials’ dedication for making the collaborations possible. She also invited Filipino academics to make Taiwan their “second home” for visits and postgraduate studies. Chair Professor Eing-Ming Wu of Shu-Te University introduced the members of the Taiwanese delegation and gave an overview of their itinerary for the week. He expressed optimism for fostering a deeper relationship with the UP System. Professor Maria Cynthia Rose B. Bautista, UP System Vice President for Academic Affairs, introduced the officials of the Filipino universities present at the workshop. She added that all these initiatives started from friendships and common goals among faculty from the participating universities. Professor Eing-Ming Wu of Shu-Te University. Photo by Jun Madrid. The delegates were grouped according to their fields of specialization and interests, such as: management, health, open education, engineering, hospitality and tourism, social sciences, and natural sciences. Presentations on the Learning Commons sponsored by the National University of Kaohsiung, micro and social enterprises in Taiwan, faculty and student exchange programs, and postgraduate programs introduced the participants to new prospects for collaboration. Professor Gil S. Jacinto, UP System Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Internationalization) and Director of the Office of International Linkages, provided a recap of the milestones achieved over a short period of time through UP’s partnership with Edu-Connect and Southern Taiwan Universities. He said the meeting led to more opportunities to link the academe with more sectors and opened participants to new prospects in the future. Prof. Mary Delia G. Tomacruz, UP System Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (R&D Resource Management) facilitated the conduct of the event as the master of ceremonies. The delegation is scheduled to meet in activities to be held from Jan. 22 to 27 with officials of: the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHED); National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC); Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU); University of Makati; University of Pasig City; Pasig City; Mandaluyong City; Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO); Batangas State University; Cavite State University (Indang); the Asian Development Bank (ADB); and, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO). Participants aim to “explore international university-industry linkages, educational collaborations, university social responsibility projects, and research lab networking in the Manila Metropolitan and Calabarzon region”. The weeklong visit was co-organized by the Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association together with: MECO, Taiwan Association Inc., Taiwan Institute of Economic Research; and in collaboration with the UP System, PASUC, ALCU, ADB, NEDA, CHED, DOST, DTI, Mandaluyong City, and Pasig City.
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https://up.edu.ph/filipino-historian-dr-samuel-k-tan-passes-away-88/
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Filipino historian Dr. Samuel K. Tan passes away, 88 – University of the Philippines
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Filipino historian Dr. Samuel K. Tan passes away, 88 Filipino historian Dr. Samuel K. Tan passes away, 88 January 7, 2022 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Dr. Samuel K. Tan. Photo from The Sulu Cultural and Historical Society on Facebook. Renowned Filipino historian and academician, former Chair of the Department of History, University of the Philippines, and former Chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Dr. Samuel Kong Tan, passed away on January 6 at 88. He leaves behind a legacy of scholarly works, books, and writings exploring the History of the Philippines, especially of the Muslim South. A proud son of the South with Chinese-Tausug-Sama parentage, Dr. Tan was born in Siasi, Sulu, on December 30, 1933. He was a consistently outstanding student, completing his elementary education at the Jolo Tong Jin School in 1949 and his secondary education at the Zamboanga City High School in 1953, both as valedictorian. He earned his AB degree in History at the Zamboanga A.E. College in 1963, graduating summa cum laude. He completed his MA in History from UP in 1967 and his Ph.D. in Social Science from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, New York, in 1973. Dr. Tan taught at the UP Department of History from 1963 to 1994, training and mentoring generations of historians and history educators. He became Department Chair from 1977 to 1982. In 1994, he became Director and Convenor of the Mindanao Studies Program of the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies, which he held until 2002. He also served as a Research Fellow and Consultant of the Tadhana Special Research Project under the Office of the Philippine President from 1974 to 1985. He was a Consultant for the Region IX Commission in 1976 and served as a consultant of Senator Santanina T. Rasul from 1987 to 1992; of Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) Administrator Almarin C. Tillah in 1999; and of Congressman Nur G. Jaafar from 2001 to 2002. Dr. Tan served as Chairman-Executive Director of the National Historical Institute (NHI) and as Commissioner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) from 1997 to 1998; and Commissioner of the National Centennial Commission from 1997 to 1999. He was a Research Fellow, coordinator, and Consultant of the Regional Histories Project of the National Library from 1981 to 1983 and Consultant for History and Culture of the SPDA. He served as a lecturer in various academic institutions such as the National Defense College of the Philippines, the Development Academy of the Philippines, Sophia University, Silsilah Dialogue Institute, De la Salle University, and Mindanao State University. Dr. Tan authored more than 20 books, including The Muslim Armed Struggle in the Philippines, 1900-1941 (1973); A History of the Philippines (1987); Decolonization and Filipino Muslim Identity (1989); Internationalization of the Bangsamoro Struggle (1993); The Critical Decade, 1921-1930 (1993); The Filipino-American War, 1899-1913 (2002); and the three-volume Surat Sug: Letters of the Sultanate of Sulu (2005) and The Muslim South and Beyond (2010). The Philippine National Historical Society (PNHS), through its President Bernadita Churchill, noted that “Tan’s writings long nurtured not only a spatial perspective and cultural sensibility, reflective of his familial roots deeply sown in Siasi, but also pioneered and sustained a new way of seeing and sensing the Muslim South as an integral part of the national narrative in modern Philippine history.” Dr. Tan is a recipient of a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship (1970-1973). He also received the Chairman’s Award of Region IX Commission for outstanding achievements and service (1980), the UP Professorial Chair for History (1988), the Fulbright Hays Research Grant (1984), the Ford-Rockefeller Grant (1993), the Chiang Ching Kua Foundation Research Grant (1995), the UP Alumni Association Outstanding Award for History (1998), the NHI Distinguished Service Award (1998), the NCCA Distinguished Commissioner Award (1999), and the Toyota Foundation Research Grant (2002). In 2020, the PNHS awarded Dr. Tan the Lifetime Achievement Award for History during its 40th National Conference on Local and National History for his life-long work on Philippine historical studies.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-alumni-named-among-the-2020-and-2021-outstanding-government-workers-by-csc/
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UP alumni named among the 2020 and 2021 Outstanding Government Workers by CSC – University of the Philippines
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UP alumni named among the 2020 and 2021 Outstanding Government Workers by CSC UP alumni named among the 2020 and 2021 Outstanding Government Workers by CSC November 17, 2021 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Graphic by Peter Drapeza, UP MPRO. Several UP alumni were among the 2020 and 2021 Search for the Outstanding Government Workers winners, an annual search administered by the Philippine Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) Honor Awards Program. The honorees received their awards on November 15 via the Radio Television Malacanang’s Facebook page and YouTube channel and the Civil Service Commission’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. According to the CSC’s website, the winners are chosen under three awards categories. The Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award recognizes exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had a nationwide impact on public interest, security, and inheritance. The CSC Pagasa Award is given to an individual or group for outstanding contributions that directly benefit more than one government department. Finally, the Dangal ng Bayan Award is given to an individual for exemplary ethical behavior in observance of the code of conduct under Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Presidential Lingkod Bayan Awardees All of the 2020 winners of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award are groups: the Carrageenan Plant Growth Promoter Team of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI); the Bayawan Aquaculture Team of the City Government of Bayawan, Negros Oriental; and the National Retail Payment System (NRPS) Core Team of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which was recognized for creating a platform that allowed interoperability of all payment systems, resulting in better services for consumers and spurring the use of payment platforms such as PESONet and InstaPay, which hastened migration to online payments and provided broader financial inclusion for its digital-enabled system. Two of these awarded teams count UP alumni as members. From the PNRI Carrageenan Plant Growth Promoter Team: Gil Lantican Magsino, University Researcher IV, and Fernando B. Aurigue, Senior Science Research Specialist, graduated from the UPLB College of Agriculture and Graduate School. From the BSP NRPS Core Team: Anna Lissa T. Racines, Bank Officer V and graduate of the UP Diliman College of Business Administration (CBA); Atty. Bridget Rose Millan Mesina-Romero, Bank Officer V, is also a graduate of the UPD CBA and the College of Law. German S. Constantino, Jr., Bank Officer IV, likewise a graduate of the UPD CBA. Among the individual 2021 recipients of this category of awards are the following UP researchers, faculty, and alumni: Dr. Nelly Siababa Aggangan, University Researcher II/Scientist I of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UP Los Baños (UPLB); Flordeliza Hidalgo Bordey, Deputy Director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute, who graduated from the UP Diliman School of Economics; Angel Balisi Encarnacion, Agricultural Center Chief II/Scientist I of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, who graduated from the UP Visayas College of Fisheries; Dr. Gerardo Dizon Legaspi, Director of the UP Manila Philippine General Hospital; and, Dr. Rose Marie Rosete Liquete, Executive Director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, graduated from the UP Diliman College of Arts and Sciences and the UP Manila College of Medicine. CSC Pagasa and Dangal ng Bayan Awardees The UP alumni who are among the 2021 CSC Pagasa awardees are Prof. Ambrose Hans Guiyab Aggabao of Isabela State University, who earned his doctorate in Education degree from the UP College of Education; and Dr. Ester Battad Flores, Supervising Science Research Specialist/Scientist I of the Philippine Carabao Center, who graduated from the UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine. Four groups also received the 2021 CSC Pagasa awards, with two of these groups counting UP alumni as members. The UP alumni who are members of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Team of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), one of the Pagasa awards recipients, are Dr. Romina R. Angangco-Danguilan, team leader and Deputy Executive Director of the NKTI, who graduated from the UP Manila College of Arts and Science and College of Medicine; Dr. Nerissa V. Mendoza-Gerial, Deputy Executive Director of the NKTI, who graduated from the UP Manila College of Public Health; and, Dr. Glenda Eleanor L. Pinga-Pamugas, NKTI Medical Specialist who took her pre-medicine course at the UP Diliman College of Science. The other group-recipient of the CSC Pagasa award that counts UP alumni as members is the Technology Commercialization Team of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), Department of Science and Technology, Los Baños, Laguna. The team is composed of Noel A. Catibog, team leader and Chief Science Research Specialist at PCAARRD, who graduated from the UPLB College of Agriculture and Graduate School; Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, PCAARRD Executive Director who also graduated from the UPLB CA and Graduate School; and, Abigail B. Flores-Gueco, PCAARRD Senior Science Research Specialist who earned her degrees from the UPLB College of Economics and Management and Graduate School. Completing the list, and recognized with the 2021 Dangal ng Bayan Award for his exemplary ethical behavior, is Dr. Jose Jonas Diño del Rosario, Medical Specialist and Coordinator for Public Affairs of the UP Philippine General Hospital. With reports from Nelson Carandang and Lyzete Balinhawang, UP Office of Alumni Relations
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https://up.edu.ph/up-fighting-maroons-notch-four-straight-wins-in-uaap-season-84-mens-basketball/
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UP Fighting Maroons notch four straight wins in UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball – University of the Philippines
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UP Fighting Maroons notch four straight wins in UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball UP Fighting Maroons notch four straight wins in UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball April 8, 2022 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta UP Fight: Members of the UP community cheer for the Fighting Maroons during the match with ADU. Photo by the UAAP Media Group. The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons continue their winning streak, notching four more wins over National University’s Bulldogs, 80-70, on March 31; the University of the East’s Red Warriors, 81-66, on April 2; Adamson University’s Soaring Falcons, 73-71, on April 5; and the De La Salle University Green Archers, 61-59, on April 7. With five straight wins and one loss against the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles, The UP Men’s Basketball Team (MBT) ranks 2nd in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines’s (UAAP) Season 84’s Men’s Basketball Seniors Division Team Standings, below ADMU and followed by DLSU. The basketball games under UAAP Season 84—the first to open since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the country into lockdown—are currently being held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and welcoming live audiences to the games starting April 4. UP’s Ricci Rivero soared high during the game against NU. Photo by the UAAP Media Group. In the match against the NU Bulldogs, the UP Fighting Maroons came alive in the fourth period to win the game with a 10-point lead, with timely baskets from Zav Lucero, CJ Cansino, and Joel Cagulangan, and Ricci Rivero. Rivero, now one of the more senior members of the UP MBT, tallied 19 points, four assists, and two steals for the Maroons. Carl Tamayo chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds. Cagulangan unleashed nine points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Michael Malonzo led NU with 11 points, while Reyland Torres got 10 points, five rebounds, and four steals. The Scores: UP 80 – Rivero 19, Tamayo 13, Cagulangan 9, Fortea 8, Cansino 8, Spencer 6, Lucero 5, Diouf 4, Alarcon 4, Catapusan 2, Abadiano 2, Ramos 0, Lina 0. NU 70 – Malonzo 11, Torres 10, Clemente 9, Mahinay 9, Felicilda 8, Ildefonso 7, Enriquez 4, Galinato 4, Tibayan 4, Joson 2, Manansala 2, Figueroa 0, Minerva 0, Yu 0. Quarterscores: 20-25, 42-39, 55-53, 80-70. In the heat of the match between a UP Fighting Maroon and a UE Red Warrior. Photo by the UAAP Media Group. Opposite the UE Red Warriors, the UP MBT wrested a 17-point lead at the end of the 1st quarter. The team held on to it by a 26-point gap at the end of the 3rd quarter. UP Maroons’ Zav Lucero scored big again after finishing with 14 points and six rebounds, while Ricci Rivero also delivered 14 points, three rebounds, and three steals. The Scores UP 81 – Lucero 14, Rivero 14, Cansino 10, Tamayo 8, Diouf 7, Spencer 7, Calimag 6, Cagulangan 4, Abadiano 2, Webb 2, Eusebio 2, Lina 2, Catapusan 2, Fortea 1, Alarcon 0. UE 66 – Escamis 16, Paranada K. 13, Pagsanjan 12, Catacutan 5, Lorenzana 5, Pascual 5, Guevarra 4, Tulabut 2, Sawat 2, Beltran 1, Cruz P. 1, Abatayo 0, Paranada N. 0, Cruz J. 0, Antiporda 0. Quarters: 31-14, 50-32, 71-45, 81-66. UP’s Joel Cagulangan pushing through a block by ADU. Photo by the UAAP Media Group. On Tuesday, April 5, Adamson University’s Jerom Lastimosa’s three-point jump shot went short, failing to chip away UP’s 3-point lead at the end of the 4th quarter. Zavier Lucero continued his stellar play for UP with 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Malick Diouf played his best game with 16 points and 15 rebounds with three steals. The Scores: UP 73 – Lucero 20, Diouf 16, Tamayo 11, Rivero 10, Cansino 9, Cagulangan 3, Spencer 2, Abadiano 2, Fortea 0, Alarcon 0, Catapusan 0. Adamson 71 – Lastimosa 18, Douanga 16, Zaldivar 14, Colonia 4, Magbuhos 4, Manzano 4, Hanapi 3, Sabandal 3, Jaymalin 3, Yerro 2, Barasi 0, Erolon 0. Quarterscores: 13-22, 39-39, 55-53, 73-71. UP’s Maodo Diouf drives through the Green Archers’ defense. Photo by the UAAP Media Group. UP’s match against the DLSU Green Archers was a nail-biter, with Zavier Lucero taking charge with 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead basket with 1:49 left. With the help of Joel Cagulangan, Lucero unleashed a 14-4 run to turn a 45-52 Fighting Maroons deficit to a 59-56 lead with 3:27 to go. The UP Fighting Maroons zoomed to 5-1, running their winning streak to four games while pulling the Green Archers down to 4-2 at the third spot. The Scores: UP 61 — Lucero 21, Tamayo 9, Cansino 9, Spencer 7, Diouf 7, Cagulangan 5, Fortea 3, Rivero 0, Alarcon 0, Abadiano 0. LA SALLE 59 — Baltazar 13, Nelle 13, M. Phillips 9, Nonoy 9, Winston 7, Lojera 3, Galman 3, Nwankwo 2, Austria 0, B. Phillips 0, Cuajao 0. Quarterscores: 17-17, 32-35, 43-48, 61-59. The UP Fighting Maroons will be facing the Far Eastern University on Saturday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. Photos and reporting from the UAAP Media Group.
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https://up.edu.ph/hip-hop-star-apl-de-ap-delivers-first-two-shipments-of-donated-covid-19-test-kits-to-up/
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Hip hop star Apl.de.Ap delivers first two shipments of donated COVID-19 test kits to UP – University of the Philippines
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Hip hop star Apl.de.Ap delivers first two shipments of donated COVID-19 test kits to UP Hip hop star Apl.de.Ap delivers first two shipments of donated COVID-19 test kits to UP March 11, 2022 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Hip hop star Apl.de.Ap (in black, 2nd from right) opens up one of the boxes of COVID-19 test kits donated by his foundation and the UPAA of San Francisco to UP alongside UP President Concepcion (extreme right), UP PGH Director Legaspi (2nd from left), and Filipino-American businessman Dr. Larry L. Asera (in blue, extreme left). Photo by Bong Arboleda (UP MPRO). The first two of five batches of COVID-19 test kits from the Apl.de.Ap Foundation International (ADAFI), the UP Alumni Association of San Francisco, Inc. (UPAASF), and UP alumnus and entrepreneur Yobie Benjamin have arrived at the University. The Grammy-winning artist Apl.de.Ap, founding member of the hip hop group Black Eyed Peas, and chairman of ADAFI, officially turned over the donation to UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, UP-PGH Director Gerardo D. Legaspi, and TVUP Executive Director Gigi Javier-Alfonso. UP President Concepcion welcomes Apl.de.Ap and Dr. Asera to UP, with Ms. Lilibeth Defiesta-Asera of ADAFI and Power Doha International Freight Forwarding (2nd from right) looking on. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UP MPRO). The donation is the culmination of many months of massive efforts coordinated by US-based Mr. Ted Benito, Executive Director of the ADAFI, and Ms. Sonia Delen, ADAFI Board Director and immediate past president of the UPAASF. The boxes containing DNA/RNA Shield™ Saliva Collection Kits, manufactured by Zymo Research Corporation, are currently housed in the newly constructed warehouse of the UP System Supply and Property Management Office in the Diliman campus. The boxes contain 131,000 COVID-19 test kits altogether, representing a partial shipment of the 227,722 test kits, worth US$2.85 million, donated to UP. The three remaining containers of test kits will arrive on or before March 18. The first two of five batches of COVID-19 test kits donated by ADAFI and the UPAASF to UP have arrived at their new temporary home in a warehouse in UP Diliman. The kits will help ensure the safety of UP students and faculty returning to limited face-to-face classes on UP’s campuses. Photo by Celeste Llaneta (UP MPRO). Opportunity to expand services In his brief remarks, UP President Concepcion expressed his appreciation for the presence of Apl.de.Ap and the donation of the COVID-19 test kits. He officially accepted the gift during his meeting with UP alumni in San Francisco, California on December 10, 2021. “Thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts, from the Filipino people and UP,” he said. UP President Concepcion thanks UP’s benefactors for the generous donation. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UP MPRO). UP PGH Director Legaspi also thanked Apl.de.Ap, Benjamin, ADAFI, and UPAASF for “giving us this opportunity to expand our services to our patients.” “The plan is to expand this [COVID-testing service] to the whole UP community,” Legaspi said in his message during the turnover of the newly arrived first batch of testing kits. These kits will facilitate the immediate preparation of UP students for their gradual return to limited face-to-face instruction and practical academic work in laboratories and related facilities. Related news: UP faculty discusses return to face-to-face classes this semester Legaspi also commended the timeliness of the arrival of the first batch of COVID-19 test kits since the UP PGH has just recently received certification from the Department of Health (DOH) to conduct saliva-based Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing. With this, the UP PGH has become one of few institutions, including the Philippine Red Cross and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, allowed by the DOH to conduct such testing. “Saliva-testing has become a more convenient screening method for our patients as well as our students and faculty who will come in. It has also brought down the cost of testing from Php1200 to around Php300-400 per test, making it even more affordable and available to a lot of our constituents,” Legaspi said as he reiterated his gratitude for the donation. UP PGH Director Legaspi expresses his deep appreciation before representatives from the UP community. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UP MPRO). Apl.de.Ap also gave a short message, thanking UP President Concepcion, UP PGH Director Legaspi, “for accommodating the test kits in a safe place.” He also thanked Yobie Benjamin, Ted Benito, Sonia Delen, UPAASF President Liza Gino, and Board Chairman Jim Cortes for helping make possible the massive gift to UP. “I wish they could be here today but, unfortunately, they can’t be, so I’m here to deliver the goods. And now the first batch is here,” he said. Other UP officials and staff members also attended the turnover ceremony. Filipino-American businessman Dr. Larry L. Asera and his wife, Ms. Lilibeth Defiesta-Asera, representing ADAFI and Power Doha International Freight Forwarding, which handled the transportation of the test kits, were also present. Apl.de.Ap thanks the UP alumni and friends who helped make the donation possible. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UP MPRO). Taking the first step During the reception hosted by President Concepcion at the UP Executive House, Apl.de.Ap responded to queries from the media. Asked about what celebrities can do to help people struggling with the pandemic and now the war in Eastern Europe, he replied: “Just spread the awareness of what’s going on. Try to help the people that are affected by the war that’s going on right now.” “With all the social media and technology that we have, we could connect with people out there directly. You don’t have to follow organizations. You can do it yourself, just like what we’re doing right now. We’re in contact with people we know that could help. Just take the first step. Just spread the word of love, and raise awareness.” “Connect with people out there directly. You can do it yourself. Just take the first step,” Apl.de.Ap advises celebrities looking for ways to help. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UP MPRO). When asked for a message to UP—from the UP alumni in the US who partnered with ADAFI to donate to the students and faculty who will benefit from the testing kits—he said: “I just want to say ‘maraming salamat’ to all of the UP community for always supporting us through music and all the other endeavors. I’m thankful for the reception and collaboration we’re doing for the test kits so that it’s available for them to cut costs. We’re here to collaborate and help.” Earlier, ADAFI and UPAASF received support from Philippine Consul-General Neil Ferrer, Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, the Philippine Consulate-General staff in San Francisco, and Philippine Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C., Jaime Ramon Torre Ascalon. Aside from Apl.de.ap, Benjamin, Delen, and Benito, UP alumni and friends Kevin Acebo, Dan Vo, Cathy Villarba, the UPAASF Board, Polly Cortez, Odette Keeley, Mae Dizon Perez, Fe Punzalan, Victor Villagracia, and Dr. Bambi Lorica, also helped with the shipment costs from the United States to the Philippines.
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https://up.edu.ph/five-out-of-8-national-artists-for-2022-are-from-up/
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Five out of 8 National Artists for 2022 are from UP – University of the Philippines
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Five out of 8 National Artists for 2022 are from UP Five out of 8 National Artists for 2022 are from UP June 15, 2022 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta From left to right: Gemino “Jimmy” Abad, Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, Agnes Locsin, Antonio “Tony” O. Mabesa and Ricardo “Ricky” Lee. Malacañang named eight new National Artists for 2022 on June 10. Of these eight, five are the University of the Philippines (UP) community members— Professors Emeriti, former faculty members, former students, and alumni. The new National Artists from UP are: poet-critic Gemino Abad, National Artist for Literature, for providing future generations with a “comprehensive view of the landscape of Philippine poetry and fiction”; soprano Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, National Artist for Music, for contributing to a “Renaissance of classical musical theater in the country”; choreographer Agnes Locsin, National Artist for Dance, for spurring a “growing interest in neo-ethnic style among young artists”; actor-director Antonio “Tony” O. Mabesa, National Artist for Theater, for his contributions to the “growth and diversity of Philippine theater”; and, screenwriter Ricardo Lee, National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, whose filmography includes iconic films such as The Flor Contempacion Story and Sa Kuko ng Agila. Gemino Abad, National Artist for Literature Photo by JWP Capili (UP MPRO) Poet and literary critic Gémino Henson Abad hailed from Cebu, Philippines, but later moved to Manila. In 1963, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude, from the UP College of Liberal Arts in Diliman, and his Masters of Arts and Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Chicago in 1966 and 1970, respectively. He taught English, comparative literature, and creative writing in UP Diliman for many years and served UP in various capacities, including as Secretary of the University, Secretary of the Board of Regents, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Director of the UP Institute of Creative Writing. Abad co-founded the Philippine Literary Arts Council (PLAC), which published Caracoa, a poetry journal in English. His other works include Fugitive Emphasis (poems, 1973); In Another Light (poems and critical essays, 1976); A Formal Approach to Lyric Poetry (critical theory, 1978); The Space Between (poems and critical essays, 1985); Poems and Parables (1988); Index to Filipino Poetry in English, 1905-1950 (with Edna Zapanta Manlapaz, 1988); and, State of Play (letter-essays and parables, 1990). He edited landmark anthologies of Filipino poetry in English, among them: Man of Earth (1989), A Native Clearing (1993), and, A Habit of Shores: Filipino Poetry and Verse from English, the ’60s to the ’90s (1999). He was elevated to the rank of University Professor by UP Diliman, the highest honor awarded by the University to an exemplary retiring faculty member. He was a visiting professor at three foreign universities. Abad earned numerous awards, prizes, and literature and creative writing fellowships. He received: the Palanca Awards for Poetry, Philippines Free Press Awards for Literature; the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Award for Poetry; National Book Awards from the Manila Critics’ Circle; and the Asian Catholic Publishers Inc. Catholic Authors Award. In 2009, he became the first Filipino to receive the coveted Premio Feronia in Rome, Italy, in the foreign author category. Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, National Artist for Music Photo by JWP Capili (UP MPRO) Fides Belza Cuyugan-Asensio, born on August 1, 1931, in Lucena, Philippines, is a Filipino coloratura soprano, actress, director, librettist, translator, and teacher. She earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees at the Philippine Women’s University, one in English, specializing in drama, in 1950, and the second in Music, major in voice and minor in piano, in 1951. Her graduation recital in 1951 earned her effusive praise from The Manila Times and, at that time, the foremost Filipino opera singer, Jovita Fuentes. After graduation, Cuyugan-Asensio received a scholarship from the Curtis Institute of Music in Pennsylvania. She graduated in 1955 with an Artist’s Diploma, majoring in voice with special studies in stage movement and eurhythmics. She quickly became one of the leading performers and producers of opera in the country, making her operatic debut in 1955, singing as Adele in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. She has also performed in many world premieres of Filipino operas, such: as Ramon Santos’s Mapulang Bituin; Eliseo Pajaro’s Binhi ng Kalayaan; Lucrecia Kasilag’s Dularawan; and, as Sisa in Felipe de Leon’s Noli Me Tangere in 1957. She has also sung lead roles in Menotti’s The Telephone; Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor; Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail; Verdi’s La Traviata; Britten’s Turn of the Screw; and Debussy’s L’Enfant Prodigue. and more. She also directed productions of several Filipino and Western operas. She hosted musical TV shows and appeared in four films: Oro Plata Mata (1982), Niño (2011), Aparisyon (2012), and Mana (2014). In 1986, Asensio formed the Music Theater Foundation of the Philippines (MTFP). In 1988, she became Chair of the Voice and Music Theater Department in the UP College of Music, a position she held until she retired in 1997, after which the UP Board of Regents granted her the title of Professor Emeritus. She also served as the artistic director of the Opera Guild of the Philippines and, since 1987, MTFP president. Agnes Locsin, National Artist for Dance Photo by Dr. Michaelangelo Ebro Dakudao. Born in Davao City on September 28, 1957, Agnes Dakudao Locsin finished elementary and secondary school at the Philippine Women’s University and graduated from the Ateneo de Davao University with a Bachelor’s degree in English. She earned her Master’s degree in dance from the Ohio State University in the US. Locsin is known for developing the “neo-ethnic” Filipino dance choreography, which blends indigenous themes with Western classical and modern techniques, and includes immersion in indigenous communities where she interacts with and learns about their culture and traditions through dance. Among the works where she applied this choreography are: Encantada; La Revolucion Filipina; Sayaw, Sabel; and the four-part Alay sa Puno series. After earning her MA degree, she became the Artistic Director of the Locsin Dance Workshop in Davao City, which her mother founded. She also served as a faculty member of UP Diliman’s Dance Program and as the artistic director of the Ballet Philippines in the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) from 1989 to 1999. At the 2nd Tokyo International Choreography Competition (1994), Locsin was the winner of the Silver Medal and the recipient of the Prince Takamado Award from Japan’s Imperial Family. Around the 2010s, Locsin began doing choreography for environmentally-themed works, such as Agila and the Puno series. She has received various awards, including the Gawad CCP Award Para sa Sining in 2013; the Alfonzo T. Ongpin Prize for Best Book on Arts for her book, Neo-ethnic Choreography: A Creative Process; and the Gador Award from the CCP. The Davao City government also gave her the Datu Bago Award for her contributions to dance and culture. Tony Mabesa, National Artist for Theater Photo by JWP Capili (UP MPRO). Stage director, film and television actor, and theater professor Antonio “Tony” Ocampo Mabesa was born on January 27, 1935, in Los Baños, Laguna. He finished high school at the UP Rural High School and earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from UP Los Baños (UPLB) in 1956. In UPLB, he also became an Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity member. He earned his MFA in Theater from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in 1965 and an MA in Education from the University of Delaware in 1969, with further studies in dramatic literature at the University of Minnesota. After earning his graduate degrees, Mabesa was offered a teaching position in the Department of Speech Communications and Theater Arts at UP Diliman. He pushed for establishing a Baccalaureate program devoted to Theater Arts, which began in 1978, and a Master of Arts in Theater Arts Program at UP Diliman. He founded Dulaang UP (DUP) in 1976 and the UP Playwright’s Theater in 1980. He directed and produced over 170 shows. He mentored many prominent artists in theatre, film, television, and the allied arts. UP Retired Professor of Theatre Arts Alexander C. Cortez, Tony and Obie-award winning designer Clint Ramos, playwright Nicolas Pichay, film and TV directors Dennis Marasigan, Rico Gutierrez, and Andoy Ranay, highly-acclaimed actors Shamaine Centenera, Irma Adlawan, Eugene Domingo, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Candy Pangilinan, Dolly de Leon, Harlene Bautista, JC Santos, and Neil Ryan Sese are just some of his students. In 1978, Mabesa served as Theater Director of the Manila Metropolitan Theater. In 2005, he founded the Angeles University Foundation Repertory Theater. He was named UP Professor Emeritus in 2002. Mabesa was also a television and film actor. His acting credits include roles in GMA 7’s Villa Quintana (1995-1997), Lino Brocka’s Macho Dancer (1988), Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s Jose Rizal (1998), Regal Films’ Mano Po series (2002 -2008), and Joel Lamangan’s Vietnam Rose (2005). Lamangan’s Rainbow’s Sunset, where Mabesa co-starred with the late Eddie Garcia, won Mabesa the Best Supporting Actor Award during the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival and the Best Actor Award from the 52nd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival in Texas. With a career in theater and the performing arts that spanned 70 years, Mabesa was considered one of the founders of Philippine university theater and one of the most prominent theater directors in the country. He was called the “Lion of the Theater” for his work. Ricky Lee, National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Photo by JWP Capili (UP MPRO). Born on March 19, 1947, in Daet, Camarines Norte, Ricardo Lee completed his elementary and secondary schooling in the same town. He was an English major at UP’s Department of English and Comparative Literature. Later, he taught screenwriting at the College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman. Lee was affiliated with Panulat para sa Kaunlaran ng Sambayanan (PAKSA, or Pen for People’s Progress) along with National Artist for Literature Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera and a fellow screenwriter, poet, and journalist, Jose “Pete” Lacaba. In 1973, Lee co-wrote his first screenplay, Armando Garces’s Dragnet. During his career spanning over four decades, Lee wrote numerous short stories, plays, essays, novels, teleplays, and screenplays. Two of his short stories won first prizes at the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature two years in a row (1970 and 1971). His screenplay, “Salome/Brutal,” won the 1981 Philippine National Book Awards for best screenplay. In 2011, he garnered the Special Prize for a Book Published by an Independent Publisher for Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata, from the National Book Development Board and Manila Critics Circle’s National Book Awards. His two stage plays, Pitik-Bulag sa Buwan ng Pebrero and DH (Domestic Helper), played to SRO crowds. He has written more than 150 produced scripts, earning him over fifty awards from the Philippine film industry. He was a staff writer for the Pilipino Free Press in the 1970s. Until the 1990s, he wrote features and interviews for the Asia-Philippines Leader, Metro Magazine, Expressweek, TV Times, Malaya Midday, The National Midweek, Veritas, and Sunday Inquirer Magazine. In 2000, he was one of the recipients of the Centennial Honors for the Arts from the CCP and the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas for Tagalog fiction from the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas. His books include: Si Tatang at mga Himala ng Ating Panahon, Pitik-Bulag Sa Buwan Ng Pebrero, Brutal/Salome, Moral, Para Kay B, and, Bukas May Pangarap. Salome has been translated into English, published by the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the US, and included in its textbook on film studies. He has also published a screenplay manual, Trip to Quiapo, a required text in many Communications courses in college. In 2015, UP awarded Lee the 11th UP Gawad Plaridel for Film. Nora Aunor: 10th UP Gawad Plaridel recipient and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Photo from the UP Diliman website. Aside from Lee, two others were conferred the National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts for 2022: film director Marilou Diaz-Abaya and multi-awarded actress Nora Villamayor, more popularly known as Nora Aunor. In 2014, Aunor was the 10th recipient of the UP Gawad Plaridel, the highest award given by the University to an outstanding media practitioner, for her excellence in film and television. Trailblazing fashion designer Salvacion Lim-Higgins, known as Slim, was named National Artist for Design (Fashion). The announcement of the new National Artists came through Proclamation No. 1390, issued by Malacañang upon the joint recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) and the CCP. Instituted as the Order of National Artists of the Philippines or Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas was established under Proclamation No. 1001, signed in 1972, and is bestowed on Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine art. Visual artist and former UP Fine Arts Dean Fernando Amorsolo is the first recipient of the National Artist award. The Philippine government has recently conferred the National Artist award to 81 Filipinos. Of this number, UP counts 44 as members of its academic community.
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https://up.edu.ph/call-for-nominations-dost-nast-awards-2019/
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Call for Nominations: DOST & NAST Awards 2019 – University of the Philippines
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Call for Nominations: DOST & NAST Awards 2019 Call for Nominations: DOST & NAST Awards 2019 October 9, 2018 | Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Philippines, the highest recognition body on science and technology in the country, is searching for nominees for the various NAST and DOST awards for 2019, namely: NAST PHL Awards Outstanding Young Scientists TWAS Prize for Young Scientist in the Philippines (Chemistry) NAST Environmental Science Award NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists NAST Award for Outstanding Research in Tropical Medicine Geminiano T. De Ocampo Visionary Award for Medical Research Outstanding Book/Monograph Award Outstanding Scientific Paper Award DOST Awards NSTW Outstanding Science Administrator Award – Dioscoro L. Umali Medal NSTW Outstanding Technology Commercialization Award – Gregorio Y. Zara Medal NSTW Outstanding Research and Development Award For Basic Research – Eduardo A. Quisumbing Medal For Applied Research – Julian A. Banzon Medal Magsaysay Future Engineers/Technologists Award (MFET) The deadline for the submission of nominations for all awards is on November 29, 2018 except for MFET award which is due on July 31, 2019. NAST PHL is also accepting abstracts for the Call for Papers for the Scientific Posters Session with the deadline of January 15, 2019. Attached are the announcements on the awards for your information. Nomination Forms Call for Papers for the Scientific Posters Session Certificate of Originality
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https://up.edu.ph/up-faculty-and-alumni-reap-nast-phl-awards-at-41st-annual-scientific-meeting/
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UP faculty and alumni reap NAST PHL awards at 41st Annual Scientific Meeting – University of the Philippines
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UP faculty and alumni reap NAST PHL awards at 41st Annual Scientific Meeting UP faculty and alumni reap NAST PHL awards at 41st Annual Scientific Meeting July 18, 2019 | Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta UPLB scientists Dr. Rex Victor O. Cruz and Dr. Juan M. Pulhin are the recent addition to the growing and elite pool of Academicians of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). Photo from the UP Los Baños website, http://uplb.edu.ph/top-stories/uplb-scientists-researchers-reap-nast-honors/ Faculty, researchers and alumni of the University of the Philippines were recognized at the recent awarding ceremonies of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) 41st Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), held from July 10 to 11, 2019 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Ortigas. During the presentation of NAST Awards held on the second day of the meeting, the following UP alumni were singled out: Winner of the Outstanding Scientific Book Award was Ma. Florina Y. Orillos-Juanfor her book, Kasaysayan at Vulnerabilidad: Ang Lipunang Pilipino sa Harap ng Pananalanta ng Pesteng Balang. Recipients of the Outstanding Scientific Paper awards were: Khris June L. Callano, Visitacion C. Huelgas, and Merlyn R. Sedano-Mendiorofor “Cytogenetics of Solanumaethiopicum L., S. melongena L. and Their F1 Hybrids and the Mechanism of Hybrid Sterility and Breakdown”; Roel R. Suralta, Ma. Ysabera T. Batungbakal, Justine Camille T. Bello, Lance M. Caparas, Vincent H. Lagunilla, Katreen Mae D. Lucas, Joeffrey U. Patungan, Angela Joyce O. Siping, Jayvee A. Cruz, Maria Corazon J. Cabral and Jonathan M. Niones for “An Enhanced Root System Developmental Responses to Drought by Inoculation of Rhizobacteria (Streptomyces mutabilis) Contributed to the Improvement of Growth in Rice”; Gayvelline C. Calacal, Jazelyn M. Salvador, Minerva S. Sagum, Raquel D. Fortun, and Maria Corazon A. De Ungria for “Pathology and DNA Analysis of Exhumed Human Remains Three-years Post-mortem”; and, Benjamin Vallejo Jr., together with Jennifer Conejar-Espedido and Leanna Manubag for “The Ecology of an Incipient Marine Biological Invasion: The Charru Mussel Mytellacharruana d’ Orbignyi, 1846 (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) in Manila Bay, Luzon, Philippines”. The winner of the 2018 World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Prize for Young Scientist in the Philippines is noted food scientist Dr. Alonzo A. Gabriel, who is a professor at the College of Home Economics. The 2018 Magsaysay Future Engineers/Technologists Awardees are: UP Diliman’s Peter Nicholas Saquido Onglao in first place; UP Los Baños’s John Cristopher A. Danezin second place; and UP Diliman’s Renzes Anne Gaerelle M. Gualberto in third place. The winners of the NAST Talent Search for Young Scientist were: a UPLB associate professor, Dr. Darwin B. Putungan,in first place; a UP Diliman Institute of Biology assistant professor, Dr. Lillian Jennifer V. Rodriguez,in second place; and UP Diliman Marine Science Institute’s Dr. Deo Florence L. Ondain third place. Among those named Outstanding Young Scientists were: Dr. Patricia Ann A. Jaranilla-Sanchez of UPLB; Dr. Pia D. Bagamasbad of UP Diliman; Dr. Michael C. Velarde of UP Diliman; Dr. Raymond Francis R. Sarmiento and Dr. Nathaniel, Jr. S. Orillaza of UP Manila; Dr. Lilibeth A. Salvador-Reyes of UP Diliman; and, Dr. Rico C. Ancog of UPLB. Members of the UP community also number among the newly elected NAST members, namely: former UPLB Chancellor Dr. Rex Victor O. Cruz; a founding director of the UP Diliman Institute of Civil Engineering, Engr. Benito M. Pacheco; Dr. Rody G. Sy of the UP Manila Department of Internal Medicine; and, former Dean of the UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources Dr. Juan M. Pulhin. Filipino-American biologist, former journalist and Silver Professor of Biology at New York University, Dr. Michael D. Purugganan, and a nanotechnologist, a professor and an associate chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland, Dr. Romel D.R. Gomez were newly elected Corresponding Members of the NAST. The 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the NAST focused on the Philippines’ efforts on the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on (Goal 4) quality education, (Goal 12) responsible consumption and production, and (Goal 14) life below water. At present, its president is Academician Rhodora V. Azanza.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-mourns-the-loss-of-national-scientist-barba-82/
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UP mourns the loss of National Scientist Barba, 82 – University of the Philippines
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UP mourns the loss of National Scientist Barba, 82 UP mourns the loss of National Scientist Barba, 82 October 13, 2021 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Image from the National Academy of Science and Technology website. The University of the Philippines (UP) is mourning the death of National Scientist Ramon C. Barba at the age of 82 on October 10, 2021. Dr. Barba was Senior Consultant to the UP Los Baños Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB) when he was conferred the Order of National Scientist in horticulture by President Benigno Aquino III in 2014. A Professor at the UP College of Agriculture, he led UPLB’s tissue culture program gratis from 1975 to the late 1980s. He obtained his high school diploma from UP Diliman in 1954 and his BS Agronomy from UPLB in 1958. He returned to the Philippines in 1968 after graduate studies abroad and was appointed Assistant Professor in 1969. At that time, he invented a means to reliably induce mango flowering. This ensured fruit availability the whole year-round. It is considered the most significant breakthrough in the mango industry. That “his technology of using potassium nitrate to stimulate flowering is a milestone in the study of tropical tree physiology,” is stated in his profile by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). “He did not collect any royalty from the patent so that ordinary farmers can freely use the technology,” the NAST added. Eventually, his research on tissue culture or micropropagation of bananas, sugarcane, cassava, and other crops improved their production schemes and protocols. An Academician of the NAST since 2004, he was elevated to the Order of National Scientist for his achievements in plant physiology. He was cited for “his dedication, perseverance, innovativeness and positive attitude to work productively despite limited resources.” “His willingness to share his discovery to the greatest number of beneficiaries is shown by his noble decision of not enforcing his patents so that anybody could freely use the technology,” the NAST said. “He is selflessly committed to serve the industry in disseminating the technology through lectures, seminars, and production guides without material reward,” it added. In this video from the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO, Dr. Ramon Barba talks about the process of inducing the flowering of mango trees using Potassium Nitrate.
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https://up.edu.ph/up-start-up-hubs-win-dost-qbo-awards/
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UP start-up hubs win DOST-QBO awards – University of the Philippines
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UP start-up hubs win DOST-QBO awards UP start-up hubs win DOST-QBO awards May 7, 2021 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Technology business incubators (TBIs) in UP Diliman and UP Los Baños were grand champion and award-winners in the PH Startup Incubator Awards of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and QBO Innovation Hub, a public-private initiative for the development of start-ups. The UP Sustaining Collaboration in an Advanced Learning Environment (UPSCALE) Innovation Hub in UP Diliman was declared the grand champion in the first PH Startup Incubator Awards held online and livestreamed on April 23, 2021. It also won “Best Incubator for Governance and Operations”. UP Los Baños’s Startup Innovation and Business Opportunity Linkage (SIBOL) Labs bagged the “Best Incubator Community Program”. Image from the QBO Philippines Facebook page The awards were the culminating activity of a program of DOST-PCIEERD and the QBO Innovation Hub, called TBI 4.0, that began in 2019 to support the development of TBIs in the country. Twelve TBIs supported by the DOST, many affiliated with universities, participated in the program The other awards and winners were: Best Incubator Infrastructure, Center for Technopreneurship and Innovation of Batangas State University; Best Incubator Startup Program, AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator of the Asian Institute of Management; Best Incubator for Growth & Sustainability and Extra Mile Incubator, Animo Labs of De La Salle University; and, Rising Star Incubator and People’s Choice for Best Incubator Team, iDEYA of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). UPSCALE began in 2018 with a core mission that included supporting spin-off companies from innovations generated from the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) Program, a consortium of eight universities with graduate engineering programs. Ph Startup Incubator Awards_UPSCALE: Members of the UPSCALE Innovation Hub team, led by Project Leader Luis Sison (top row, middle), receive their awards in the virtual, livestreamed ceremony. Screenshot by QBO Philippines UPSCALE’s championship was based on its excellent scores in growth, innovation and impact. The “Best Incubator for Governance & Operations” Award recognized UPSCALE’s “outstanding progress in developing and implementing its organizational structure, operational system and organization-wide processes to function efficiently and amplify their impact on the startup ecosystem”. UPLB’s SIBOL Labs, which began in 2019, is the TBI arm of the UPLB Technology Transfer and Business Development Office, aimed at nurturing the UPLB start-up ecosystem. It focuses on agri-technology, food engineering, biotechnology and information and communications technology. Ph Startup Incubator Awards_Sibol Labs: Members of the UPLB SIBOL Labs, led by Project Leader Glenn Baticados (top row, middle), receive their awards in a virtual, livestreamed ceremony. Screenshot by QBO Philippines The “Best Incubator Community Program” recognized SIBOL’s “valuable impact through fostering innovation, advancing startup awareness, and cultivating collaboration among key stakeholders to develop the local and national innovation ecosystem”. Both UP TBIs are supported by the DOST-PCIEERD. UPSCALE, with USAID Philippines STRIDE, gathers about 40 technology transfer officers, TBI staff and faculty researchers from 12 institutions in Metro Manila and UP Los Baños on November 8, 2019 at the UPSCALE Innovation Hub for the first Train the Trainers for Ideation Workshop in NCR to capacitate the trainers to plan and implement an Ideation Workshop in their own institutions. The ideation workshop aims to facilitate collaboration between academe and industry toward concrete partnerships. Photo and caption from the UPSCALE Innovation Hub Facebook page
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https://up.edu.ph/up-cebu-showcases-important-scientific-outputs-and-services/
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UP Cebu showcases important scientific outputs and services – University of the Philippines
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UP Cebu showcases important scientific outputs and services UP Cebu showcases important scientific outputs and services May 7, 2019 | Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc A student research assistant at the media brunch exhibit presents UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia a wild tuber which UP Cebu is studying as an alternative carbohydrate source during disasters. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Key scientific capabilities and projects of UP Cebu, offering solutions to pressing threats and problems in the region, such as water-related disasters, fires, emerging vector-borne diseases, water scarcity, and internet vulnerability, were presented to local media on April 26, 2019 at the Performance Arts Hall on campus. “Did you know that after the Naga landslide which was said to [have] one of the fastest search and retrieval operations in a disaster, UP Cebu’s LIDAR and CENVI were there?” UP Cebu Chancellor Liza Corro said in welcoming media representatives, as she referred to a UP Cebu environmental informatics team, whose quick mappings of the landslide site in the neighboring city right after the disaster facilitated search and retrieval operations. “This was one of the best examples of science being applied in the real world. All our researches here are really more of solutions for real problems,” Corro emphasized. The UP Cebu team, employing LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, a remote sensing method using light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure variable distances to the Earth, was able to pinpoint the location of structures buried under the Naga City, Cebu landslide debris. It is one of the expertise of CENVI or the Central Visayas Center for Environmental Informatics of UP Cebu. Van Owen Sesaldo of the UP Cebu Cybersecurity Project shows Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Rica Abad an animated graphic representing global cyber attacks at the project booth in the media brunch exhibit. Behind them, UP Cebu Chancellor Liza Corro shows UP Vice President for Public Affairs (VPPA) Elena Pernia, Special Assistant to the VPPA Teresa Congjuico, and Jamie Lyn Loristo of the Communicating Science and Technology Research and Development at UP program one of the 3D printers of the UP Cebu Fabrication Laboratory or Fablab. The “media brunch” with UP Cebu officials and scientists was organized under a UP System-wide program, Communicating Science and Technology Research and Development at UP (CoST-UP), headed by UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia. A projection-mapping presentation by UP Cebu computer-aided designers is the central display of the exhibit showcasing UP Cebu’s relevant scientific outputs and services. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Other scientific projects presented at the media brunch were: the high-resolution flood-hazard mapping of Western Visayas using LIDAR; the mapping and assessment of possible water sources on the whole Cebu island; urban fire-hazard mapping and fire-spread modeling; biodiversity and eco-epidemiology of flea and tick diseases in the region; and, the research and promotion of cybersecurity. Four of the five UP Cebu presenters of scientific projects form a panel for an open forum after their presentations: Computer Science instructor, Ryan Ciriaco Dulaca of Cebu Water Source Mapping and Assessment; Firecheck project leader, Aileen Joan Vicente, Richie Eve Ragas of Biodiversity and Eco-Epidemiology of Vector-Borne Diseases in the Central Visayas Region, and UP Cebu Cybersecurity Project leader, Van Owen Sesaldo. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Aside from the presentations, media also saw an exhibit of UP Cebu programs for: nationwide resource assessment using LIDAR; improvising camera drones; geo-mapping and nutrient analysis of wild edible plants as food alternatives in disaster-prone areas in the region; digital fabrication; and, technology business incubation. “Good science journalism can make complex, technical ideas accessible to a lay person,” Pernia said. She proposed and now heads CoST-UP, which “aims to mainstream UP’s science and technology advances into public consciousness and the nation’s development policy”. UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia and Special Assistant to the Vice President for External Communication and Government Relations Teresa Congjuico, both of the Communicating Science and Technology Research and Development at UP program, view the presentations of UP Cebu scientific projects together with regional media representatives. Beside them are presenters: UP Cebu Philippines-LIDAR 1 project leader Jonnifer Sinogaya and Firecheck project leader Aileen Joan Vicente. Behind them is UP Cebu Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Richelita Galapate. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO The UP Cebu leg of its media brunch series was attended by representatives from: the Philippine Information Agency, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Department of Science and Technology, the Commission on Higher Education, and the National Economic and Development Authority. The media outlets represented were Sunstar, Freeman, Manila Bulletin, DYAR, Cebu Citizens Press Council, ABS-CBN, Superbalita Cebu, PTV, dySS, RGMA, and Philippine Daily Inquirer-Visayas.
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