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https://up.edu.ph/tribute-to-slain-up-cebu-graduate-becomes-reminder-for-up-cebu-class-2019-to-serve/	Tribute to slain UP Cebu graduate becomes reminder for UP Cebu Class 2019 to serve – University of the Philippines	Tribute to slain UP Cebu graduate becomes reminder for UP Cebu Class 2019 to serve Tribute to slain UP Cebu graduate becomes reminder for UP Cebu Class 2019 to serve July 9, 2019 \| Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The entrance of colors during UP Cebu’s 82nd Commencement Exercises held in the afternoon of June 28, 2019 at the UP Cebu campus. Standing in front (2nd from left) is UP Cebu Class of 2019’s valedictorian Juan Carlos Tabacon Roldan. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Among the 383 members of UP Cebu Class of 2019 who marched onstage to receive their diplomas at UP Cebu’s 82nd Commencement Exercises held at the campus in the afternoon of June 28, 2019, one stood out because of her absence. Ms. Kis Tryvl Cabasag Ramos, who would have graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology alongside the rest of her batchmates, was fatally shot on April 11 along with two of her workmates and the café proprietor at a coffee shop on F. Ramos Street in Cebu City where she worked. Two months later, her parents, Mrs. Elvira Ramos and Mr. Juan Reynaldo Ramos, who himself graduated from the UP Diliman Institute of Social Work and Community Development, marched onto the stage to receive the diploma on their daughter’s behalf, amid bittersweet cheers and applause from her fellow graduates, UP Cebu officials and faculty, and the audience. A tribute to Ms. Kis Tryvl Cabasag Ramos, BA Psychology 2019, by UP Cebu’s official student publication, Tug-ani. Graphic republished with permission from Tug-ani. Later in his speech on behalf of the graduates, BS Computer Science, magna cum laude graduate, and Class of 2019 valedictorian Juan Carlos “Jace” Tabacon Roldan gave a touching tribute to Kis, a former student leader and writer for UP Cebu’s official student publication, Tug-ani: “I would like to acknowledge one who had yearned and fought and shone despite the tyranny she had bravely stood against: our friend and kauban, Kis Tryvl Ramos, who is with us in militant spirit today. She had had a chance to touch the souls of many in this University, and she deserves a seat alongside us, just as much as the rest.” Magna cum laude graduate and UP Cebu Class of 2019 valedictorian Juan Carlos “Jace” Tabacon Roldan delivers his valedictory speech. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Roldan urged his fellow UP graduates to continue to work and fight for the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed minorities, especially after they have learned how to foster righteous indignation and cultivate an understanding of society in UP. “We have been asked to make the profitable choice. . . but the logic in the gears of the iskolar ng bayan is not predicated upon the blind search for more. The algorithm or blueprint for being iskolar ng bayan does not dictate making choices simply towards seeking prestige in the fields of industry or in the academe. Being iskolar ng bayan is in the realization that the struggle in here is a part of the struggle out there and making the correct choice to fight alongside it.” Read full transcript of Roldan’s speech UP Cebu Chancellor Liza D. Corro reminds Class of 2019 that we in UP are—to quote UP Cebu’s slogan—destined to serve. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. UP Cebu Chancellor Liza D. Corro prefaced Roldan’s call to the graduates in her opening remarks by referring to UP Cebu’s slogan, nurtured to create, inspired to innovate, destined to serve, printed across the backdrop of the stage. “It is just fitting that before you start going out to the real world, you all remind yourselves that we in UP are a sui generis. Many may not understand why there are rallies in UP, even during commencement. Actually, what we do here is not so much for others to know but it is more of a reminder to all of you, our dear graduates, and to us in UP, that service is what we are destined for.” UP Cebu Class of 2019 produced 70 honor graduates. Five were magna cum laude graduates and 64, cum laude graduates, while one graduate student who earned a Master of Education degree was recognized Most Outstanding Graduate. Gracing the occasion as commencement speaker was Executive Vice President Maria Luisa Aboitiz Booth of Mehitabel, Inc., which is one of the Philippines’ most prominent members of the furniture-making industry and one of Cebu’s most enduring institutions. Booth shared four simple truths and guiding principles that she thought would be helpful to them, truths she learned, not when she graduated from college or law school in the US, but during the course of her life. Executive Vice President Maria Luisa Aboitiz Booth of Mehitabel, Inc. shares her four life principles with UP Cebu’s Class of 2019. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The first principle is that the straight path is not always the only path or the right path. “You must give yourself room in your life to change directions, to adopt new ways of doing old things and to learn from your mistakes and your bad decisions, because trust me, you will make mistakes and you will make some bad decisions. It’s okay,” she said. The second principle is not to be afraid to take the road less traveled, as it might make all the difference in their lives. The third is a quote from the 19th century French novelist, Marie-Joseph “Eugène” Sue: the hand that gives gathers. “Most of us would like to earn a good living, be rich, drive fancy cars. That is human nature after all. However, those who selfishly acquire property and goods without regard to the damage they are doing to the world and without using their gifts to improve the lives of others are destined to live unhappy lives,” Booth said. And the last piece of advice Booth gave the graduates: “Try to be a shepherd. Don’t be a wolf. Look for those who can benefit from your knowledge and experience, and help to protect them and guide them. Always try to use your skills for the betterment of those around you and you will never have regrets.” More photos Photos above and below: Before the start of the processional, UP Cebu graduates take photos and selfies in front of the UP Cebu Administration Building to commemorate the occasion. Photos by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. UP Cebu graduates listen during the ceremony, with BA in Mass Communication cum laude graduate Czar Dabon sitting in the middle showcasing his stunning eye makeup. Later, the graduates cheered when he unfurled a rainbow flag in honor of Pride Month as he climbed onstage to receive his diploma. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. UP Cebu valedictorian Juan Carlos Tabacon Roldan raises his fist to call for the continuation of the iskolar ng bayan’s fight for the Filipino masses. Photo by Jun Madrid, UPMPRO. His fellow graduates respond in kind. Photo by Jun Madrid, UPMPRO. Near the closing of the commencement exercises, activists exhort the graduating class to continue the fight for true democracy, justice and equality. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO.
https://up.edu.ph/up-cebu-firecheck-develops-covcheck/	UP Cebu FireCheck develops CoVcheck – University of the Philippines	UP Cebu FireCheck develops CoVcheck UP Cebu FireCheck develops CoVcheck April 20, 2020 \| Written by V. Guerrero, UP Cebu News The FireCheck Project team and the University of the Philippines Cebu have developed CoVcheck, a web-based application that allows the local government to collect data from its constituents about cases or potential cases of infection. By doing so, the concerned agencies – health units, disaster management offices among others, may be able to respond to the community’s needs as soon as necessary. On top of that, with the collected data, the local government can plan and execute localized, ad hoc measures to control or contain transmission or support the affected communities. The application shall also serve as a hub for disseminating information to concerned communities and several other future interactions with response units. The platform includes the following functions: Reporting of Potential Infection (Self or others) — The residents will have a way of reporting to the local government if they, a relative or a neighbor, are potentially infected by COVID19. By doing so, the local government will have an overview of the potential mass of infection and identify mitigating actions to reduce risk or mobility in certain locations. In addition, the immediate response through medication or other means may be designated whenever and wherever it will be needed. By default, residents are encouraged to stay in their homes. With the need to go to designated hospitals in the city center for testing and/or medical consultation, the potential for transmission is increased. Self-assessment — Users will be able to assess themselves if they already need medical attention or not. This function hopes to reduce the number of patients who unnecessarily go to the hospitals to be checked. The risk of getting infected or infecting others may be reduced. Announcements and Help Guides — There is a proliferation of misinformation in social media about how to manage or respond to the disease. The application will provide the user sources of curated information and helpful guidance about what to do amid the health crisis. Important announcements from the local government can also be coursed through the application. Viewing of Reports (Summary and Details) — The local government and concerned agencies will be provided with detailed and summarized views of the collected data in real-time using heat maps, graphs or similar reports. Similarly, the concerned agencies will be alerted if severe cases are reported. The details of persons of interest can also be viewed. Other users can also view the summary of validated data so that they can refrain from getting infected or impose house quarantine in their household. It is envisioned that with critical masses projected in the reports, the local government can direct their mitigation efforts in those areas. Management of Self-Reports (Update, Delete or Respond) — The local government will be allowed to retrieve and update the reports collected such as when the status of the constituent progresses or a specific response has been activated. We are exerting as much effort in leveraging data science — as we did in Metro Cebu on tackling urban fires, and in Naga City, Cebu during the landslide operations in the year 2018 — to aid our local government in coming up with smarter, targeted and well-informed decisions in managing the health crisis. Ania na ang CoVcheck, Sugbo! CoVcheck web app is now live at: https://covcheck.upcebu.edu.ph/ How to get CoVchecked! FireCheck gives video tutorials on how to use CoVcheck! Check it out below! Ania na ang CoVcheck, Sugbo! CoVcheck web app is now live at: https://covcheck.upcebu.edu.ph/ Ug malipayon namong ipahibawo nga sugod karong adlawa, mag-CoVcheck na ang siyudad sa Mandaue ug Naga, Cebu. Inubanan sa hiniusang pwersa sa mga local strategic planners and decision makers ug kooperasyon sa matag miyembro sa komunidad, atong mapahinayan ang pagkuyanap sa CoVID-19. Alang sa atong Barangay Health Emergency Response Team ug City Health Office, simple lamang ang pag respond sa mga pending nga reports o cases. Tan-awa ang video aron ikaw magiyahan sa pag-respond.
https://up.edu.ph/initial-statement-of-up-cebu-chancellor/	Initial statement of UP Cebu Chancellor – University of the Philippines	Initial statement of UP Cebu Chancellor Initial statement of UP Cebu Chancellor June 5, 2020 \| Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP Cebu administration is deeply disturbed by the incident this morning of police dispersing and arresting peaceful protesters within the vicinity of the campus. We always act to ensure public safety and order within our premises amid the pandemic, while respecting the right to protest. Previous protest actions by our students in the same vicinity had always remained peaceful and orderly for many years until today. The UP Cebu administration has always maintained maximum tolerance when it comes to protest movements of our constituents, especially where it is in relation to their freedom of expression. I personally respect and have consistently expressed support to student’s basic rights. We also however recognize the prevailing restrictions in light of the GCQ rules prohibiting mass gatherings. It is most unfortunate that what happened today, with the presence and action of the police anti-riot contingent, heightened rather than allayed the risks to the safety of the people involved. As we gather more facts on the ground about the incident, we are coordinating with UP System officials on the legal and other important aspects of the matter, especially with respect to the 1989 UP-DND Peace Accord. In any case, we are deeply disappointed that none of the police officers tried to coordinate with UP Cebu in regard to handling the situation which we hope could have led to a more sound and sensible resolution in light of prevailing restrictions under the general community quarantine. I would like to emphasize that our guards did not assist in the dispersal of the then ongoing protest, contrary to stories going around, nor did they block the students from entering the campus. On the contrary, our guards blocked the police from entering the campus and even chased them out when they jumped into our walls trying to chase the student protesters. Our guards also assisted the students by bringing them into safety inside a campus building. We will continue to ensure the safety of our constituents and provide humanitarian assistance to our students and alumni who are affected by this unfortunate incident. May God bless us all! Thank you. Chancellor Liza D. Corro UP Cebu
https://up.edu.ph/a-princess-for-her-people-up-remembers-former-regent-bai-fatima-palileo-sinsuat/	A princess for her people: UP remembers former Regent Bai Fatima Palileo Sinsuat – University of the Philippines	A princess for her people: UP remembers former Regent Bai Fatima Palileo Sinsuat A princess for her people: UP remembers former Regent Bai Fatima Palileo Sinsuat February 5, 2022 \| Written by Franco Gargantiel II Image from the PRC Cotabato City – Maguindanao Molecular Laboratory Facebook page The University of the Philippines (UP) and the country mourns the loss of former UP Regent and Chair of the Board of the Philippine Red Cross Cotabato Chapter, Bai Fatima Palileo Sinsuat, who passed away on the morning of February 4, 2022, according to a text from her niece. A humanitarian and a Filipino princess who was truly royal in both her heritage and actions, Bai Fatima Palileo Sinsuat time and time again helped Filipinos through various projects and organizations that she had both created and led. She was the daughter of the late Datu Blah Sinsuat. Even at a young age, she was an actual princess because she had the power to help Filipinos with her unique status and devoted her life to doing so. She helped organize labor with her father, and, in 1986, all dockworkers in Cotabato City port became members of an organization she created and led, the Progressive Labor Union (PLU). A true civic leader, she took part in various organizations with the ultimate goal of serving the public. She served as mayor of Upi, Maguindanao from 1980 to 1986 and was eventually appointed Head of the ARMM Board of Investments. Later, she was appointed as a member of the UP Board of Regents, the University’s highest governing body, by Philippine President Joseph Estrada, and remained a Regent for three terms. She was also the first Muslim woman in the last 30 years to be elected to the national board of the Philippine National Red Cross and, most recently, as the Chairman of the Board of Red Cross in the Cotabato Chapter. The year 2003 marked her most significant achievement as a social worker. Sinsuat was awarded the National Outstanding Volunteer Award (NOVA) in Malacañang Palace for her blood donation advocacy in the Philippine Red Cross in Cotabato City and initiation of the Organization of International Humanitarian Law Core Group of PRC for the protection of the civilian population in times of armed conflict. Sinsuat never stopped offering kindness and compassion to every Filipino through various projects that aided them. A true royal, this princess has always looked out for the safety and well-being of her people. An actual modern-day princess who went beyond the expectations for past royals with her humanitarian work while serving as a beacon of encouragement for Filipinos to someday surpass her ideals in making the world a better place for all countrymen.
https://up.edu.ph/no-data-breach-happened-in-up-cebu-finding-from-investigation/	“No data breach happened” in UP Cebu—finding from investigation – University of the Philippines	“No data breach happened” in UP Cebu—finding from investigation “No data breach happened” in UP Cebu—finding from investigation June 12, 2020 \| Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta “No personal and technical data breach happened.” This is the finding of the University of the Philippines Cebu Data Protection Officer (DPO) following an investigation in response to reports of an alleged data breach in the local student evaluation on teaching (SET) system, which led to a list of names and SET login credentials of students from the UP Cebu College of Communication, Art and Design being posted on Scribd.com. In his report to Chancellor Liza D. Corro dated June 9, 2020, UP Cebu DPO Mr. Van Owen M. Sesaldo wrote that the SET, which is used by students to evaluate faculty members handling their courses, is hosted on a local server administered by the UP Cebu Information Technology Center. “We immediately conducted a technical check on the server and the connected network equipment. We found that there were no indications of compromise, implying that no unauthorized access occurred,” Sesaldo said in his report. More importantly, he added, the SET does not provide any other personal information to any authenticated user. It only shows the name of the faculty member to be evaluated and empty evaluation forms. Hence, this does not put students mentioned in the list under grave threat. “In sum, no personal and technical data breach happened,” Sesaldo concluded. “Being enrolled in UP, their names have already been made public even upon passing the UPCAT. As far as the SET login credentials are concerned, these will be replaced in the coming evaluation period.” The SET is different from the Student Academic Information System (SAIS), which handles the academic and financial data of all UP students, including UP Cebu students. The SAIS is hosted by a server that is managed and maintained by the UP System Information Technology Development Center (UP ITDC). Upon confirming with the UP ITDC, the DPO for the UP System, Atty. Marcia Ruth Gabriela Fernandez, found that there was no data breach of SAIS or of UP Cebu’s student records. In a letter to National Privacy Commissioner Raymund E. Liboro and NPC Deputy Commissioners Leandro Angelo Y. Aguirre and John Henry Du Naga dated June 10, 2020, Atty. Fernandez noted that the University has taken additional measures to safeguard the rights of UPCAT applicants by now requiring usernames and passwords to access UPCAT results. Moreover, although having detected no breaches in the University’s databases, the UP System Data Protection Officer has already called on the NPC for help in further safeguarding the privacy and online safety of the members of the UP community.
https://up.edu.ph/remembering-fvr-up-joins-the-nation-in-mourning-the-death-of-the-countrys-12th-president/	Remembering FVR: UP joins the nation in mourning the death of the country’s 12th President – University of the Philippines	Remembering FVR: UP joins the nation in mourning the death of the country’s 12th President Remembering FVR: UP joins the nation in mourning the death of the country’s 12th President August 3, 2022 \| Written by Francisco V. Gargantiel II The University of the Philippines (UP) mourns the death of former President Fidel Valdez Ramos, who passed away on July 31, 2022, at 94. Fidel Ramos was born on March 18,1928, in Lingayen, Pangasinan. He finished his elementary education at a Lingayen public school; from 1940 to 1941 studied at the UP High School in Manila, which, together with the UP Preparatory School and the UP Elementary School, eventually became the UP Integrated School in Diliman today. Ramos continued his secondary education at the High School Department of Mapúa Institute of Technology, and in 1945, he graduated from high school at the Centro Escolar University Integrated School. Afterward, Ramos went to the United States after receiving an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Military Engineering in 1950. Ramos also earned a Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree from the University of Illinois, USA, in 1951, and later placed 8th overall in the Civil Engineering Board Exam of 1953. He also earned a Master of National Security Administration degree from the National Defense College of the Philippines and a Master of Business Administration from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1980. From 1951 to 1952, Ramos was a member of the Philippines’ 20th Battalion Combat Team of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) that fought in the Korean War, where he served as an Infantry Reconnaissance Platoon Leader. He was also in the Vietnam War as a non-combat civil military engineer and Chief of Staff of the Philippine Civil Action Group (PHILCAG) from 1966 to 1968. In 1972, he served as Chief of the Philippine Constabulary, then a major service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), when President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. In 1975, all civic and municipal police forces in the country were integrated, becoming the Integrated National Police under the control and supervision of the Philippine Constabulary, with Ramos as its first ex-officio concurrent Director-General. In 1981, Ramos was named AFP Vice-Chief of Staff and promoted to the rank of a three-star general. In 1983, after General Fabian Ver was implicated in the assassination of former opposition Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., Ramos became acting AFP Chief of Staff until Ver’s reinstatement in 1985. In February 1986, allegations of fraud committed during snap elections triggered the non-violent People Power Revolution. Ramos defected and followed then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile into Camp Crame and shifted his allegiance to Corazon Aquino, Senator Aquino’s widow. The latter later became the country’s first female President. President Aquino then appointed Ramos as Chief of Staff of the AFP, and in 1988 as Secretary of National Defense and Chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council. In 1992, Ramos was elected President of the Philippines, narrowly beating Agrarian Reform Secretary Miriam Defensor Santiago. As President of the Philippines (1992-1998), Fidel V. Ramos’s leadership brought in a period of political stability and rapid economic growth and expansion. His policies and programs aimed to foster national reconciliation and unity and paved the way for major peace agreements with Muslim separatists, communists, and military rebels. These developments resulted in renewed investor confidence in the Philippine economy. Ramos also pushed for the deregulation of key industries and the liberalization of the economy by encouraging the privatization of public entities, including the monetization of public infrastructure through the expanded Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law. During 1993-1997, the Philippine economy underwent a dramatic recovery. Gross National Product averaged 5 percent annually, and the total inflow of foreign exchange into the country outpaced the combined periods of the rule of both Pres. Marcos and Pres. Aquino. The average income of the Filipino family also grew higher during Ramos’s administration than in the preceding two decades. Consequently, Ramos implemented a comprehensive Social Reform Agenda (SRA) that addressed long-standing problems—poverty, health, education and skills training, housing, environmental protection, agrarian reform, jobs and livelihood, access to equal opportunity, and the welfare of children and the youth, the elderly and the disabled. In 1997, Ramos and Moro National Liberation Front Chair Nur Misuari was awarded the coveted 1997 UNESCO Peace Prize for forging the peace agreement between military rebels and the MNLF southern secessionists. The award marks a first for both the Philippines and for Asians. Ramos continued to find ways to help his country even after his presidency. He founded the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation, a non-partisan and nonprofit organization promoting peace and development in the Philippines and the larger Asia-Pacific region. Then in 1998, Ramos founded the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) together with Bob Hawke and Morihiro Hosokawa, former Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan, respectively. The BFA is a premier forum for government, business, and academia leaders in Asia and other continents who are committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals. In 2004, Ramos was a Founding Member of the Global Leadership Foundation. He was also a member of and was associated with the following: Founding Member of the Policy Advisory Commission, World Intellectual Property Organization (PAC-WIPO) Advisory Group Member of the UN University for Peace Trustee of the International Crisis Group (ICG) Honorary Director of the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation Ramos received several military awards, including the Philippine Legion of Honor in 1988 and 1991; the Distinguished Conduct Star in 1991; the Distinguished Service Star in 1966, 1967, and 1981; the Philippine Military Merit Medal in 1952; and the U.S. Military Academy Distinguished Graduate Award and Legion of Merit in 1990. He was one of the Filipinos awarded the French Legion of Honor Grand Croix, a prestigious order created by Napoleon Bonaparte to honor anyone, regardless of religion or nationality, who upholds liberty and equality. The order is the oldest and highest-ranking medal of honor in France. He also received numerous international awards, including the 1997 Aristides Calvani Award; the Rizal Pro Patria from the Order of the Knights of Rizal; and the Rotary International Award of Honor. Ramos received 28 honorary doctorate degrees in his lifetime, including a Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, from the University of the Philippines, presented by then UP President, Dr. Jose V. Abueva. UP and its academic community offers their condolences to both the families and close friends of Fidel Valdez Ramos. His achievements during his presidency have left a meaningful long-term impact on the Philippines. This country and its compatriots are grateful for its contributions to the progressive growth of the Philippines.
https://up.edu.ph/construction-underway-on-up-new-clark-city/	Construction underway on UP New Clark City – University of the Philippines	Construction underway on UP New Clark City Construction underway on UP New Clark City December 12, 2022 \| Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc UP System, BCDA, and DPWH officials lay the time capsule for the first building of the UP New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, to be constructed. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UP MPRO). In a year, the first building of the University of the Philippines New Clark City (UP-NCC) in Capas, Tarlac, will have risen. UP, in partnership with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the implementing agency, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), held the time capsule laying ceremony for the first phase of the UP-NCC complex on November 5, 2022. The structure is now being built on three hectares of 76 hectares allotted for UP, bound by the NCC-MacArthur-SCTEX Access Road on the south and the National Government and Administrative Center access road. Phase 1 involves building an approximately 4,500 square meter building. Construction begins on UP-New Clark City. Photo by Abraham Arboleda (UP MPRO) BCDA Chair Lorenzana and UP President Concepcion inspecting the time capsule. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UP MPRO) According to the program’s master of ceremonies, UP Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Maria Angelica Abad, UP-NCC is expected to become a hub for education, research, training, and collaboration focusing on sustainable development. Currently, UP’s presence in NCC is provided by the UP Philippine General Hospital Polyclinic Phase 1 building, which was inaugurated in late 2019 in time for the Southeast Asian Games hosted by the Philippines. BCDA Chair Delfin Lorenzana, BCDA Senior Vice President for Business Development and Operations Joshua Bingcang, UP President Danilo Concepcion, and DPWH Region III Assistant Director Denise Maria Ayag representing DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan led the burial of the time capsule, which encased the plans for the structure, a copy of the Carillon magazine, and a copy of a newspaper of the day. UP Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora, Arthur Santos of DPWH Region III Planning and Design, and contractor Ronald Talens were also present. According to Concepcion and Zamora, UP-NCC is designed to be the main headquarters of the UP Open University and satellite sites of the UP Manila PGH, the National Institutes of Health and the College of Medicine, and the UP Diliman College of Engineering. With the area only 20 minutes from the airport and planned as the telecommunications hub of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, it would be ideal for UP’s medical emergency services, telesurgery, and internationalization efforts. “We should bring the school to the people and not people to the school,” Lorenzana said, citing the accessibility of UP NCC to clients from Central and Northern Luzon. Bingcang expressed BCDA’s gratitude to UP for being one of the first partners in the development of the NCC, knowing that educational institutions attract locators and are known economic drivers of the growth of a community. From left to right: BCDA Senior Vice President for Business Development and Operations Joshua Bingcang, BCDA Chair Delfin Lorenzana, DPWH Region III Assistant Director Denise Maria Ayag, and UP President Danilo Concepcion. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UPMPRO) “I am very happy that I am leaving my post assured and confident about the growth of UP New Clark City. It is one of the projects I will proudly hand over to my successor on February 9, 2023,” Concepcion said. Officials sign their names on the documents to be preserved inside the time capsule. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UPMPRO) With the groundbreaking ceremony out of the way, construction of the new UP -NCC has started. Photo by Bong Arboleda (UP MPRO)
https://up.edu.ph/upso-up-officials-visit-southern-taiwan-heis-for-arts-and-culture-cooperation/	UPSO, UP officials visit Southern Taiwan HEIs for arts and culture cooperation – University of the Philippines	UPSO, UP officials visit Southern Taiwan HEIs for arts and culture cooperation UPSO, UP officials visit Southern Taiwan HEIs for arts and culture cooperation January 6, 2023 \| Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc A top-level delegation from the University of the Philippines (UP) is meeting with counterparts from Southern Taiwan academe to formalize new academic cooperation and gain insight on “navigating and framing integrative university development and governance.” UP officials, headed by President Danilo L. Concepcion, arrived in Kaohsiung City on January 6, 2023, to meet with Southern Taiwan, higher educational institution officials at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST) in Nanzih and Jiangong. On January 10, a memorandum of academic cooperation (MAC) will be signed between UP and Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association led by NKUST President Ching-Yu Yang. Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association, a non-government organization based in Kaohsiung City, is a university alliance that seeks linkages with Southeast Asian universities. The MAC signing precedes a conference on academic networking and partnership between UP and Southern Taiwan university officials and representatives. UP and NKUST are members of the Southeast and South Asia and Taiwan Universities (SATU) network. The UP Symphony Orchestra celebrates with music The UP delegation will accompany the UP Symphony Orchestra, which will hold “Concerts of Goodwill” in the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts and the International Concert Hall of NKUST-Nanzih on January 8 and 9, respectively. The UP Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) is the official system-wide orchestra of the University. Created in 2018, the UPSO consists of 65 alumni, students, faculty, and administrative staff of the University of the Philippines, under the direction of Maestro Josefino “Chino” Toledo of the UP College of Music. For its first international concerts, the UPSO is set to perform Western, Taiwanese, and Philippine folk and classical works, including Dvorak Symphony 9 or the “New World Symphony,” in celebration of a new era of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. According to the UPSO, their program for their concert performances in Taiwan “celebrates the sounds of both cultures, with ‘Chinese Festival’ by Hsu Tsang-Houei and Maestro Chino Toledo’s ‘Kantus: Tagabawa,’ which is inspired by the chanting tradition of the Bagobo-Tagabawa people of southern Philippines.” For its concert in NKUST-Nanzih on January 9, the UPSO will perform ‘Festive Overture and Pomp and Circumstance’ to celebrate the hope and joy of the New Year. As a tribute to overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan, the UPSO will also play ‘Overture to Philippine Folksongs’ and ‘Lahing Kayumanggi,’ written by Philippine National Artist for Music Lucio San Pedro, to honor the Filipino race. UP officials said there had earlier been an initial understanding of art and cultural exchange between UPSO, established in 2018, and the Shu-Te University Chamber Ensemble. The academic partnership between Taiwan universities and UP In recent years, UP and Taiwan universities have been exchanging visits in active pursuit of cooperation. UP currently has active partnerships with the Chinese Cultural University, Taipei Medical University, National Central University, National Pingtung University, National Chung Cheng University, Kaohsiung Medical University, National Chung Hsing University, and the National University of Kaohsiung. UP hopes to activate partnerships with: Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Open University of Kaohsiung, National University of Tainan, National Kaohsiung Marine University, National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung Normal University, National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, Hamastar Technology Co., Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, and Academia Sinica. The Philippines’ national university is also renewing or processing linkages and partnerships with the Southern Taiwan University Alliance, Shu-Te University, National Sun Yat-Sen University, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung Normal University, National Cheng Kung University, National Taiwan Ocean University, and the National Taiwan University System.
https://up.edu.ph/up-manila-keeps-100-passing-rate-3-grads-top-august-2019-pharmacy-board-exam/	UP Manila keeps 100% passing rate, 3 grads top August 2019 Pharmacy board exam – University of the Philippines	UP Manila keeps 100% passing rate, 3 grads top August 2019 Pharmacy board exam UP Manila keeps 100% passing rate, 3 grads top August 2019 Pharmacy board exam September 6, 2019 \| Written by Fred Dabu All thirteen (13) examinees from the University of the Philippines Manila – College of Pharmacy successfully passed the Pharmacist Licensure Examination held last month, with three of them making it into the Top Ten list of passers. UP’s board topnotchers were: Janelle Samantha See, occupying the top spot with a rating of 92.58 percent; Jemimah Gyra Escote, at third place with a rating of 90.9 percent; and, Zadkiel Velasquez, at tenth place with a rating of 90.1 percent. Completing the list of UP’s successful examinees were: John Patrick Bulaong, Harold Joshua De Guzman, Clarvin Dela Cruz, Marielle Josette Divino, Judeth Ann Julao, Francis Cedric Magalued, Trissia Marie Ordoñez, Jeanne Pauline Panopio, Marie Celine Isabel Sombillo, and Mara Lois Tan. With a passing rate of 69.5 percent, 3,097 out of 4,455 examinees passed the said licensure exam administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga from August 3 to 4, 2019.
https://up.edu.ph/up-mindanao-gets-100-passing-rate-at-chemical-technician-licensure-exam/	UP Mindanao gets 100% passing rate at Chemical Technician licensure exam – University of the Philippines	UP Mindanao gets 100% passing rate at Chemical Technician licensure exam UP Mindanao gets 100% passing rate at Chemical Technician licensure exam October 21, 2019 \| Written by Rene Estremera The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao registered a 100% passing rate during the October 2019 Licensure Examination for Chemical Technicians. Last 14 October 2019, all twenty graduates of UP Mindanao’s BS Food Technology program who took the exam received the good news as the Professional Regulation Commission released the results. The national passing rate is 81%, with 2,298 passers out of 2,834 takers in the country. New passer Zairel Sarillana who graduated just this year said the work of a chemical technician involves instrumentation and laboratory analysis for industries in food processing, agriculture, and other industries. “A registered chemical technician is required to have taken at least 30 units in chemistry, and students in the BS Food Technology program meet this qualification. Now, I can have more options to choose from,” she said. Fellow passer Femaleen Bacerra said, “A license as chemical technician provides me a career opportunity to work in the field of certifying food and drugs. I want to do laboratory research and data gathering in the field.” Republic Act 10657 or the Chemistry Profession Act of 2015 stipulates that personnel who do work in laboratories should have a license as a chemist or as a chemical technician. The BS Food Technology program and the MS Food Science program of UP Mindanao develops scientists, educators, and entrepreneurs for the food industry and other sectors in Mindanao with their expertise in food safety, product research and development, and good manufacturing practices. “Those graduates exercised their own discretion to take review classes, take the exam, and earn a professional license,” said Assistant Professor Rovi Gem Villame, information committee chair of the Department of Food Science and Chemistry. “We in the department are very proud of their achievement,” she added.
https://up.edu.ph/up-diliman-students-acclaimed-in-bpi-dost-science-awards-2017/	UP Diliman students acclaimed in BPI-DOST Science Awards 2017 – University of the Philippines	UP Diliman students acclaimed in BPI-DOST Science Awards 2017 UP Diliman students acclaimed in BPI-DOST Science Awards 2017 May 10, 2017 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Three senior students of UP Diliman, winners of the BPI-DOST Science Awards 2017, received their awards on April 19 at the College of Science Auditorium in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Recognized during the ceremonies were: Jaime Lorenzo N. Dinglasan (BS Biology), for his research on milkfish bacteria; Orville M. Feliciano (BS Electronics and Communications Engineering), for his research on stereolithography; and, Philip Caesar M. Flores (BS Physics), for his research on quantum and classical clocks. Officials of UP Diliman and BPI Foundation, and the thesis advisers of the awardees, delivered inspiring messages that highlighted the importance of science, research and technology developments in nation-building. UPD Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Benito M. Pacheco, UPD College of Science Dean Jose Maria P. Balmaceda, UPD College of Engineering Dean Rizalinda L. De Leon, and BPI Foundation Executive Director Fidelina A. Corcuera presented the awards and recognition plaques. The BPI-DOST Science Awards, started in 1989 by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation, Inc., with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), recognizes exceptional science and engineering students from partner-universities nationwide. For more photos of the even, please click here.
https://up.edu.ph/up-units-highlight-womens-health-and-wellness-for-development-in-lectures/	UP units highlight women’s health and wellness for development in lectures – University of the Philippines	UP units highlight women’s health and wellness for development in lectures UP units highlight women’s health and wellness for development in lectures April 8, 2019 \| Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Participants and resource speakers alike follow along with a physical therapist from the University Health Service as she demonstrates some simple exercises office workers can do at their work stations. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Women’s health and wellness was the focus of an afternoon of lectures dubbed “3K: Kababaihan, Kalusugan, Kaunlaran! Women’s Health as a Priority Agenda,” organized by the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) in collaboration with the UP College of Social Work and Community Development’s Doctor of Social Development Program (UPCSWCD-DSD) and the UP Diliman University Health Services. The lectures were held on March 28 at the UPCWGS Conference Room. Addressing a crowded room of University women were three speakers: Ms. Ruth Agnes L. Manalo, a resident nutritionist and dietitian of the University Health Service; Dr. Ferdiliza Dandah Garcia of the UP Manila College of Allied Medical Professions; and, Dr. Meredith del Pilar-Labarda of the UP Manila School of Health Sciences. UHS resident dietician and nutritionist Ruth Manalo (standing, right) enumerates the rules of healthy eating, especially for women. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Ms. Manalo presented a list of good eating habits for women in order to maintain a long, healthy life, including: eating a wide, balanced variety of foods; steering clear of fad diets; and, eating generous portions of fruits, vegetables and high-fiber foods, as well as appropriate amounts of food rich in protein, carbohydrate and calcium every day. UPM-CAMP’s Dr. Ferdiliza Dandah Garcia describes the common aches and pains women are prone to at work, and how physical activity and exercise can counteract these. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Dr. Garcia, on her part, discussed common health problems women face at work, such as back pains, headaches and other ailments. She stressed the importance of getting enough physical activity, such as ten minutes of movement every two hours for office workers who spend most of the time sitting down. A physical therapist from the UHS assisted by demonstrating some simple exercises any office worker can do to prevent body aches. The audience giving the exercises for office-workers a try. To try these exercises yourself, check this link or simply do an Internet search. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Finally, Dr. Labarda gave an overview of the health problems that women risk having. Of these, non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis make up the leading causes of death and disability among women, especially aging Filipino women. As did the previous speakers, she stressed the importance of self-care and lifestyle medicine for women, consisting of: healthy eating habits; engaging in adequate physical activity and exercise (at least 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise three times a week); getting enough sleep (at least seven to nine hours of sleep for adults); cultivating meaningful relationships; and, connecting to one’s sense of spirituality. UPM-SHS’ Dr. Meredith del Pilar-Labarda synthesizing the main points of the previous speakers and reminding the audience of the importance of self-care and lifestyle medicine. Photo by Jun Madrid, U PMPRO. Prof. Excelsa Tongson, the UPCWGS deputy director of the Training, Outreach and Extension Program and UPCSWCD-DSD Director Ma. Theresa V. Tungpalan delivered the welcome address and special messages, respectively, while Dr. Maria Daniella R. Bantilles, head of the Public Health Unit of the UHS, gave the closing remarks. From left to right: UHS Public Health Unit head Dr. Maria Daniella R. Bantilles, UPCWGS deputy director of the Training, Outreach and Extension Program Excelsa Tongson, UPCSWCD-DSD Director Ma. Theresa V. Tungpalan, Dr. Labarda, Ms. Manalo and Dr. Garcia. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO.
https://up.edu.ph/consultative-workshop-for-the-gender-mainstreaming-program-for-students-and-student-organizations/	Consultative Workshop for the Gender Mainstreaming Program for Students and Student Organizations – University of the Philippines	Consultative Workshop for the Gender Mainstreaming Program for Students and Student Organizations Consultative Workshop for the Gender Mainstreaming Program for Students and Student Organizations April 24, 2019 \| Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines, with the newly constituted Technical Working Group on Gender Sensitivity and Equality at the helm of the Gender Mainstreaming Program for students and student organizations, is organizing the initial phase that will focus on consolidating past and ongoing efforts in addressing gender-related issues and concerns, including psychosocial interventions. The Consultative Workshop will cover reports from the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UP CWGS) and Gender Offices, Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment, and Office of Student Affairs and will engage these units to share their experiences, success stories, and challenges. It will also gather recommendations on how to further gender sensitivity and responsiveness among students and student organizations within the CUs. The Consultative Workshop will be held on April 29-30, 2019, 8:00am to 5:00pm, at Room 301 (Toribio Teodoro Room), Institute for Small-Scale Industries (ISSI), UP Diliman. For inquiries about the Consultative Workshop, kindly contact UP Padayon Public Service Office via (02) 981-8500 loc 4256 or thru email at padayon@up.edu.ph.
https://up.edu.ph/upcwgs-launches-angat-bayi-womens-political-empowerment-fellowship-programs-2nd-year/	UPCWGS launches Angat Bayi Women’s Political Empowerment Fellowship Program’s 2nd year – University of the Philippines	UPCWGS launches Angat Bayi Women’s Political Empowerment Fellowship Program’s 2nd year UPCWGS launches Angat Bayi Women’s Political Empowerment Fellowship Program’s 2nd year February 24, 2020 \| Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The Angat Bayi 2020-2021 Fellows, together with UP officials and officials and staff of the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, sing along with Noel Cabangon during the opening ceremony and welcome reception for the Angat Bayi Women’s Political Empowerment Fellowship Program’s second year. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s Studies (UPCWGS), the UP Center for Women’s Studies Foundation, Inc., and the Angat Buhay: Partnerships Against Poverty program of the Office of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, with the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives of the Embassy of Canada, launched the second Angat Bayi Women’s Political Empowerment Program. The Angat Bayi Women’s Political Empowerment Program, which was piloted in 2018, is a comprehensive women’s political empowerment program that aims to contribute to the full, meaningful, and effective political participation of women towards a people-centered, rights-based, gender-responsive, participatory, empowering and sustainable development agenda. The opening ceremony and welcome reception for the Angat Bayi program’s Fellows for 2020-2021 was held on February 19, 2020, at the Quezon City Reception House in New Manila. As with the first batch of 2018-2019, the Angat Bayi’s Fellows include women leaders from various levels of local governments and from various cities, municipals and provinces across the different regions of the Philippines. Under the program, they will undergo four days of intensive training in feminist and gender transformative leadership, including online courses, sessions with feminist leadership mentors, and insight-sharing from fellow women political leaders and past Angat Bayi Fellows. The 2020-2021Angat Bayi Fellows with Mr. Mucci of the Canadian Embassy, Vice President Leni Robredo (sitting, 3rd from right), and UPCWGS Director Nathalie Africa-Verceles. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Aside from the 21 new Angat Bayi Fellows, attendees included: UP System and UP Diliman officials; officials, former directors, researchers and staff of the UPCWGS; members of Vice President Robredo’s media and Angat Buhay project team; and, members of the media. In her welcome message, UPCWGS Director and Angat Bayi Project Leader Dr. Nathalie Africa-Verceles explained the origins of the Angat Bayi program in UPCWGS’ gender consultant Maya Tamayo’s research on the country’s need for more progressive women leaders and the difficulty women face in running and getting elected into office. Through the UPCWGS, Tamayo’s dream became a full-fledged women’s political empowerment project through the support of the Canadian Embassy, the Office of the Vice President, and Certified-edu.net, which hosts the program’s online courses. UPCWGS Director Nathalie Africa-Verceles. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. “We in UP, just like yourselves, are impelled to serve the people. Angat Bayi represents how we can effectively synergize theoretical perspectives and action. Collectively, we strive to work out how we can best deliver the development that our country desperately needs,” Verceles said. UP officials who offered messages of solidarity, encouragement and inspiration for the 2020-2021 Angat Bayi Fellows included: UP Executive Vice-President Teodoro J. Herbosa, representing UP President Danilo L. Concepcion; UP Vice-President for Academic Affairs Ma. Cynthia Rose Bautista, whose speech was delivered by Director Verceles; and, Dr. Gonzalo A. Campoamor, the director of the Research Dissemination Office of the UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development, representing incoming UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo. Mr. Warren Mucci, Counselor for Political and Public Affairs of the Embassy of Canada, also expressed his government’s continuing support of the program, citing the Canadian government’s key foreign policy to advance gender equality from the national level to the grassroots level. UP Executive Vice President Ted Herbosa. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. UP Diliman OVCRD Director Gonzalo A. Campoamor. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Mr. Warren Mucci, Counselor for Political and Public Affairs of the Embassy of Canada. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Vice President Robredo delivered the keynote message, noting that the job of a progressive feminist political leader was to promote interest in gender equality among their constituents. “Paano natin malo-localize? Paano natin mata-translate yong ating paniniwala in a way that yung pinakamaliit nating mga kasama, mararamdaman nila iyong importansya noong pinag-uusapan natin? Iyon ang challenge sa ating mga local officials. [How do we localize it? How do we translate our beliefs in a way that the least among our constituents will understand the significance of what we are saying? That’s the challenge for us local officials.]” Vice President Leni Robredo. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Robredo also emphasized the need to tackle the poverty, which is the root problem of the issues besetting women. “That’s what we’re doing under our Angat Buhay program. We find ways where we can help the poorest of the poor to be economically empowered,” she added. From left to right: former UP Asian Studies Dean and former UPCWGS Director Carolyn Sobritchea; Mr. Warren Mucci; Vice President Robredo; and, UPCWGS Director Verceles. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The Angat Bayi Fellows for 2020-2021 are: City Councilor Rhaetia Marie “Sunshine” Carlos Abcede-Llaga of Lucena City, Quezon Province; City Councilor Aileen, Rhoda Itchon Acal of Candon City, Ilocos Sur; Municipal Councilor Louella Marie R. Agcaoili of San Mateo, Isabela; Municipal Mayor Ma. Rosario C. Avestruz of Cuta, Barugo, Leyte; Municipal Vice Mayor Precious Joy D. Baguio of Batuan, Bohol; Municipal Councilor Ma. Karen A. Baldonado-Guillermo of Andres Bonifacio, Diffun, Quirino; City Councilor Kristine Jane P. Barison of General Trias City, Cavite; Provincial Board Member Mila Perpetua A. Catabay-Lauigan of Tuguegarao, Cagayan; Municipal Councilor Gecelle Meñez Fainsan of Odiongan, Romblon; Municipal Mayor Trina Alejandra Que Firmalo-Fabic of Odiongan, Romblon; Municipal Councilor Mardella Matba of Languyan, Tawi-Tawi ; Municipal Councilor Vanessa Lyn Uy Mercader of Las Navas, Northern Samar; Municipal Mayor Fely of Tubahon, Dinagat IslandsPedrablanca; Provincial Board Member Thea Faith Tinsay Reyes of Roxas City, Capiz; Provincial Board Member Abegail Vendiola Sable of Corden, Isabela; Municipal Councilor Mayfair “Maya Bongco” Sibug of Orani, Bataan ; Municipal Councilor Rowena Verona Sumagaysay Silvederio of Santa Barbara, Iloilo; Provincial Board Member Rosary Gracia Perez Tababa of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan; Municipal Vice Mayor Marissa Velitario-Hao of Nabua, Camarines Sur; Board Member Margielou Orange D. Verzosa-Humilde of the 1st District of Pangasinan; and, City Councilor Maria Mylen Victoria G. Yaranon of Baguio City, Benguet. Vice President Robredo being presented a certificate of appreciation by Dr. Sobritchea (left) and Director Verceles (right). Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Dr. Sobritchea introducing Vice President Robredo. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO.
https://up.edu.ph/up-interior-design-students-present-renovated-kalinga-day-care-center/	UP Interior Design students present renovated Kalinga Day Care Center – University of the Philippines	UP Interior Design students present renovated Kalinga Day Care Center UP Interior Design students present renovated Kalinga Day Care Center January 31, 2020 \| Written by Fred Dabu Dr. Nathalie Verceles, Atty. Gaby Concepcion, Dr. Sylvia Guerrero, Justice Marvic Leonen, Prof. Hanna Faustino, Dr. Excelsa Tongson, and BS Interior Design students pose for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. To highlight the importance of having a gender responsive early childhood care and development (ECCD) program for women’s empowerment and gender equality, and in fulfillment of the role of interior designers to address practical concerns of Filipinos, BS Interior Design students of the University of the Philippines College of Home Economics (UP CHE), together with the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UP CWGS) and the UP CHE faculty, sponsors of the renovation project, and guests, marked the opening of the newly renovated Kalinga Day Care Center (KDCC) in UP Diliman, Quezon City, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and guided tour of the facility on January 10, 2020. UP’s Atty. Gaby Concepcion and Justice Marvic Leonen; Dr. Sylvia Guerrero, Dr. Nathalie Verceles, and Dr. Excelsa Tongson of UP CWGS; and, Dr. Adelaida Mayo, Prof. Hanna Faustino, and Prof. Pamela Aquino of UP CHE led the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon to open the improved KDCC facility to its constituents. BS Interior Design students receive the appreciation letter written by the KDCC kids. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Interior designer and faculty adviser Pamela Aquino introduced the ten BS ID students responsible for renovating KDCC’s reception area, teachers’ room, recreation area, kitchen, storage, and toilet: Dana Sangalang (project head); Erielle Ekong (quality control & site coordinator); Gaille Marquez (secretariat & procurement); Clement Ignacio (design head); Rizza Tabios (procurement & quality control); Steffi Yuquimpo (finance head & design co-head); Mikee Arevalo (CAD operator & procurement); Catherine Asejo (site coordinator & quality control); Angela Titular (externals & publicity co-head); and, Sophia Teaño (externals & publicity co-head). New furnishing and two additional spaces, the dining area and the breastfeeding room were also provided to KDCC through the project. Prof. Tongson turned over to Prof. Aquino and the students the letter of appreciation written by the children enrolled in KDCC. Prof. Tongson provided a background on how the KDCC started, and encouraged everybody to take a look at the KDCC whole-day and half-day programs and to put up their own day care centers in public or private offices. She explained that the day care primarily caters to the needs of the children of UP employees and students so that they, as parents, may be able to pursue their interests and participate in nation building. The KDCC opened in 1998 and is fully managed by the UP CWGS as a non-formal, non-structured alternative learning environment which aims to provide a comfortable, gender-fair, and safe environment for children from ages 1 to 5 years old, and to promote a positive self-concept in children. KDCC also provides parents, guardians and caregivers or yayas with gender-responsive seminars on childhood care and development, laws, and other women’s and gender related issues. According to the BS ID students who completed the project, “the opportunity to renovate KDCC was brought about by ID 179: Special Project in Interior Design.” This course is taken by graduating BS ID students to engage them in a real-world scenario or provide them a glimpse of what they may expect of professional life. It involves the class in meticulous planning, designing, execution, and post-evaluation of the project for a chosen beneficiary. UP CHE Department of Clothing, Textiles and Interior Design (CTID) Chairperson Faustino provided more details on the project. She said ID students used to hold exhibits in malls to showcase their skills until the start of 2000. The ID 179 course was redesigned by senior faculty members, Dr. Adelaida Mayo and Dr. Raquel Florendo, and the students embraced ID as “a discipline that addresses very significant issues and concerns in our society” by dedicating their projects to help their chosen beneficiaries. “ID in Home Economics aims to focus on basic needs and practical concerns of individuals and families in everyday life. How we apply it must translate to the enhancement of the wellbeing of individuals and families. For many years, ID of UP has helped many institutions through renovating interior spaces. Through this course, ID 179, we have already touched many lives and many institutions, from public libraries, school for the blind, socialized housing, hospitals, dormitories, and many more. Institutions such as Mabuhay Deseret Foundation, Bahay Biyaya, and ECPAT Philippines Inc. are among our most recent ID 179 projects,” Faustino said. “Realize that the true beauty of the space occurred the moment that you shared your lives to others, listening, learning and understanding where their needs come from. Thank you for advancing the role to give back to society, but I hope that this would not be the last time. I hope that you will consider this as a regular habit in your life. Always put others first. This will bring honor to our nation, as well as hope,” Faustino told the students. The renovation project was also sponsored by: Hulma Manila Custom Fabrication, Inc.; Global Visions Events & Marketing Network, Inc.; Saxum et Sal, Inc.; Kuysen Enterprises, Inc.; Universal Robina Corporation; Splash Corporation; Creamline Ice Cream; Aztec Secret Health & Beauty; San Miguel PureFoods, Inc.; Rebisco; Del Monte Foods, Inc.; Magnolia; and, individual donors who supported the fundraising efforts of the class. Renovated Spaces Photo above shows the kitchen area before renovation, which was converted into a cozy-looking dining area after renovation, as seen in photo below. Photo from UP BS Interior Design Class of 2020. The reception area in the photo above has become brighter and more spacious after renovation (photo below). Photo from UP BS Interior Design Class of 2020. Bright colors and intriguing shapes transform the KDCC’s recreation area (see photo above for “before” renovation) into an even more kid-friendly space (see photo below for “after” renovation). Photo from UP BS Interior Design Class of 2020. The doorway and stairs at one side of the recreation (see photo above for “before” renovation) now features brighter colors and tree-artwork for the bulletin board (see photo below for “after” renovation). Photo from UP BS Interior Design Class of 2020. Even small spaces (see photo above for “before” renovation) can be made to appear to be brighter and roomier (see photo below for “after” renovation). Photo from UP BS Interior Design Class of 2020. A somewhat neglected space such as a storage room (see photo above for “before” renovation) can be transformed into a functional and attractive kitchen (see photo below for “after” renovation). Photo from UP BS Interior Design Class of 2020.
https://up.edu.ph/womens-day-2020-in-upd-emphasizes-health-freedom-and-well-being/	Women’s Day 2020 in UPD emphasizes health, freedom, and well-being – University of the Philippines	Women’s Day 2020 in UPD emphasizes health, freedom, and well-being Women’s Day 2020 in UPD emphasizes health, freedom, and well-being March 6, 2020 \| Written by Fred Dabu Members of the UP Diliman community dance the “Sayaw ng Paghihimagsik”. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. The University of the Philippines Diliman Gender Office (UPDGO) led a multisectoral gathering of the University’s advocates of women and gender rights in a program at the Quezon Hall on March 6, 2020, as part of the series of activities scheduled in celebration of National Women’s Month in UP and to mark the UP Diliman community’s commemoration of International Women’s Day. With the theme “KKK 2020: Isulong ang Kalusugan, Kalayaan at Kaginhawaan ng Kababaihan at ng Bayan!”, the program became a festive venue for strengthening commitment to continue the struggle for women empowerment and gender equality, human rights, social justice, and national development, and for highlighting the need to further advance Filipino women’s and people’s overall quality of health, freedom, and well-being through education, policy interventions, and collective or mass actions. Participants of the event included members of the UP System and UP Diliman administration, UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS), UP Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System, Office of the Staff Regent, University Registrar, University Library, Human Resources Development Office (HRDO), University Health Service, Barangay UP Campus, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, College of Arts and Letters, College of Music, College of Fine Arts, College of Mass Communication, UP Film Institute, School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS), National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (NISMED), UP Institute for Small-Scale Industries (ISSI), All UP Workers Union, All UP Academic Employees Union, All UP Workers Alliance, Concerned Artists of the Philippines, Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND) UP, University Student Council, UPD National Service Training Program, UPD Gabriela Youth, Save Our Schools Network, Babaylan, and Kabataan Partylist. Solidarity messages were delivered by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, represented by Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Rica D. Abad; UPD Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo; UPDGO Coordinator Nancy Kimuell-Gabriel; UPCWGS Director Nathalie A. Verceles; UP Staff Regent Mylah R. Pedrano; and the leaders of unions and organizations in the University. Kontra-GaPi, HallyUP, Kilusan Step Sisters, UP LIRIKA, UP Repertory Company, UP SAMASKOM, Pasada band, and others rendered inspiring performances, such as songs, dances and skits, during the event. Members of Kontra-GaPi (Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino), the resident ethnic music and dance ensemble of the UPD College of Arts and Letters, open the program held at the Quezon Hall with a “ritwal panalangin” in celebration of Women’s Month. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. UP System and UP Diliman administration officials join the program led by the UPDGO. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Dr. Nancy Kimuell-Gabriel, coordinator of the UP Diliman Gender Office (UPDGO). Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs (Alumni Relations and Events Management) Rica D. Abad. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Dr. Fidel R. Nemenzo, UP Diliman Chancellor. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Dr. Nathalie A. Verceles, director of the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS). Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. UP Staff Regent Mylah R. Pedrano. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. College of Arts and Letters faculty and CONTEND UP member Francezca C. Kwe. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO.
https://up.edu.ph/up-center-for-womens-and-gender-studies-to-launch-dakila-online-training-platform/	UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies to launch DAKILA online training platform – University of the Philippines	UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies to launch DAKILA online training platform UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies to launch DAKILA online training platform June 2, 2020 \| Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta The UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) is inviting everyone to the grand launching of DAKILA (DAta, Knowledge, and Information LAuncher) online training platform on June 12, 2020, 10 AM, via Zoom. The launch will showcase the DAKILA online learning platform, how it looks, and how it works. Participants in the launch will also be given the chance to share insights and ask questions. To register, please go to this site. In related news, the UPCWGS’ Training, Outreach and Extension Program Unit will be offering their gender responsive training courses online. The UPCWGS also conducts outreach activities and training and technical assistance to groups outside the University. For inquiries about UPCWGS’ online gender responsive training courses, please contact Vince Hermoso through his email address, fmhermoso1@up.edu.ph, or through his mobile number, (0995)342-2151. Please keep following the UPCWGS on Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates.
https://up.edu.ph/upd-vice-chancellor-fidel-nemenzo-selected-as-new-up-diliman-chancellor/	UPD Vice Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo selected as new UP Diliman Chancellor – University of the Philippines	UPD Vice Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo selected as new UP Diliman Chancellor UPD Vice Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo selected as new UP Diliman Chancellor February 3, 2020 \| Written by Celeste Llaneta and Jo. Lontoc After the UP president’s announcement of his chancellorship, Fidel Nemenzo (right) raises his fist, together with outgoing UPD Chancellor Michael Tan, on the Quezon Hall bridge before a multisectoral mobilization supporting him. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. UP President Danilo Concepcion, co-chair of the UP Board of Regents (BOR), announced the selection of Dr. Fidel R. Nemenzo, current UP Diliman (UPD) Vice Chancellor for Research and Development, as UPD chancellor 2020-2023, before a multisectoral mobilization at Quezon Hall, UPD awaiting the BOR decision on February 3, 2020. Nemenzo is the tenth UPD chancellor, succeeding Dr. Michael L. Tan. Nemenzo’s selection as the chancellor of the national university’s flagship campus was the result of a thorough and at times contentious selection process conducted by a multisectoral search committee. His selection as chancellor was confirmed by the BOR during its 1350th meeting on February 3, 2020. UP President Danilo Concepcion announces the BOR confirmation of Fidel Nemenzo as the next chancellor of UP Diliman. Looking on are Staff Regent Mylah Pedrano and Student Regent John Isaac Punzalan. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. He addressed the crowd right after the UP president’s announcement. “Ang tagumpay ngayon ay tagumpay nating lahat. Alam kong narito kayo hindi para ipaglaban ako, [kundi] para ipaglaban ang UP. Narito kayo para sa academic freedom, demokratikong pamamahala, para madinig ang boses ng ating komunidad sa mga importanteng desisyon ng BOR [Today’s victory is the victory of us all. I know you are here not to fight for me but to fight for UP. You are here for academic freedom, democratic governance, and for the voice of the community to be heard in important decisions of the BOR],” Nemenzo said. “Inaasahan ko ang inyong pakikilahok at pagkakaisa sa mga darating na hamon at pagsubok na sama-sama nating haharapin. Taus-pusong pasasalamat sa inyong lahat! Mabuhay ang UP! [I look forward to your participation and unity amid the challenges we will all meet head on. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Long live UP!]” he added. A jubilant student sector cheers Fidel Nemenzo. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. In his vision paper presented during the chancellorship selection process, Nemenzo declared that he would re-imagine UP Diliman as a “modern research university with a public mission”, and an “academic center of excellence” that is inclusive, diverse, inter-disciplinary and public service-oriented. He pledged to continue to cultivate UP Diliman’s spirit of critical inquiry and academic excellence “guided by a strong moral compass”. He is committed to safeguarding academic freedom in UP Diliman. He has also vowed to be guided by the principles of democratic governance, administrative and operational efficiency, and sustainability and resiliency. Fidel Nemenzo addresses the mutisectoral mobilization at Quezon Hall. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. Nemenzo graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from UP Diliman in 1985, and earned his Master and Doctor of Science in Mathematics degrees from Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, in 1992 and 1998, respectively. He has been teaching in the UP Institute of Mathematics since 1992, and has served as: Deputy-Director for Academic Affairs in the Institute of Mathematics; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the UP College of Science; OIC Director of the UP Institute for Small Scale Industries; and, from 2014 to the present, Vice-Chancellor for Research and Development. Fidel Nemenzo is interviewed by students at the Oblation Plaza. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. His areas of research are number theory, elliptic curves and coding theory. Among the awards he has received are the Achievement Award in mathematics from the National Research Council of the Philippines and the UP Diliman Gawad Chancellor Para sa Pinakamahusay na Guro. He was the president of both the Southeast Asian Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Society of the Philippines, and has held research and teaching posts in Singapore, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Munich and Phnom Penh. In 2019, Nemenzo was elected to the Governing Board of the National Research Council of the Philippines, and is Chair of its Mathematics Division. Senate Committee on Higher Education Chair Joel Villanueva congratulates Fidel Nemenzo at the Quezon Hall lobby. Looking on are Student Regent John Isaac Punzalan and UP President Danilo Concepcion. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO. House Committee on Higher Education Chair Mark Go asks the UP community to rally behind the newly elected UP Diliman chancellor. Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO.
https://up.edu.ph/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fup.edu.ph%2Fup-mindanao-swimmers-triumph-in-araw-ng-dabaw%2F	Log In ‹ University of the Philippines — WordPress	UP System Website Username or Email Address Password Remember Me ← Go to University of the Philippines
https://up.edu.ph/new-cmo-complex-constructed-by-mid-2022/	New CMO complex constructed by mid-2022 – University of the Philippines	New CMO complex constructed by mid-2022 New CMO complex constructed by mid-2022 March 11, 2022 \| Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Laying the time capsule for the UP Diliman Campus Maintenance Office’s soon-to-be new home [from left to right]: UP Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora; Dr. Rene R. Escalante, member of the Board of Trustees of the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) and Chair of the National Historical Commission; HRVVMC Executive Director Carmelo Crisanto; UP President Danilo Concepcion, with UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo behind him; UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Raquel B. Florendo; and UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). University of the Philippines (UP) President Danilo Concepcion led, on March 3, 2022, the time capsule laying for the new UP Diliman Campus Maintenance Office Complex (UPD-CMO), consisting of buildings, workshops, and a yard. The complex is a joint project between UP and the Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission (HRVVMC), which is funding the project as part of a memorandum of agreement for the construction of an HRVV Memorial / Museum / Library / Archive / Compendium—proposed to be called the Freedom Museum—in UP Diliman. The Freedom Museum will rise on CMO’s old site. CMO relocates to a new, more spacious complex beside the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The upcoming UP Diliman Campus Maintenance Office Complex. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). UP President Concepcion delivers his opening remarks. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). “Ipinagmamalaki ko ang malawakang pagsasaayos, modernisasyon, pagpapalawig, at pagpapanatili ng ganda at kasaysayan ng pisikal na kalagayan ng ating mga kampus. Ginawa natin ang mga ito para sa ating mga estudyante, guro, mananaliksik, mga manggagamot, mga kawani, at para sa mas malawak nating pamayanan. Hindi naman maaaring maiwan ang mga kasamahan nating mahusay na nangangalaga sa ating pangalawang tahanan (I take pride in the comprehensive upgrade, modernization, expansion, and aesthetic and historical preservation of the physical state of our campuses. We are doing these for our students, the faculty, researchers, doctors, administrative staff, and the larger community. We must not forget our colleagues who are well taking care of our second home),” Concepcion said in his opening remarks.” UP Diliman Chancellor Nemenzo says the UPDCMO’s dream of having a permanent home is one step closer. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). Alam kong palipat-lipat ang CMO at matagal nang nangangarap ng isang permanenteng tahanan (I know how CMO has transferred from one place to another and long dreamed of a permanent home),” UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo said in his closing remarks. He recalled seeing the old Physical Plant Office, the forerunner of the CMO, near the playground during his childhood. “Napapanahon na magkaroon ng panibagong building ang CMO at mabigyan ng pansin ang mga pangangailangan nito, dahil isa ito sa mga gulugod ng kampus (The time is right to have a new CMO building and its needs addressed, as it is part of the campus backbone),” CMO Acting Director Perlita Raña said in an interview after the capsule-laying ceremony. “Nitong pandemya, nalaman natin na esensyal siya na gawain. Hindi ito huminto sa pagseserbisyo, kasama ng Health Service. (During the pandemic, we come to realize just how essential its work is. It continued to serve, together with the Health Service.)” HRVVMC Board Member Rene Escalante addresses the UP Diliman community. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). “Next naman sana in line ay mga bagong sasakyan (We hope new vehicles are next in line),” Raña added. The CMO is responsible for the physical upkeep of the university: its buildings and offices, dormitories and housing units, roads, sewers and drainage systems, parks and gardens, nurseries, and the Arboretum. It performs hauling activities, fabrication, and installation of street signs. The HRVVMC has a mandate to establish a museum in honor of human rights violation victims during the Marcos regime. UP and HRVVMC agreed to collaborate on the project during the administration of UP President Alfredo E. Pascual. Meanwhile, the UP System administration under President Concepcion administration initiated the relocation of CMO to its new site. “Ang mga gagamit ng museo ay doon na lamang papasok sa CP Garcia… At meron din namang kaming isang gallery dito na puwede nilang idamay sa kanilang pagbisita… Dalawa ang magiging pakinabang nila: kasaysayan at kultura (Visitors of the museum can easily access it via CP Garcia. … And we have another gallery which they can also visit. … They will benefit in terms of both history and culture),” Concepcion said.
https://up.edu.ph/7-story-student-union-building-and-upgraded-vinzons-hall-in-upd-inaugurated/	7-Story Student Union Building and upgraded Vinzons Hall in UPD inaugurated – University of the Philippines	7-Story Student Union Building and upgraded Vinzons Hall in UPD inaugurated 7-Story Student Union Building and upgraded Vinzons Hall in UPD inaugurated March 21, 2022 \| Written by Fred Dabu UP Diliman’s new, seven-story Student Union Building, visible from Katipunan Road, will house TVUP, the offices of the UPD University Student Council, the Philippine Collegian, the Office of Student Projects and Activities (OSPA) , the University Food Services, and UP student organizations. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). Two world-class infrastructures to be used as safe spaces for academic activities and services in the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman were inaugurated on February 9: the new seven-story Student Union Building and the renovated Vinzons Hall. Officials of UP and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), under the leadership of UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, former DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar, and DPWH Undersecretary for NCR Rafael C. Yabut, who represented DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado, graced the event. Concepcion said the Student Union Building is an ideal venue for student activities. It would become the home of TVUP, the University Student Council, the Philippine Collegian, the Office of Student Projects and Activities (OSPA), the University Food Service, and UP-based student organizations. At the inauguration ceremony (sitting, left to right): DPWH Undersecretary for NCR Rafael Yabut; former DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, UP President Danilo Concepcion, UP Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora, and UPD Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). The rehabilitated Vinzons Hall, on the other hand, will house units under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA), which includes the Office of Student Projects and Activities (OSPA), the Office for Student Ethics (OSE), the Office of Scholarships and Grants (OSG), the Office of Counselling and Guidance (OCG). Vinzons Hall’s renovation ensures its structural integrity, safety, and efficient use of space. The makeover also includes an upgrade of its electrical, plumbing, and security systems. A scenic elevator and security cameras were also installed. UP President Concepcion calls the new Student Union Building and newly renovated Vinzons Hall a product of UP’s collective desire to improve learning spaces for UP students. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). President Concepcion added that Vinzons Hall and the old student union building housed G. Miranda Bookstore, where UP students bought textbooks and school supplies when he was still a student. Government scholars received their monthly allowance at the old Philippine National Bank (PNB) branch in the area. For him, the inauguration of the two buildings ushers in a new beginning for today’s UP students. “We build upon the strong foundations set by our predecessors because it is what our constituents deserve,” Concepcion said. “Ang pagpapasinaya natin ngayon ay bunga ng ating kolektibong hangarin na pagbutihin pa ang mga espasyong hihikayat sa husay at galing ng ating mga estudyante tungo sa paglilingkod sa bayan [This inauguration is the product of our collective desire to improve the spaces that will nurture the skills and talents of our students and harness these toward service to the country],” he concluded. UP Diliman Chancellor Nemenzo thanks the DPWH and the UP System for pushing for the construction and renovation of the buildings. Photo by Abraham Arboleda (UP MPRO). UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo thanked the DPWH and Pres. Concepcion for all their efforts. He said the Vinzons Hall and the Student Union Building would continue to serve among the epicenters of student activities and symbols of the University. Former DPWH Secretary Villar said a world-class institution like UP deserves world-class infrastructure. He is proud and happy to have been part of these projects. He supports President Concepcion’s vision for UP to become a top university globally, not just in Asia. Former DPWH Sec. Villar expresses his pride and happiness over being part of creating “world-class infrastructure” for a “world-class institution.” Photo by Abraham Arboleda (UP MPRO). UPD Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Louise Jashil R. Sonido said they were excited to come home to these buildings. She said, “The past years of remote learning emphasized how much the learning environment and spaces contribute to the formation and education of our students. When we build for our students, we enable so many experiences, opportunities, relations, the incubation of new ideas and initiatives that serve the people.” She concluded her message by saying that they expected the new and next normal for students to be a better one. UPD Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Louise Jashil Sonido said the UPD community was “excited to come home to these buildings.” Photo by Abraham Arboleda (UP MPRO). After the officials delivered their messages, they unveiled the buildings’ commemorative markers. They also toured the Student Union Building and the Vinzons Hall. UPD Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo, UPD Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Louise Jashil R. Sonido, UPD Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Raquel B. Florendo, UP Vice President for Development Elvira A. Zamora, TVUP Director Grace J. Alfonso, Atty. Gaby R. Concepcion from the UP College of Law, , and UP Assistant Vice Presidents for Public Affairs Ma. Angelica D. Abad and Jose Wendell P. Capili also attended the ceremony. DPWH Undersecretary for NCR Yabut delivered his remarks on behalf of DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado. Photo by Abraham Arboleda (UP MPRO). DPWH Undersecretary Yabut and former Sec. Villar were accompanied by Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations (NCR) Wilfredo S. Mallari and Quezon City District Engineers Loida S. Busa, Eduardo V. Santos, and Art Corpus. Additional photos from the inauguration of UP Diliman’s new Student Union Building and newly renovated Vinzons Hall below. The historic and rehabilitated Vinzons Hall (1958) will house UPD offices for student services and facilities. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). The entryway to the newly renovated Vinzons Hall, with the bust of student activist Wenceslao Vinzons still in its honored place. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). UP President Concepcion and former DPWH Sec. Villar cut the ribbon to formally open the new building, with UP and DPWH officials looking on. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). UP President Concepcion and former DPWH Secretary Villar unveil the SUB’s commemorative marker. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). The large hall at the SUB will be home to the University Food Service cafeteria. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO). The open space between the Student Union Building (left) and Vinzons Hall (right), with the new scenic elevator. Photo by Jonathan Madrid (UP MPRO).
https://up.edu.ph/nhcp-turns-over-upsilon-marker-to-up/	NHCP turns over Upsilon marker to UP – University of the Philippines	NHCP turns over Upsilon marker to UP NHCP turns over Upsilon marker to UP December 1, 2022 \| Written by Fred Dabu UP President Danilo Concepcion (2nd from left) stands beside the Upsilon Sigma Phi marker newly installed by the National Historical Commission. Beside him are USPAAI President Ed Sunico (extreme left) and National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chair Rene Escalante. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UPMPRO) On the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) unveiled the “Upsilon Sigma Phi” historical marker and turned it over to the University of the Philippines (UP) on November 19, 2022, at the UP Promenade in UP Diliman, Quezon City. The site is located near the main library on the UP Diliman campus. NHCP Chairman Rene R. Escalante and UP President Danilo L. Concepcion officiated the ceremony. Among those who witnessed the event were NHCP OIC-Executive Director Carminda R. Arevalo, Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association President Ed Sunico, and fraternity members. According to Sunico, they are grateful for the NHCP’s recognition of the fraternity’s contributions since the Upsilon’s founders more than a century ago envisioned gathering young men who would become leaders in different fields and help shape the “intertwined” history of the University and the nation “The fraternity continues the vision of its founders in helping create a climate conducive to learning and progress in the UP, to economic stability and political maturity in the Republic of the Philippines,” Sunico said. Escalante remarked that the turnover was originally requested from NHCP in 2017 in time for their 100th anniversary. Since the NHCP required more supporting documents on the fraternity’s history, the schedule had to be moved. The government, through Proclamation Order No. 539 issued in July 2018, already recognized the fraternity for its “significant contributions to numerous civic and humanitarian causes, as well as the dedication and commitment of its members to public service and nation-building.” The said proclamation also declared 2018 the “Year for the Celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Upsilon Sigma Phi.” In his message, Escalante narrated how the Upsilon Sigma Phi was established by 14 UP students in the original campus in Ermita, Manila, more than a century ago. He said the founders aimed to serve fellow students and to engage in discussions on national issues and that on November 19, 1920, the fraternity was formally organized. Justiniano R. Asuncion was elected as its president. He added that the fraternity continues to contribute positively to society and history. On behalf of UP, Concepcion accepted the historical marker entrusted to UP. He pledged to take care of it as a symbol of the University and the fraternity. Concepcion is also a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi. From left to right: Sunico, Escalante, Concepcion and National Historical Commission Office of the Executive Director OIC Carminda Arevalo hold up the newly signed certificates of transfer of the Upsilon Sigma Phi marker. Photo by Kevin Christian Roque (UPMPRO)
https://up.edu.ph/announcement-of-the-office-of-admissions-on-upca-2022/	Announcement of the Office of Admissions on UPCA 2022 – University of the Philippines	Announcement of the Office of Admissions on UPCA 2022 Announcement of the Office of Admissions on UPCA 2022 May 13, 2022 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The Office of Admissions and Office of the University Registrar building, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Photo from the Office of Admissions Facebook page. This is NOT yet the announcement of results for UP College Application 2022. As stated in the General Information Bulletin, the University Councils (UCs) of the University of the Philippines (UP) System approved an additional assessment by academic units to qualify for admission in some degree programs, if deemed necessary. The UP Office of Admissions is now in the final stage of assessing applications after the evaluation of more than 100,000 High School Records. Shortlisted applicants in degree programs requiring additional assessment will be notified by the concerned academic unit for the additional requirements. You shall be contacted by phone or email regarding the additional screening if needed in your application. Note that not all applicants will be contacted, only those in the shortlist of specific degree programs. If you do not receive a notification, please wait for May 31, 2022 to know the final result of your application.
https://up.edu.ph/ups-pride-2017-national-book-awards-winners/	UP’s pride: 2017 National Book Awards winners – University of the Philippines	UP’s pride: 2017 National Book Awards winners UP’s pride: 2017 National Book Awards winners November 23, 2017 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University takes pride in the accomplishments of its faculty, alumni, and the UP Press in this year’s National Book Awards. Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell P. Capili, who teaches at the UP Diliman (UPD) College of Arts and Letters, won for Migrations and Mediations: The Emergence of Southeast Asian Diaspora Writers in Australia, 1972-2007, in the Literary Criticism/Literary History category. Susumaton: Oral Narratives of Leyte by UP Visayas Tacloban College Professor Emeritus Merlie M. Alunan won Anthology in Waray. Francis C. Macansantos, who passed away in July, was awarded in the Poetry in English category for Snail Fever: Poems of Two Decades. He used to teach at UP Baguio. Among the winners, 14 are graduates of UP. In the Literary Division, Catherine Torres (UPD, ‘02) won Short Fiction in English for Mariposa Gang and Other Stories. Alvin B. Yapan (UPD, ‘10) won Short Fiction in Filipino for Sangkatauhan, Sangkahayupan: Mga Kuwento. Marcos Martial Law Never Again by Raissa Robles (UPD, ‘78) won Non-Fiction Prose in English. Poetry in Filipino went to Rowena P. Festin (UPD, 2012) for Banayad: Mga Tula. Victor N. Sugbo (UPD, ’74, ’76, ’83, ’92) won Poetry in Waray for Taburos Han Dagat. Remembering/Rethinking EDSA by JPaul S. Manzanilla (UPD, ’02, ’11) and Caroline S. Hau (UPD, ’90) won Anthology (Bilingual). Anthology in Filipino went to Christine S. Bellen (UPD, ’92, ’95, ’03) for Batang Rizal at iba pang dula. Maria Cecilia Locsin-Nava (UPD, ’91) won the Translation category for Shri-Bishaya, a Hiligaynon novel by Ramon Muzones she translated into English. In the Non-Literary Division, Francisco J. Lara Jr. (UPD, ’79) won for Out of the Shadows: Violent Conflict and the Real Economy of Mindanao in the Social Sciences category. He co-edited the book with Steven Schoofs. Pinoy Manners: A Modern Guide to Delicadeza for All Generations won the Leisure category. It was written by Joy Lumawig-Buensalido (UPD, ’71, ’79). Pocholo Gonzales (UPD, ’99) won for Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent: Mga Sikreto sa Likod ng Dubbing, Voice-over at Voice Acting in the Professions category. EIGA: Cinema in the Philippines During World War II by Nick Deocampo (UPD, ’81) won the Art category. Finally, Karl Fredrick M. Castro (UPD, ’08) won Book Design for Colonial Manila, 1909-1912: Three Dutch Travel Accounts edited and translated by Otto van den Muijzenberg. The UP Press published the winning books of Capili, Macansantos, Festin, and Sugbo, as well as Peryodismo sa Bingit: Mga Naratibong Ulat sa Panahon ng Digmaan at Krisis by former Philippine Collegian features editor Kenneth Roland A. Guda. (Arlyn Romualdo, UP MPRO)
https://up.edu.ph/book-on-traditional-filipino-medicine-offers-usable-past/	Book on traditional Filipino medicine offers “usable past” – University of the Philippines	Book on traditional Filipino medicine offers “usable past” Book on traditional Filipino medicine offers “usable past” October 2, 2017 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The book “Traditional Medicine in the Colonial Philippines: 16th to the 19th Century” by Ma. Mercedes Planta, PhD, presents “various medicinal plants that Filipino traditional medical practitioners or herbolarios have been prescribing since the precolonial period.” Through the book, the author invites readers to harness from the “usable past” the potentials of the knowledge and practices studied and recorded by the Spanish missionaries in the country during the 17th to the 19th century. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) On September 27, experts from different fields shared their thoughts on the merits of Planta’s book at the 3rd Interdisciplinary Book Forum. The forum was hosted by the UP Press and the UP Institute of Creative Writing (UP ICW) at the Pavilion 1131, Palma Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Ma. Luisa Camagay, PhD, of the UP Department of History, Victor Paz, PhD, of the UP Archeological Studies Program, and Salvador Caoili, MD, of the UP Manila College of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, served as forum discussants. Planta, a faculty member of the UP Department of History, responded to questions raised during the open forum. UP ICW Director Roland Tolentino, PhD, gave the closing remarks. UP Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr., PhD, served as moderator. According to Camagay and Paz, the book offered readers and researchers material for broader discussions and modern studies about herbal and non-herbal Filipino traditional medicines, practices, and its practitioners. Camagay said there were still voluminous documents stored in archives here and abroad that needed to be accessed, translated, and studied. She added that discussions on the dynamics among the missionaries or priests, government, herbolarios, midwives, hilots, and natives, as well as the development of the public health system during colonial times, could be written by Planta in the future as these were also interesting topics related to the book. Paz said young researchers could use the book as a reference when they are able to gather more documents from the archives and study the artifacts from archeological sites. He added that the persistence of traditional medicine and healers might also be due to the continuing lack of infrastructure that provide health care, the “modern” and of licensed practitioners and institutions such as hospitals that were established by the colonizers; and that these “old” traditions survived because the colonizers had no replacement for them, unlike the old spaces for worship, the caves, that were replaced by the colonizers with stone churches. Dr. Victor Paz of the UP Archeological Studies Program (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Caoili said the book was very readable, accessible, and rich in information and insight. It “helps us find a common ground” where specialists could “share in this bigger space,” he said. He said herbal medicines are essentially food plants that traditional healers were able to use way before the colonizers arrived. He added that the book served as a springboard for additional researches and interdisciplinary endeavors on herbal and traditional medicines. Dalisay expressed the hope that the faculty, and forums such as this, further inspire young students to pursue their fields of interests and produce beneficial researches. Among the questions raised at the open forum were on the health conditions of the natives before colonial times, health-related concepts and practices from the 16th to 19th centuries, and the “correct dosages” for the prescribed herbs. According to Planta, the book focuses on herbal medicines that have been used and recorded during the colonial times and how these can still be used at present. The discussants also explored the concept of “hiyang”, as the “correct dosages” for the prescribed herbs depended on the traditional practitioner or herbolario and the specific conditions of the person being treated. The Interdisciplinary Book Forum, made possible through a UP Emerging Inter-Disciplinary Research (EIDR) grant, is held every semester. (Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) Click here to view more photos of the event.
https://up.edu.ph/up-press-officially-opens-up-town-center-outlet/	UP Press officially opens UP Town Center outlet – University of the Philippines	UP Press officially opens UP Town Center outlet UP Press officially opens UP Town Center outlet February 22, 2019 \| Written by Andre DP Encarnacion UPper Shelf got its grand opening at the UP Town Center last February 15. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO Fans of books written by UP’s creative and academic minds can now find their favorite titles in the UP Town Center on Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City where the University of the Philippines Press held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for UPper Shelf, its first off-campus commercial outlet on February 15, 2019. Located on the second floor of the mall behind the restaurants, Chocolate Kiss and Rodic’s, UPper Shelf aims to introduce the creative works of UP’s best to a broader audience. The ribbon-cutting was done by UP Press Director J. Neil Garcia together with UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Bautista and UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia. The event, according to Garcia, was, in part, an opportunity to thank all those who worked hard on the project, among whom were UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, former UP President Alfredo E. Pascual and his administration, and members of the UP Office for Design Planning and Initiatives. UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, UP Press Director J. Neil Garcia, and UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Bautista cut the ribbon. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO “The bottom line is,” Garcia said, “that we’re all so happy that of all our merchandise that our country’s one and only national university could choose to showcase in a nice and pleasant store in a nice and pleasant mall like this one, it’s our books that have been accorded such a distinct and enviable privilege.” Apart from being a bookstore, Garcia said that UPper Shelf would play another role that he believed a university press should consider more in the present time–creating and fostering a “social life” for its books. He said that books “might as well not have been written if they do not get to ‘live’, which is to say, if they are not read, engaged with and hopefully loved by as many people as possible.” He hoped, therefore, that the store could become a space for book-related events such as poetry readings, book club meetings, book signings, and others. Poet and UP College of Arts and Letters faculty member Paolo Manalo. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO To commemorate the opening, some of UP’s best poets read their poems published in the two-volume anthology, The Achieve of, the Mastery, edited by University Professor Emeritus Gemino Abad. They included Isabella Banzon, Paolo Manalo, Garcia, and Abad himself. Award-winning tenor and Philippine Madrigal Singers soloist Ervin Lumauag also entertained the audience with two sets of performances.
https://up.edu.ph/call-for-papers-3rd-colleges-and-universities-public-service-conference/	CALL FOR PAPERS: 3rd Colleges and Universities Public Service Conference – University of the Philippines	CALL FOR PAPERS: 3rd Colleges and Universities Public Service Conference CALL FOR PAPERS: 3rd Colleges and Universities Public Service Conference June 3, 2019 \| Posted by UP Media and Public Relations Office The University of the Philippines, through the Padayon Public Service Office of the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs (OVPPA), will host the 3rd Colleges and Universities Public Service Conference (CUPSCon 3) this October 16-18, 2019 in UP Visayas City Campus Auditorium, Iloilo City. We are cordially inviting faculty members, department heads, and research staff of SUCs and HEIs, as well as representatives from government institutions and civil society organizations including NGOs to participate in the conference. CUPSCon aims to provide an effective platform which harnesses teaching and research for extension and public service, provides a venue for scholarly discussions on lessons and best practices for continuous improvement of public service initiatives, and documents innovative initiatives that highlight the social responsibility and commitment to public service of higher education institutions (HEIs). This year, the conference forwards the advancement of public service through academe-community partnership. CUPSCon 3 shall feature plenary and parallel sessions as well as poster presentations on the various public service initiatives not only of SUCs and HEIs, but also of government institutions, and civil society organizations including NGOs to establish possible partnerships between the SUCs and HEIs and the community in delivering relevant, strategic and sustainable public service. For further inquiries, you may contact Ms. Marielle Antonio through email at cupscon@up.edu.ph, or via phone at (02) 981-8500 loc 4257 or 981 8630.
https://up.edu.ph/up-hosts-reception-for-coe-donors/	UP hosts reception for CoE donors – University of the Philippines	UP hosts reception for CoE donors UP hosts reception for CoE donors June 12, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, together with officials of the UP Diliman College of Engineering (CoE) and the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UPERDFI), hosted a reception for the donors or benefactors of the CoE at the UP Board Room in Quezon Hall, UP Diliman campus in Quezon City on June 5, 2018. The donors received Sundial Plaques and UP alumni pins as tokens of appreciation for their untiring commitment and support to the University. The donors were: the DM Consunji Group, for the DMCI Homes Computational Laboratory for Structural Engineering, at the Institute of Civil Engineering; the OceanaGold Philippines, Inc., for the upgrade and modernization of the Mining and Metallurgical Laboratories at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering; and, the WITCO Construction and Development Corporation, owned and managed by Mr. Mark Villanueva, for establishing the Prof. Emeritus Dr. Meliton U. Ordillas, Jr. Professorial Chair in Metallurgical Engineering. In her opening remarks, CoE Dean Rizalinda L. De Leon said that the CoE has about 6,000 students, 800 of whom graduate every year. She added that the professorial chairs and support provided by their donors help improve the quality of UP education since these provide incentives for faculty to do more research and publish more papers, help modernize facilities and laboratories, and also inspire the students to excel. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion thanks the donors and officials of the UP Diliman College of Engineering (CoE) and the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UPERDFI) for the new facilities and professorial chairs. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Concepcion, speaking on behalf of UP, expressed gratitude for the continuing support of fellow alumni and UP’s partnerships with industries. Citing the CoE as the biggest college in UP Diliman, with the largest number of students and faculty, Concepcion affirmed that these donations, in the form of labs, facilities and professorial chairs, are beneficial to many generations of UP students and teachers. He also said that UP alumni can also consider other forms of support for poor but deserving students. Concepcion added that UP faculty need to be provided with competitive compensation comparable to those of their counterparts in other colleges and universities. He said that he is hoping UP can continue having better facilities through the alumni’s support and that they can further support the faculty for their post-graduate studies and advanced researches. He also added that these incentives help produce better graduates. “Nagrereport ako para hindi kayo magsawa, at patunayan sa inyo na nagagamit at hindi nasasayang ang mga ibinibigay ninyo,” he said. Representatives of the donor groups also delivered inspirational messages: Mr. Mark Villanueva, for the Dr. Meliton U. Ordillas, Jr. Professorial Chair; Ms. Dinky Consunji-Laperal, for the DMCI Homes Computational Laboratory for Structural Engineering; and, Mr. Hilbert Cardenas of OceanaGold, for the upgrade and modernization of the Mining and Metallurgical Laboratories at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. Dr. Meliton Ordillas, Jr., in honor of whom the professorial chair was named, expressed his appreciation of the donation. He shared his story of how he started out in 1960 as a faculty member of Mechanical Engineering, with a humble salary of Php 2,490 per annum. He took up Metallurgical Engineering and continued teaching in UP. He added that in 1965, through a grant, the College was able to send him and others in the faculty to study abroad; and by the 1970s, when the CoE was upgrading its faculty, all of the grantees came back to UP. “I hope that other alumni will follow Mark’s example (of donating a professorial chair),” Ordillas concluded. (Fred Dabu, UP MPRO) Donors pose with UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and officials of the UP CoE and the UPERDFI. (Photos by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO)
https://up.edu.ph/bus-donated-by-former-up-regent-turned-over-to-up/	Bus donated by former UP Regent turned over to UP – University of the Philippines	Bus donated by former UP Regent turned over to UP Bus donated by former UP Regent turned over to UP February 6, 2020 \| Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta Varsity teams and athletes in UP Diliman have a new way to get to and from games with the donation of a brand-new bus by former UP Regent and current Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Peru in the Philippines, Dr. Francis C. Chua, and the BA Foundation, Inc. The symbolic key to the newly donated bus for the UP varsity teams is formally passed on from Amb. Chua (3rd from right) and DTI Sec. Ramon Lopez (4th from right) to UP President Concepcion (5th from right) and one of the UP athletes. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. The signing of the deed of donation by PCCI Agriculture Committee Chair Roberto Amores (left), UP President Concepcion (center), and Amb. Chua (right), with Dr. Beatrice Ang (standing) witnessing. Photo from Amb. Betty Chua. The turnover ceremony for the donated bus to UP was held in the afternoon of February 3 at the UP Oblation Plaza, with Fr. Ari C. Dy, SJ, president of Xavier School, performing the blessing. Special guests who also contributed to the donation of not only a bus but also 4,000 surgical masks to UP were some batchmates and friends of Amb. Chua from the UP College of Engineering and Xavier School, including Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and Undersecretary Rowell Barba, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PCCI) Agriculture Committee Chairman Roberto C. Amores. Receiving the donation on behalf of UP were UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael L. Tan, and Dean Francis Carlos B. Diaz of the College of Human Kinetics. In attendance were former UP Presidents Emerlinda Roman and Alfredo Pascual; UP Regents Francis Laurel, Angelo Jimenez, Frederick Mikhail Farolan; Student Regent John Isaac Punzalan; incoming UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo; and, the members of the UP Men’s Basketball Team and the varsity teams for volleyball, swimming, table tennis and others. UP President Concepcion on behalf of UP expresses his thanks for the donation. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Amb. Betty Chua (extreme left), Amb. Francis Chua (2nd from left), UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan (3rd from left), DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez (center), former UP President Alfredo Pascual (2nd from right) and Mr. Roberto Amores (extreme right) listen to Concepcion’s welcome remarks. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. In his welcome remarks, Concepcion marked the historical significance of the day, which was also the same day that the new chancellor of UP Diliman was selected by the Board of Regents. He thanked Amb. Chua for his donation, noting that UP’s new bus can compare with the buses of the athletes in other UAAP-member universities. “At may susunod pa. In-announce kaninang hapon ni Regent Laurel na kung may bus na kayo, baka kailangan ninyo ng coaster. Coaster naman. (In addition, Regent Laurel announced this afternoon that, since we already have a bus, what we need now is a coaster),” Concepcion added, referring to Regent Laurel’s own pledge to UP. “Sa aking pagkakatanda, huli tayong nag-champion in 1986,” Concepcion went on. “Pero magcha-champion tayo during my term. At kapag ganito ang suporta na pinapakita sa atin ng ating mga alumni at mga kaibigan, sa palagay ko hindi na tatagal at magna-number one na tayo sa UAAP.” (From what I can remember, we won the championship back in 1986. But we will be champions again during my term. And if this is how our alumni and friends support us, I believe it won’t be long until we are number one in the UAAP.) UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. UPD College of Human Kinetics Dean Kiko Diaz. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. UP alumnus and DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Chancellor Tan and CHK Dean Diaz also thanked Amb. Chua for his generous donation in support of the UP varsity athletes, as well as the coaches and managers of the various teams. For his part, DTI Sec. Lopez expressed his and fellow UP alumnus, DTI Usec. Barba’s hope that the new bus will motivate and inspire the athletes. For his part, Amb. Chua expressed his own gratitude to the people who helped with the donation, including former UP President Pascual; Senior Executive Vice-President Johnny Sy of the Philippine Silk Road International Chamber of Commerce (PSRICC), who went all the way to China to purchase the bus from tourist bus manufacturer King Long; and, Mr. Roberto Amores, who helped coordinate the donation. Moreover, Amb. Chua also pledged to donate more surgical masks, and reported that he will soon be donating a 1-story building for cultural development to UP. He was given a token of appreciation from his alma mater, the UP College of Engineering. Amb. Chua pledges to donate, aside from the bus, 100,000 surgical masks to the UP Community, as well as a building that will serve as a cultural development hub. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Amb. Francis Chua graduated from the UP College of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering in 1972. Aside from being a former member of the UP Board of Regents, he is also a member of the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. and a trustee of the UP Foundation. He is the Founding Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce, Philippines (ICCP), Chairman Emeritus of the PCCI, Founding Chairman of the PSRICC, and Honorary President of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII). He has served as President of the PCCI, the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands and FFCCCII. In 2007, he was appointed Special Envoy for Trade and Investments by the Philippine President, and has served as the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Peru in the Philippines since 2006. UP varsity teams take turns having their photo taken in front of their new bus. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. Inside the Office of the President, during the turnover of 4,000 surgical masks for the UP Community. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. The bus, just before the turnover ceremony started. Photo by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO. Xavier School’s Fr. Ari Dy blessing the new bus. Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO. The interior of the new bus. Photo by Celeste Llaneta, UP MPRO.
https://up.edu.ph/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fup.edu.ph%2Fup-unions-score-wins-for-up-faculty-reps-staff%2F	Log In ‹ University of the Philippines — WordPress	UP System Website Username or Email Address Password Remember Me ← Go to University of the Philippines
https://up.edu.ph/up-honors-benefactors-with-gawad-oblation/	UP honors benefactors with Gawad Oblation – University of the Philippines	UP honors benefactors with Gawad Oblation UP honors benefactors with Gawad Oblation January 19, 2023 \| Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc All the recipients of the 2nd UP Gawad Oblation join UP President Danilo Concepcion (front, 9th from left) and UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia (front, 8th from left) onstage at Ang Bahay ng Alumni. Photo by Abraham Arboleda (UP MPRO). Thirty-eight individuals and institutions received the University of the Philippines (UP) Gawad Oblation for their support of the University in the past six years. UP President Danilo Concepcion and UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia handed specially designed medals to the awardees or their representatives in a dinner ceremony at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, Quezon City, on January 17, 2023. According to the citations read by the master of ceremonies, UP Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili, the awardees readily responded to the needs of the University, helping it to: expand services to internal and external publics, surmount and act on the pandemic and disasters; construct, upgrade, and preserve facilities; acquire equipment; manage utilities; and, support academic, artistic, and athletic excellence. The first batch of UP Gawad Oblation awardees was called onstage to present their medals. Photo by Abraham Arboleda (UP MPRO). Batch One of the awardees consisted of: Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corp.; Juanerio Jesus Atencio of Januarius Holdings, Inc.; Lilia Ronquillo Bautista of Organo Philippines; Virgilio Bautista of the University of Baguio; Picasso Chen of the Kindness Hotel Chain of Taiwan; Francis Chua of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.; Napoleon Concepcion of UP Alumni Association-Davao; Polly Cortez of the Friends of the UP Foundation in America; Renan Dalisay of NoWhereToGoButUP Foundation, Inc.; Arthur Defensor of Iloilo Province; Sonia Delen of the Bank of America-Global Leasing; Agnes Devanadera of the Clark Development Corp.; and, Benjamin Diokno of the Department of Finance. The second batch of UP Gawad Oblation awardees with UP President Concepcion and UP VP for Public Affairs Pernia. Photo by Abraham Arboleda (UP MPRO). Batch Two consists of Ray Espinosa of Meralco; Ignacio Gimenez of Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc.; Vincent Henry Go of Top Breed; John Patrick Gregorio of the Philippine Olympic Committee; Michael Peiyung Hsu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office; Francis Laurel of YKK Philippines and Toyota Batangas City and Camarines Sur; Rod Libunao of Chevron Philippines; Benjamin Magalong of Baguio City; Ronald Mascariñas of Bounty Agro Ventures Inc.; Venus Navalta of IPG Media Brand; Manuel Pangilinan of Metro Pacific Investments Corp.; Robina Gokongwei Pe of Robinson’s Retail Holdings; and, Emeritus Professor Ernesto Pernia, former National Economic and Development Authority Secretary-General. The third batch of UP Gawad Oblation awardees takes their turn onstage. Photo by Abraham Arboleda (UP MPRO). Batch Three consisted of: Jonvic Remulla of Cavite Province; Agaton Uvero of Grupo Uvero, Inc.; Orlando Vea of Maya Philippines; Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways; Timothy Eing Ming Wu of Shu-Te University-Kaohsiung and Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association; Susan Yap of Tarlac Province; Huawei Philippines; the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc.; Palawan Express; Wilcon Builders; the Zuellig Family; and, the Zuellig Family Foundation. “UP awards the Oblation Medal to those who passionately give to the University their talents and expertise, material support, financial resources, and their time, all of which are precious gifts selflessly given for the benefit of the UP community and the public,” Concepcion said in his welcome remarks. UP President Concepcion welcomes the Gawad Oblation awardees, recognized for giving “to the University their talents and expertise, material support, financial resources, and their time, all of which are precious gifts selflessly given for the benefit of the UP community and the public.” Photo by Abraham Arboleda (UP MPRO). “Our hands together enabled the University in recent years to deliver extraordinary public service in various ways. You have provided UP with the more than usual means and resources,” Pernia, UP vice president, added through her closing remarks. The award is named after UP’s symbol, The Oblation, a sculptural rendition by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino of the second stanza of Jose Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios.” For UP, the Oblation is said to signify the offering of oneself in service. The Gawad Oblation medal was designed by Leo Abaya of the UP College of Fine Arts to articulate The Oblation’s symbolism. The dinner ceremony featured musical numbers from strings musician Solaiman Jamisolamin and the UP Singing Ambassadors.
https://up.edu.ph/23-up-alumni-win-national-childrens-book-awards/	UP alumni win National Children’s Book Awards – University of the Philippines	UP alumni win National Children’s Book Awards UP alumni win National Children’s Book Awards August 16, 2022 \| Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Twenty-two alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) won in all three categories of the recently announced 7th National Children’s Book Awards. The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) honors are given by the National Book Development Board every other year. According to the PBBY, the awards recognize “the best books published for children and young adults in the previous two years” and “encourage parents and caregivers to spend more time reading with their children while recommending the best-published works.” The 7th National Children’s Book Award winners were announced on July 19. In the Best Reads Category, 2020-2021, the following eleven UP alumni were awarded: Beth Parrocha (Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1984), illustrator of Bulul and Ako ay may Kiki; Gigo Alampay (BS Economics, 1985 and Bachelor of Laws, 1991), author of Safe Space: A Kid’s Guide to Data Privacy and Youthink: Fight Fake News; Liza Flores (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communication, 1996), illustrator of Safe Space: A Kid’s Guide to Data Privacy and Youthink: Fight Fake News; Abi Goy (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communication, cum laude, 1996), illustrator of Safe Space: A Kid’s Guide to Data Privacy and Youthink: Fight Fake News; Mon Sy (BA Comparative Literature, summa cum laude, 2016), author of Kakatok-katok sa Bahay ni Benok; Gabriela Dans Lee (BA English Studies, cum laude, 2005), author of Cely’s Crocodile: The Art and Story of Araceli Limcaco Dans; Adrian Panadero (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communication, magna cum laude, 2014), illustrator of Cely’s Crocodile: The Art and Story of Araceli Limcaco Dans; Philip Ignacio (BA Development Studies, 1995), author of Alandal; Maloi Malibiran-Salumbides (BA Communication, Broadcast Communication, 1993), author of Tinola ni Nanay; and, Felix Mago Miguel (Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1992), illustrator of Tinola ni Nanay. Ten UP alumni won honors in the Kids’ Choice Awards: Chapter Books Category. They were: Denise Nicole P. Tolentino (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communication, 2003), author and illustrator of The Quick and Careful Adventures of Muni; Alyssa M. Peleo-Alampay, Ph.D. (BS Geology, 1985 and MS Geology, 1990), author of I am the Change in Climate Change; Jacqueline Franquelli (BA Broadcast Communication, 1999), author of Anak ng Tinapay; Daniel Tingcungco (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communication, cum laude, 2009), illustrator of Anak ng Tinapay; Danielle Florendo (Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2018), illustrator of Maselan ang Tanong ng Batang si Usman; Bambi Eloriaga-Amago (BA Journalism, cum laude, 1997), author of Doobiedoo Asks; Cat S. (Certificate of Fine Arts in Visual Communication, 2001), creator of Little Wolf; Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo (Ph.D. Comparative Literature, 1993), author of Catch a Falling Star (Filipino Edition); Chuckberry J. Pascual (BA Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Filipino, cum laude, 2003; MA Philippine Studies, 2008; and PhD Filipino, 2015), translator of Catch a Falling Star (Filipino Edition); and, Ana Digi (BA Comparative Literature, cum laude, 2000), author of Sinta. Finally, the two UP alumni who were recognized in the Kids’ Choice Awards: Picture Books Category were: Meanne Mabesa Mijares (BS Education, English, 1994), author of Cassy’s Chair; and, Jacqueline Tiu (BA English, 1993), author of Nang Matutong Magbasa si Mariano. With reports from the Office of Alumni Relations, UP System.
https://up.edu.ph/up-alumni-named-2022-outstanding-young-scientists/	UP alumni named 2022 Outstanding Young Scientists – University of the Philippines	UP alumni named 2022 Outstanding Young Scientists UP alumni named 2022 Outstanding Young Scientists July 27, 2022 \| Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo Seven of this year’s 11 Outstanding Young Scientists named by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) are alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP). Four are on the faculty, and one is a researcher at the University. The awarding ceremony was held on July 14 during the Academy’s 44th Annual Scientific Meeting at the Manila Hotel. UP had honorees in five of the six award categories. Image from the NAST Facebook page. For Agricultural Sciences, Dr. Darlon V. Lantican, a university researcher at the UP Los Baños (UPLB) Institute of Plant Breeding, was recognized for contributing to the advancement of “Philippine agriculture research on major crop species, and their interacting pest and pathogens, through the utilization of genomics and bioinformatics research tools.” His work provides the necessary information to “address crop production threats, ” strengthening the country’s food systems as it deals with ongoing and future effects of climate change. Dr. Lantican earned his BS in Agricultural Biotechnology in 2012 and an MS in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in 2018 from UPLB. Image from the NAST Facebook page. In the same category, another UPLB alumnus, Dr. Roscinto Ian C. Lumbres of the Benguet State University College of Forestry, was cited for his pioneering research initiatives on the “growth modeling” of Pinus kesiya (Benguet pine), a unique forest ecosystem in the Philippines. Lumbres was also recognized for his works on biodiversity and carbon stock assessment of unique forest ecosystems to protect our biodiversity better and mitigate climate change through forest protection.” Dr. Lumbres graduated with a BS Forestry degree in 2006 and is a lecturer at the UP Baguio, Department of Biology. He earned his Ph.D. in Forest Resources Management from Kongju National University, South Korea, in 2003. Image from the NAST Facebook page. One of the two recipients in the Engineering Sciences and Technology category was Dr. Arnel B. Beltran of the De La Salle University Gokongwei College of Engineering, a BS Chemical Engineering graduate of UPLB (2005). Beltran was cited for his pioneering work on “membrane science and technology, material engineering and water, and wastewater research. His studies led to several research publications and innovation projects which respond to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 6) on the provision of water and sanitation for all.” Dr. Beltran received his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology in 2012 from Myongji University, South Korea. Image from the NAST Facebook page. Dr. Ronnie E. Baticulon, a pediatric neurosurgeon at the UP Philippine General Hospital and an Anatomy professor at the UP Manila (UPM) College of Medicine (UPCM), was one of the two awardees in the Health Category. The NAST recognized his “outstanding contributions in global neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery, and medical education.” His research projects “aim to estimate the burden of neurosurgical diseases and identify barriers to neurosurgical care worldwide.” Together with his clinical practice, his body of work is guided by his “aspiration to be able to provide essential neurosurgical care to all Filipinos who need it, particularly the underserved.” Baticulon is also a Palanca award-winning author. His book, Some Days You Can’t Save Them All, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards. Dr. Baticulon was an Oblation Scholar admitted to UPCM’s seven-year Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INTARMED) Program in 2001, earning his BS Basic Medical Sciences degree cum laude in 2005 and his MD cum laude in 2008. Image from the NAST Facebook page. The lone awardee in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences category was Dr. Allan Christopher C. Yago of the UP Diliman (UPD) Institute of Chemistry. He was cited for his work on “local research and development of chemical and biochemical sensors for the detection of contaminants in food and biomolecules for health applications” and for the establishment of the Sensor Materials Development and Electrochemical Analysis Laboratory in UPD, which “has trained students in the areas of sensors and electrochemical analysis.” Dr. Yago earned his degrees, BS Chemistry, cum laude, in 2005; MS Chemistry in 2010; and Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2014 from UPD. Image from the NAST Facebook page. This year’s honorees in the Social Sciences are also from UP. Dr. Michael Ralph M. Abrigo, a senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS), was honored for contributing significantly to “the study of the welfare implications of population change, to the use of quasi-experimental techniques to evaluate government interventions, and to the development of statistical tools for the use of other researchers.” In addition, his “suite of general-use statistical application programs implementing homogenous panel vector autoregression has allowed wider use of the technique in many different settings, including in economics, political science, and psychology.” Dr. Abrigo graduated from UP Manila (UPM) [Ed: the first reference, spell it out. UP Mindanao?] in 2008 with a BA Development Studies degree, magna cum laude. In 2012, he earned his Master of Statistics degree from UP Diliman (UPD), and in 2016, he received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Image from the NAST Facebook page. Dr. Paul Gideon D. Lasco, MD, a UPD senior lecturer of Anthropology and UP College of Medicine (UPCM) affiliate faculty, was the other Outstanding Young Scientist for Social Sciences. He was honored for his work “in bridging the social sciences and medicine, in applying his research methods and perspectives to relevant medical and social issues in the Philippines, and for effectively communicating scientific knowledge—both from the broader research community and from his work—to the Filipino public.” In addition, he “has published critical analyses of the COVID-19 pandemic and introduced the concepts of ‘medical populism’ and ‘pharmaceutical messianism’ to global public health.” Dr. Lasco is also a research fellow at the Ateneo de Manila University Development Studies Program. He was admitted to the UP INTARMED Program in 2003, earning his BS in Basic Medical Sciences degree in 2007 and an MD in 2010. He also became the first graduate of UPCM’s MS Medical Anthropology degree program in 2014. He received his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Amsterdam in 2017. According to the NAST, the Outstanding Young Scientist must not have reached the age of 41 during the year of the award and must have made outstanding contributions to fields in Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Technology, Health Sciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. The recipients received a trophy, a monetary prize of P150,000, and a P1 million research grant from the Department of Science and Technology for an approved proposal. With reports from the UP Office of Alumni Relations.
https://up.edu.ph/up-webinar-to-discuss-updates-on-2nd-covid-booster/	UP webinar to discuss updates on 2nd COVID booster – University of the Philippines	UP webinar to discuss updates on 2nd COVID booster UP webinar to discuss updates on 2nd COVID booster May 12, 2022 \| Written by Deina Blancaflor Three weeks ago, the Department of Health (DOH) approved the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) to give a fourth dose or second booster of the COVID-19 vaccines AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Sinopharm to the immunocompromised population for ages 18 years old and above. These include those receiving cancer treatment, immunosuppressants, and those with advanced or untreated HIV infection, among others. Recently, the clamor from the healthcare workers, senior citizens, and overseas foreign workers has spurred the discussion to expand the giving of this second booster to this vulnerable group. Are the vaccines enough to cover both second booster and primary series doses? What’s the latest update on the vaccination coverage in our country? Are there new studies showing the efficacy and need for second boosters? This Friday, May 13, 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 COVID-19. In the upcoming episode of the UP “Stop COVID Deaths webinar series titled “ISA PA NGA: Kailangan ba talaga ng 2nd COVID-19 booster?” two leading experts in immunology will discuss the latest on COVID-19 booster doses and the rapidly evolving evidence surrounding these. Dr. Marysia Recto will discuss the Clinical Evidence for recommending the second booster dose for the different populations. Dr. Jenifer Otadoy-Agustin will discuss the immunologic side effects with a review of adverse events following immunization in the Philippines. Dr. Stella Marie L. Jose, Deputy Director for Health Operations at UP-PGH, will provide the synthesis and deliver the 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. Join us to 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.
https://up.edu.ph/this-doc-sees-dead-people/	This doc sees dead people – University of the Philippines	This doc sees dead people This doc sees dead people July 28, 2017 \| Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo She always cleaned the fish her mother Amelia bought. It was a chore she loved doing. Little did the young Raquel Barros Del Rosario know she was preparing for a future as Dr. Raquel B. Del Rosario-Fortun, the first Filipino woman forensic pathologist. “Evisceration! That’s what it was,” she said with a knowing smile, connecting that childhood task with disemboweling bodies during autopsies. She had always wanted to become a doctor despite coming from a clan of lawyers and admitted that her father Benjamin was “a bit disappointed.” It was her doting aunt, Dr. Lourdes Del Rosario, who inspired Raquel. Her photo is the only one on Raquel’s desk at the Department of Pathology chairperson’s office, UP Manila College of Medicine (UPCM). “Because of her, I associated fun with being a doctor.” Even going with her to a hospital in Tondo, Raquel wasn’t fazed. “That hospital smell didn’t bother me. I saw all these doctors in white coats like her, respected by everyone. I thought it was so cool.” Dr. Raquel Fortun in her office as UP Manila Department of Pathology chair (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Dreams vs. reality Going into college, she wanted something that could be a pre-med degree but could also guarantee employment if she couldn’t pursue medicine because it was expensive. She enrolled in the UP Diliman (UPD) BS Psychology program in 1979 after graduating from the UP Integrated School. Three years on, she felt certain she wanted to be a doctor. She “wanted to shift to a pre-med program focused on the sciences like Biology or Zoology,” but chose to be more practical and finished psychology. Raquel wasn’t accepted to UPCM, so she went to the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (UERM) College of Medicine, graduating in 1987 and completing post-internship in 1988. She began residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology in 1989 at UPCM, where she was also made instructor. The medicine-law mix While the pull of medicine was stronger, law was also Raquel’s interest. She saw the possibility of mixing both through Dr. Pedro Solis, a lawyer-doctor and her UERM Legal Medicine professor. She took and passed the law aptitude exam of the UPD College of Law (UP Law) twice, in 1989 and 1993. UPCM just advised against the pursuit in 1989 because it was her first year of residency. “Passing twice, I thought I might have an aptitude for law after all.” Raquel laughed when recounting her law experience. “I quit! After 10 days, maybe 2 weeks, I just quit! This is so embarrassing, but that’s what happened. Law wasn’t for me.” She found it “too abstract, the opposite of medicine’s tangible and concrete.” She may have quit, but more than ten years later, she was invited by UP Law to teach. “I believe some eyebrows were raised, that I, a non-lawyer, was teaching a course at UP Law.” She learned about forensic pathology from one of her seniors at the department. “I realized it was probably what I was looking for: the field of medicine, particularly pathology, applied to law. The tangible applied to the abstract.” Raquel went to Seattle, Washington in 1994 to train at the King County Medical Examiner’s (ME) Office. “My first day there, I fell in love with forensic pathology. That was it. I knew it was the field I was meant to be in.” She had the stomach for it, too—dead bodies, whether fresh or decomposing, with maggots or reduced to skeletal remains. Heartaches and headaches She vividly remembers the day she left. It was a Sunday. She and her husband Vincent, an obstetrician-gynecologist, left their three-year-old daughter Lisa playing at her paternal grandmother’s place. Raquel cried so hard the night before that she almost didn’t want to leave. “It was very difficult.” When she wasn’t examining bodies and collecting evidence at the ME’s office, Raquel would feel terribly homesick. She racked up a massive bill on overseas calls in her first month and was forced to cut down—ten minutes on Saturdays. She thought things would be easier when she returned. “It was like my daughter didn’t know who I was. That hurt.” Raquel feared her one-year absence may have caused trauma on Lisa. “What have I done?” she asked herself many times. Professionally, she was full of enthusiasm because of everything she had learned. “But there was no solid practice for a forensic pathologist here. I’ve seen the ideal and I wanted us to be at par with international standards.” That desire for improvement, however, wasn’t welcomed by some in the medical field and government. “We didn’t have a death investigation system here that was fully state-funded and independent from law enforcement. We didn’t have medical examiners or coroners, and medical investigators. We still don’t. Have I cried over this? Yes, out of sheer frustration at how death investigations were being done.” Raquel continued teaching. Over the years, she has been asked to consult on cases, some of them high profile and controversial: the Ozone Disco fire, the Dacer-Corbito case, the Asian Spirit tragedy, the Maguindanao massacre, and the death of Ted Failon’s wife, Trina Etong. Her popularity as an expert grew, but so did the number of her enemies. “Evidence doesn’t take sides. It is what it is. If you don’t like what it tells you, that’s not my fault. I just call it as I see it. That’s how the science works.” She clarified that she never claimed to be an all-around forensic expert. “Forensics involves a lot of disciplines. Mine is forensic pathology. Although my training has exposed me to other forensic aspects of death investigation, I always defer to experts in other forensic fields. I know my limitations.” She calls this her “real” office as UP faculty member for almost two decades (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO) Choosing to stay Forensic pathology is a lucrative field and Raquel could be earning so much more if she worked abroad, in full practice, and did part-time teaching. “My fate is here, teaching full-time as a UP professor and doing cases on the side,” she said. “I’m ten years from retirement.” She has tried working outside, where the monthly pay was twice her teacher’s annual salary. “But I wasn’t happy. I realized it wasn’t about the money. UP has an environment that’s hard to find elsewhere. I am free to speak my mind. The students are very intelligent. The interaction with my colleagues is great.” As for the future of forensic experts and forensic pathology in the Philippines, she hopes that coming generations will have an easier time; that funds for material and human resources would be given to support a UPM forensic pathology fellowship program; that the UP Board of Regents-approved establishment of the Forensic Science Institute in 1999 would materialize; and that a death investigation system fully supported by the state, independent of law enforcement, free from politics, unbiased, and unafraid to expose the truth would finally exist. Until then, Raquel will just do the usual: Try to beat the morning rush. Drink coffee in the car when she arrives too early and too afraid to enter the dark building, even with a guard on duty. Do administrative work. Teach. Maybe do an autopsy. Stay in her real office—the one with creaky wooden floors, a huge collection of crime novels, shelves full of skull/skeleton figures, and that old and frayed yet comfortable couch. Endure evening traffic. On weekends, garden or buy plants. Listen to her CDs. Perhaps be the “HandyMa” and visit her favorite hardware stores for do-it-yourself projects. Along with Lisa, take care of her mother and do household chores. And at any given time, tweet as @Doc4Dead.
https://up.edu.ph/nowhere-to-go-but-the-baryo/	Nowhere to go but the baryo – University of the Philippines	Nowhere to go but the baryo Nowhere to go but the baryo July 28, 2017 \| Written by Stephanie Cabigao So what’s a tall 26-year-old bachelor doing in the scenic but remote municipality of San Isidro, Bohol, a town of rice fields, banana and coconut groves, 32 kilometers away from Tagbilaran City? Adrian Sampang is no stranger to the town’s 9,800 people, being the only doctor-to-the-barrio (DTTB) assigned in the community for the past eight months. Shortly after his graduation, the young Kapampangan passed the medical board examination in September 2016, then went straight to the DTTB program of the Department of Health, along with 81 doctors from various medical schools who signed a two-year contract in November 2016. From the baryo A probinsyano himself, Adrian had lived a simple life growing up in Lubao, Pampanga. “I thought I had my life planned out for me—go to a local college on a local scholarship, then spend the rest of my life working in an office. I’m lucky that I got these awards and scholarships from elementary all the way to high school, but I never planned my future,” he says. However, his exposure to the health situation in the Philippines is rooted in his childhood. “I often got sick because I had asthma. I saw the bad situation in the district hospital – crowded, inefficient, long lines, dilapidated facilities. I didn’t want to be a doctor after that. It was my first actual experience seeking medical attention,” he says. Dr. Sampang with his barangay health workers during their visit to the last of 3 GIDA Barangays in Barangay Candungao. (Photo from Dr. Adrian Sampang) A UP education Back in 2006, his mom filled up his UPCAT form. Since Nursing was the trendy program then, his mom made it his first choice, and Behavioral Science his second. He called it luck passing the latter course. “I might have not gone to med school if I had passed Nursing,” he recalls. He became an active member of seven organizations, including the Student Council for ASAP-Katipunan. His program, which delved into the social sciences especially Anthropology, took him closer to the realities of Philippine society. “As any Iskolar ng Bayan knows, a UP education is very different. They make sure that you at least get exposed to these social issues, then it is up to you to explore them more,” he adds. “We went to farmers and urban poor communities. Actually, my internship was with the Philippine Human Rights Information Center, a non-government organization. We did research on human rights abuses such as militarization in the countryside and on mining. We joined protest rallies. Once, we stayed with a community of sugarcane farmers in Batangas for a week to discuss their health situation,” he says. Secretly, he applied for a scholarship in med school. He passed and finished his studies, the first UP graduate in his family to do so. He was part of the first batch affected by the University’s calendar shift, which put interns at the Philippine General Hospital preparing for the medical board examinations on a tight schedule. “If you’ve been through the UP-PGH internship, you get the most interesting, the rarest, and most hopeless cases sometimes. That’s where you see the gaps in the health system—like late referrals, where basically they really just don’t have the money to get themselves treated. And if ever they finally do have the money, perhaps with the help of some politician or by selling their properties, even a carabao, it is too late, and there’s only palliative care left to do. But don’t get me wrong, there’s a system and funding coursed through DOH for the indigent. However, with expensive medical treatment, this budget gets easily spent,” he recounts. To the baryo “My perspective, especially coming from my social sciences background, has taught me that there’s a need to give back. In a way, I’m indebted to the Filipino people,” Dr. Sampang declares. He explains that DTTB is basically focused on primary and community care. Different from hospital care, it uses a preventive rather than curative approach. It means that before diseases even set in, the doctor has to make sure that the community has a healthy population. “Actually, if there’s one thing that needs to be addressed, it’s primary care. We have no proper health-seeking behavior primarily because of poverty, and that’s one of the things I’m trying to correct.” He functions not only as a health doctor, but also as an administrator, being the Medical Health Officer of Barangay San Isidro, with the power to select the necessary programs and their implementation. “Of course, I choose the ones that are high-impact and the most practical to do, the most relevant for the community. You are given the power to decide where the budget would go. So, you can configure what you want to do for the community. Health education is another intervention necessary in a community setting,” he emphasizes. Dr. Adrian Sampang summing up a week of completed visits to all 12 barangays in San Isidro, Bohol. (Instagram photo from Dr. Adrian Sampang) Today, the young doctor is focused on the ongoing construction of a rural health unit (RHU) in his municipality, which is one of his legacy projects. There has been a lack of the RHU since the Bohol earthquake in 2013. “I will leave them a functioning RHU especially equipped with a birthing station for delivery,” he says. His work is also committed to permanently place efficient barangay health stations (BHS) and emergency response systems in key areas of the municipality. Dr. Sampang is currently completing his Master’s class in public health systems development. He wishes that whatever he has learned from this will guide his community work, with special focus on teenage pregnancy. He is also hopeful that more young Filipino doctors will take this road to the baryo as there are still many far-flung communities that have not had doctors for years. “I have always kept that mission-vision of UP Manila, to serve quality health care directed to the underserved community, as my personal mission. My journey that is a story I can share with my own family. I want to leave a mark so that, even without me, San Isidro will have an efficient and sustainable health system. People should be empowered and educated, most especially about their health,” he says. He has yet to figure out his future. But right now, Dr. Sampang is just focused on his community. “Money really isn’t the reward. It’s the thank yous that I get from patients. It is the feeling of accomplishment that I was able to help,” he says. His advice to others, he admits, is a cliché, but a good one. “Follow your heart to whatever makes it happy. I’m happy with the path I’ve chosen. You’ll get that gut feel that it’s the right thing to do. It took me several leaps of faith that led me to where I am today. I didn’t plan anything. I just went for it and it felt right. Life isn’t really that easy, but just make sure that you make the best of what’s given to you, and have fun along the way.”
https://up.edu.ph/uplb-recognizes-its-outstanding-admin-research-and-teaching-personnel/	UPLB recognizes its outstanding admin, research and teaching personnel – University of the Philippines	UPLB recognizes its outstanding admin, research and teaching personnel UPLB recognizes its outstanding admin, research and teaching personnel March 12, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Members of the UP Filipiniana Dance Troupe wowed audiences with their intermission performance. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) Members of the UP Los Baños community packed the historic Charles Fuller Baker Hall on March 6, 2018 to celebrate its 109th Foundation Day. While the celebration was an opportunity to reflect on UPLB’s vital role in research in public service, it also served as a venue to honor the administrative, research and teaching personnel who distinguished themselves through excellent service. UP President Danilo L. Concepcion himself led the awarding ceremonies, together with UPLB officials led by Chancellor Fernando Sanchez, Jr. In his keynote speech, Concepcion highlighted UPLB’s role as a leading institution in teaching and research, particularly in agriculture, a field “central to human existence”. President Concepcion praises the craftsmanship and stage design at Baker Hall. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) So important was the UPLB’s contribution to national well-being, Concepcion said, that it remained, through its College of Agriculture, one of the rare higher education institutions that did not close during World War II. UPLB’s importance was also highlighted by the amount of resources invested by the national government to its assistance and rehabilitation in the post-war period. “UPLB remains relevant to this day,” Concepcion noted. “In fact not just relevant, but most relevant. Not just because of its niche areas, but because it continues to adapt to the changing needs and demands of our people and the rest of humanity.” Concepcion attributed UPLB’s continued importance to the outstanding knowledge creation and public service by its faculty, alumni and staff. He said that the most important contribution of UPLB’s graduates was public service, which included not only their service to the country and its people, but to humanity as a whole, as well. Recipients of the Outstanding Administrative Staff Awards included: Adora De Castro of BIOTECH, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA); Divina Padua of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), OVCAA; and, Jenette Lory Tamayo-Estabillo of the OSA, OVCAA. UP Officials pose with UPLB awardees. (Photo by Jun Madrid) Recipients of the Outstanding Researcher, Extention Personnel and Program/Team Awards included: Jason Albia of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics(IMSP) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); Eldrin DLR Arguelles of BIOTECH, OVCAA; Karen Quilloy of the College of Economics and Management (CEM); Antonio Lalusin of the College of Agricultural and Food Sciences (CAFS); Dinah Pura Depositario of the CEM; Glenn Baticados of the CEM; the Fruit and Shoot Borer Resistant Eggplant Research Team of the CAFS; and, the National Crop Protection Center Quick Response Team of the CAFS. Recipients of the Outstanding Teacher Awards included: Michell Grace Parasa of the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM); Katrina Joy Abriol-Santos of the CAS; and, Benjamina Paula Flor of the College of Development Communication (CDC). (Andre DP Encarnacion, UP MPRO)
https://up.edu.ph/up-padayon-continuing-the-public-service-tradition/	UP Padayon continuing the public service tradition – University of the Philippines	UP Padayon continuing the public service tradition UP Padayon continuing the public service tradition May 2, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office The UP Padayon Team, headed by Dr. Marot Flores (2nd from the top left), with other staff members of the UP Office of the Vice-President for Public Affairs. (Photo by Bong Arboleda, UP MPRO) The University of the Philippines’ history of public service antedates the UP Charter of 2008, which declares UP as a “public service university.” The UP Charter of 2008 (RA 9500) mandates that UP as the national university shall “lead as a public service university by providing various forms of community, public and volunteer service, as well as scholarly and technical assistance to the government, the private sector, and civil society, while maintaining its standards of excellence.” In postwar Philippines, the University of the Philippines was already engaged in community work by serving the poor and the needy, especially the victims of World War II. In 1966, then UP President Carlos P. Romulo (1962-68), in a speech before the University Council, called for the nationalization of knowledge and pushed for Filipino scholarship to benefit fellow Filipinos. But it was during the creation of the UP Pahinungod in 1993 when the university took an active role in voluntarism. Pahinungod is a Visayan term which means “offering” or dedication to a noble purpose. The UP Pahinungod under President Emil Q. Javier (1993-1999) envisaged a generation of UP students and graduates who would offer their talents and dedicate themselves to voluntarism as responsible citizens of the nation. But the UP Pahinungod System Office did not last long and was devolved to the different Constituent Universities. A scene from the Padayon Workshop held on October 24, 2017. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) In 2012, the UP Padayon Public Service Office under the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs was established by President Alfredo E. Pascual (2011-2017). Its first Director, Dr. Ferdinand Llanes, described the new office as having a “much broader parameter for public service [than Pahinungod], which includes initiatives of both volunteer and non-volunteer in nature (research extension, second- ment to state agencies, medical internships, training projects, and so forth, and so on).” Under the directorship of Llanes, Padayon’s central goal was to “generate and mobilize expertise in the service of the nation” which he considered part of what is otherwise known in the Asian region as a “scholarship of engagement.” From “community engagement” in postwar Philippines to “a scholarship of engagement” in the new millennium, it is not surprising to find numerous and various forms of public service in the university. A significant number of public service initiatives across CUs however, are not documented, reported and tracked. The next UP Padayon Director, Nelson Cainghog, therefore embarked on a project to standardize and systematize public service reporting through the UP Handbook Online Project. For the first time, there is now a unified mechanism for reporting public service across the different CUs. In collaboration with the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) Team of ITDC under the Office of the Vice President for Development, the UP Public Service Handbook (for individual input) can now be utilized starting March 2018, making the submission and approval of public service reports more convenient and efficient. Phase 2 (for institutional input) of the Handbook is underway and will become operational within the year. Under the new administration of UP President Danilo L. Concepcion (2017), UP Padayon is taking on a more proactive role in public service. The task is to address problems within the university as well as to respond to national emergencies while at the same time coordinating and consolidating all efforts and initiatives from different sectors and stakeholders working on public service in the university. UPV students and staff prepare relief goods to be delivered to communities stricken by Super-Typhoon Yolanda. (Photo from UP Visayas) UP Padayon has been coordinating initiatives to provide quality food service to the underprivileged Iskolar ng Bayan to ensure that their nutrition needs are met to complement the quality of education they receive from the university. The annual Gawad Pangulo which UP Padayon organizes attests to the continuing tradition and practice of public service in the university. In this issue of the FORUM, we present the Gawad Pangulo awardees for public service and their projects. They include the contributions of Professor Emeritus Romulo Davide of UPLB in restoring the dignity of farmers through the Farmer-Scientists Training Program; UP Baguio’s Summer Arts Program providing workshops for cultural workers in the Cordillera region; UPOU’s Teacher Development Program through eLearning; UPD’s College of Home Economics Program of Transforming Interior Spaces of the Home and Upgrading Lives of the Aged; the Community-based Rehabilitation Wheelchair Service Program of the College of Allied Medical Professions; and the UP Cebu Business Incubator for Information Technology (UP Cebu InIT). A roadshow on genomic and informatics headed by the Philippine Genome Center is also included in this issue. UP public service projects, programs and initiatives are numerous and cannot all be considered for the Gawad Pangulo. But these can be shared in the Colleges Universities Public Service Conference (CUPSCON) which UP Padayon also organizes. CUPSCON 2, held last 9-10 November at the UP BGC (for the Luzon leg) and 28-29 November at UP Cebu (for the VizMin leg), gathered more than a hundred extension specialists, public service workers, volunteers and advocates all over the country. CUPSCON is the best forum to share best practices, challenges and successes of public service endeavors as well as the best opportunity to link up with other institutions. Dr. Milagros Laurel of the UP Diliman Department of English and Comparative Literature speaks during the Padayon Workshop held on October 24, 2017. (Photo by Jun Madrid, UP MPRO) From the postwar years to the 21st century, UP has continued its mission to serve the needy, the marginalized and the vulnerable. Tracing its beginnings to UP Pahinungod in the 1990s, UP Padayon in 2012 affirms the public service function and role of the University of the Philippines. Padayon, a Visayan word which means “to do promptly, hastily, unceasingly” as planned and as worked out (Abuyen Dictionary, 2005) describes aptly the new character of UP Padayon as an office that responds quickly and proactively to the problems and challenges of a university and a society caught in the midst of climatic and radical changes in the environment and everyday life. In Bahasa Sug (Taosug), “dayong” refers to a big paddle for rowing big boats. As a noun infinitive, “pagdayong” means a collective effort of rowing, moving or propelling a big boat towards the same direction. Given the various volunteer groups, extension specialists, cultural workers and public servants of eight constituent universities, the UP Padayon System Office shall steer all efforts, initiatives and responses across CUs toward public service for the Filipino nation. Padayon! All these initiatives, projects and programs on public service should not only be reported but featured and discussed in academic journals and other reputable publications. UP Padayon launched its 1st Fellowship & Writeshop Grant for faculty, REPS and staff last 24-25 October 2017 at the CCP Executive House in Mt. Makiling. The objective was to equip faculty, REPS and staff with writing skills to produce scholarly articles on public service. (Ma. Crisanta Nelmida-Flores, Director, Padayon Public Service Office)
https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-public-service/	THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC SERVICE – University of the Philippines	THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC SERVICE THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC SERVICE May 4, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Beyond teaching and research, how can universities and colleges serve the public better? Lenore Polotan-De la Cruz: Director, Office of Extension Coordination Associate Professor, Department of Community Development, College of Social Work and Community Development UP Diliman A key premise behind UP’s mandate as a public service university is that service is not only a function (like teaching and research) but is an overriding ideal and core value that guides our work as faculty, REPS, staff and students. Public service connects us to social realities. We just have to look at communities around us, including our own, to realize the magnitude and diversity of societal issues that we can help address by seeking better ways of putting our knowledge and expertise in the service of these communities. At the Department of Community Development, the Field Instruction Program (FIP) is an integral part of the academic training of our graduate and undergraduate students. It has proven to be an effective vehicle for both learning and service through which students under the close supervision of faculty members live in marginalized communities and engage community members in addressing real-life issues and problems using the knowledge and skills in CD learned in the classroom. In particular, students and faculty assist communities and vulnerable groups in organizing and organizational strengthening, community education and training activities, mobilization and advocacy, and in coming up with more effective programs for people-centered development. The FIP has continually provided our faculty tremendous opportunities for community extension and research which in turn enhance our teaching. My current role as OEC Director has provided me a wider picture of how UP Diliman has lived to its public service mandate. More than half of its faculty members, REPs and staff are involved in public service initiatives in various capacities, and in various programs that address a rich diversity of social issues and concerns. Many of these initiatives are undertaken through partnerships and the collaborative approach—among different units and disciplines within UP Diliman and other CUs, with partner communities, local government units, national government agencies, civil society organizations, UP alumni, and the private sector. Since 2016, the Parangal (now Gawad Tsanselor) sa Natatanging Programang Pang-Ekstensiyon has been revived to recognize exemplary extension programs in UP Diliman. The awardees to date include: the Geography Field School (Department of Geography, CSSP) and the KaSaMa Teachers Online Community (NISMED, College of Education) for 2016; the UP MSI Bolinao Marine Laboratory Training and Education Program (Marine Science Institute) and the Microbiological Research Services Laboratory Extension Program (Natural Sciences Research Institute) for 2017. All these programs are solid proof of UP’s significant contributions to public service. Tell us about one or two public service programs or best practices undertaken by your constituent unit (CU). What problems or challenges have you encountered in doing public service? How did you solve or address them? UP Diliman as the flagship campus of the UP System has made significant progress towards further institutionalizing the public service and extension work of faculty and staff through improved policies, programs and incentives. These include providing incentives and grants to encourage them to undertake various forms of community and volunteer service, direct social action as well as scholarly and technical advice to government, civil society and the private sector. We are now seeing an incremental increase in faculty and staff applying for Extension Load Credit, Extension Grants and reporting their public service involvements. However, much work still needs to be done on different fronts. Management support for extension work remains a challenge since only a few units have established extension offices with full staff support and with fully developed procedures for approving and monitoring extension initiatives based on unit-agreed extension agenda. There is also need for a more robust reporting system that can capture the full picture of public service initiatives in the whole university. The challenge of integrating extension work, research and teaching in the academic life of faculty members is also crucial in fully realizing the transformative intent of scholarship. The bias in favor of journal publications tends to privilege only one tradition of academic scholarship. Extension and its knowledge products that are more practical and accessible to the broader publics need to be given the value they deserve. Suggest one or two ways of further improving the public service program in your CU and locality. I would like to see more documentation and dissemination of our public service experiences and lessons in various formats and media that are relevant to the contexts, mandate, tradition, and publics of the different units in the university. Such documentation should include systematic evaluation and measurement of our impact, and critical analysis of the effects of these initiatives on the lives of communities and beneficiaries. I would also like to see more inter- and multi-disciplinary collaborations on extension and public service programs amongst different colleges. This can be realized through deeper interactions with various sectors within and outside the university. Finally, I look forward to a higher valuation of public service and community engagement as a moral duty amongst all university constituents. All these will help ensure that extension and public service remain at the core of our mission as a university, even as we strive to maintain standards of excellence in teaching and research.
https://up.edu.ph/the-up-forum-roundtable-discussion-on-public-service-2/	THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC SERVICE – University of the Philippines	THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC SERVICE THE UP FORUM ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC SERVICE May 4, 2018 \| Written by UP Media and Public Relations Office Beyond teaching and research, how can universities and colleges serve the public better? Joane V. Serrano, PhD: Director, Information, Office Multimedia Center UP Open University The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) has always believed that public service cuts across its teaching and research functions. In its 23 years of existence, UPOU has tried to integrate public service in its core functions and major activities. UPOU is uniquely positioned to serve the public better through its thrust and mandate of widening access to quality education, especially to sectors that are not normally reached by other constituent units of the UP System. To surface the importance of public service, UPOU established openUP—one of its flagship programs that focuses on widening access to continuing professional education; providing digital opportunities to communities; providing venues for discussion of relevant issues in the society; and providing technical assistance to higher educational institutions (HEIs), local government, people’s organizations and civil society. With the enactment of Republic Act 10650 (Open Distance Learning Act), UPOU has been given a crucial task of assisting relevant national agencies, HEIs and technical and vocational institutions in developing their distance education programs through training, technical assistance, research and other academic programs. Tell us about one or two public service programs or best practices under taken by your constituent unit (CU). The UPOU has a number of public service initiatives. Let me just mention two programs which are unique to UPOU: Massive Open Distance e-Learning (MODeL). UPOU’s platform for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). MOOCs are online courses which are open to the public for free. In the Philippines, UPOU pioneered the offering of MOOCs through MODeL. UPOU offered its first MOOC in 2013—Introduction to Mobile Application Development Using Android Platform—which received a Merit Award in the PR Programs Merit on a Sustained Basis (Education/Literacy Category) at the 49th Anvil Awards in 2014. The course aimed to equip students with the necessary skills and know-how to deploy android application for android phone and tablets. It was developed and offered in collaboration with SMART Communications, Inc. Since then, UPOU has developed a number of MOOCs with the aim of making education more open and accessible, and in promoting lifelong learning. Courses offered are clustered under the following categories: ASEAN Studies; Child Rights Protection and Promotion; DE Readiness; eFilipiniana; eService Management Program; Interlocal Cooperation; ODEL Teacher Accreditation; Sustainable Development; and Technology for Teaching and Learning. UPOU MOOCs can be accessed through http://model.upou. edu.ph. UPOU Commons. The UPOU Commons is a repository of UPOU-produced Open Educational Resources (OER). OERs are educational resources with open licenses, available for free, online and can be used by anyone. UPOU is a staunch advocate of OERs as it believes that OERs that are well-designed and implemented can help achieve SDG 4 which aims to ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning. Through the UPOU Commons, the public can access learning resources that have been developed and produced by UPOU. These resources feature experts on content such as science, mathematics, technology, sociology, communication, arts, etc. who are not just from UPOU but from other UP units and academic institutions. OERs from UPOU Commons can be used by teachers and students to improve teaching and learning. Examples of these OERs are on Technology for Teaching and Learning which have been funded by UNESCO and produced for teachers to improve their competencies on information and communications technology (ICT). UPOU OERs can be accessed through http://networks.upou. edu.ph/category/commons-video/. Through programs like these, UPOU attempts to remove barriers (such as geography, time, economics, gender and age) that have traditionally restricted learners to avail of and access quality education. What problems or challenges have you encountered in doing public service? How did you solve or address them? From my point of view, one of the major challenges that UPOU faces when it comes to doing public service is the lack of manpower. Being a small university with a very wide reach has become a major challenge for each faculty and staff of UPOU. Despite this major challenge, UPOU is able to overcome it through collaboration and partnership. By engaging its affiliates, alumni and students and other partners and networks, UPOU is able to deliver its commitment to make quality education more open and accessible, and to promote lifelong learning. Suggest one or two ways of further improving the public service program in your CU and locality. To further improve UPOU’s public service program, the following can be done: – Increase engagement with the communities it serves, including rural communities, by sharing with them innovative teaching and learning technologies – Include students in co-creation and use of OERs – Strengthen collaboration with all sectors of society – Improve the dissemination and promotion of MOOCs and OERs to increase participation and involvement of the public