Phoenix House leads seminars for UBian teachers, stabilizes learning approach

BY: ALDRED SKY P. ABANDO

University of Batangas - Batangas City Campus, Junior High School Department (UBBC-JHS) faculty attended seminars, conferences, and workshops in order for them to enhance their teaching strategies for better understanding of the lessons by the UBians.

In line with the core values of the university, intellect would really be embodied by the students since their teachers are equipped with necessary skills as an effect of attending the said enrichment program.

The seminar lasted for two days, starting from February 2-4, 2023, the program intended to improve the existing practices, activities, and programs of the schools to ensure students’ success and achievement.

Among the delegates who attended are Mrs. Divina C. Magnaye, Mrs. Evelyn L. Alido, Ms. Mylene C. Holgado, Ms. Neña Angel C. Porcino, Dr. Famela Q. Barairo, Mr. Jeryll Nicko C. Mercado, all of them are from the Junior High School (JHS) department.

“Attending seminars and trainings are like vitamins to the teachers, it actually improves teachers’ skills and practices,” Mr. Jeryll Nicko C. Mercado, a science teacher from the University of Batangas said.

Providing meticulous training for school administrators and educators is the main objective of the seminar, in order for the teachers to also become more competent, confident, and committed to their duties and responsibilities as an educator.

“Moreover, it also provides professional development and leadership on how to properly deal with the challenges and difficulties in classroom and work-setting,” Mercado added.

Addressing learning poverty was discussed in the first session, with literacy and numeracy programs as the proposed solution.

It also emphasized that the Philippines’ learning poverty is among the highest in the region, with 9 out of 10 Filipinos unable to read and understand short stories, according to the record of the World Bank.

In addition to this, school leaders such as the members of the administration and teachers can enrich their leadership skills and aspire for innovation in their schools with effective opportunities set, such as opening doors for discussion about values, strategies, and leadership, and enabling them to identify the priorities for personal and professional development.

As the UBJHS department always provides what they know is best to its students, especially the UBians who are part of the family, it is crucial and important that the providers of quality education always embody professionalism and integrity.

Withthe University of Batangas (UB) welcoming students back to full face-to-face setup following a two-year lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Junior High School (JHS) Department reintroduces its annual Himigsikan competition.

The decision was made absolute after a previous event organized by the department turned out successful and did not put any of the students at risk of COVID-19.

“Nagkaroon tayo ng mga activity na kung saan ay inattendan ng ating mga junior high school students. Then, UBHS Choir performed, nakita natin na possible naman pala na muling ibalik at buhayin ang competitions like Himigsikan. From the audience itself, gusto talaga nilang maibalik natin yung program.

Kasi nga naman, the last time was noong 2019, kumbaga, itong mga grade 10 students ngayon ay grade 7 pa lamang noon,” said Jerico Alberto, the department’s Assistant Principal for Student Affairs, on Himigsikan’s long absence.

The last thing they needed to make the return possible was the approval of the UB president, Dr. Hernando Perez.

Michael Justin de Mesa, a teacher from the department, claimed that the revival was not easy, “The comeback of this school year’s Himigsikan was never a walk in the park. There had to be a lot of considerations, most especially that we are still in the pandemic state,” he said.

“Pero sabi nga nila, kung mahal mo, gagawin mo ang lahat,” de Mesa added.

Students from all grade levels were excited when the announcement of the competition’s return was made; whether they had experience or not, they were determined to do their best as a celebration of its comeback.

“If I were to be completely honest, we only had one goal and that was to win. I don’t think anyone had the ‘at least we’re having fun’ mindset during that time,” said Athena Tarcelo, a grade 7 student from the university.

Himigsikan’s comeback aims to foster student camaraderie and creativity while also challenging their understanding of music, particularly that of the country.

4TH IN THE NATION: UB tops list of educational institutions with accredited programs

BY: ISABEL B. CUEVAS

Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA), Inc. awarded the University of Batangas (UB) with yet another accomplishment last December 2, 2022, during the celebration of their 49th founding year.

For some background, PACUCOA is a private accrediting organization that seeks, among others, to identify which academic programs and institutions uphold good educational standards and deserve public recognition.

The programs that are proven to maintain a certain level of educational standards are as follows: Information Systems, Liberal Arts, Civil Engineering, BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management, BS in Nursing, BS in Accountancy, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, and Industrial Engineering.

PACUCOA also declared in an October 2022 letter that the university also earned awards for specific master’s and doctoral programs that no other Region IV institution has garnered yet, showing beyond doubt that the university is a leading institution in this part of the country.

To specify, UB’s Master of Science in Mathematics is the first in Region IV to receive Level III Reaccredited Status while UB’s Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management and Doctor of Philosophy in Public

Administration earned the same regional honor and status.

According to the official website of PACUCOA, the Level III Reaccredited Status gives the school the privilege to offer open learning and distance education for tertiary programs that received the same award.

The institution is also free to offer new courses without first obtaining the Commission on Higher Education’s permission.

The university’s Master of Business Management and Master of Public Administration are also the first in the region to achieve

Level IV Accredited Status, granted to academic programs whose standards are in line with those of equivalent programs at top international universities.

The Director for Accreditation, Recognition, and Awards, Dr. Roel A. Asi, and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Aurora P. Tolentino, led the UB Accreditation Team, ensuring the performance of every program.

Thanks to their credibility, such acknowledgements will persuade students to continue their learning journey with the University of Batangas.