UP News January 2013

Page 1

Vol.xiv no.1 diliman quezon city january 2013 2013

U.P.News

1

University of the Philippines Community Newspaper

Itinalaga kamakailan ng Malakanyang si national artist Virgilio S. Almario bilang bagong hepe ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF). Itinalaga ring mga bagong komisyoner ng ahensiya sina Purificacion G. Delima (wikang Ilokano) ng UP Baguio, Jer r y B. Gracio (mg a wika ng Samar-Leyte), Abdon Balde Jr. (Bikol), Noriam Hajilin Ladjagais (mga wika ng Muslim Mindanao), Orlando B. Magno (Sebwano), at Jimmy Balud Fong (mga wika ng Kahilagaang Pamayanang Pangkultura). Makakasama ng mga nasabing opisyal ang iba pang komisyoner na sina Lorna Enderes-Flores (mga wika sa Katimugang Pamayanang Pa ngkultura), Lucena P. Sam s o n ( K a p a m p a n g a n ) , Jo h n E . Barrios (Hiligaynon) ng UP Visayas, at Ma. Crisanta N. Flores (Pangasinan) ng UP Diliman. (Base sa ipinaskil noong 01/29/ 2013 ni Roberto Añonuevo,

Jovan Cerda (philstar.com)

Jann Adriel Sy, a senior molecular of Santo Tomas won second place for his biology and biotechnology student of project titled “Remedation of chromium UP Diliman, won this year’s Bank of the by immobilized microorganisms with zeroPhilippine Islands - Department of Science valent iron nanoparticles.” and Technology’s Project of the Year, by Napoleon Salvador Antonio of the presenting a study that aims to address the Ateneo de Manila University placed third with fatal mismatch between drug dosage and a his study titled “Towards affordable solar person’s genetic makeup. cells: Fabrication of photovoltaic devices Sy took home incorporating the honor, plus doped graphene P50,000 cash for from graphite and his project titled doped Carbon “Single nucleotide from pyrolyzed polymorphisms in glycerol.” the 3 ‘untranslated The BPIregion of the DOST Best Project pregnane X of the Year is an receptor gene and annual research inter-individual competition variability in drug Sy with (L-R) UP MBB Professor and UP Technology that recognizes Transfer and Business Development Office responses.’” Dr Rey Garcia, Chief Executive Officer students who excel H i s s t u d y Director and President of the Bank of the Philippine Islands in specialized fields focused on adverse / BPI Foundation, Inc. President Aurelio Montinola, of science such drug reactions, which III, Dr. Filma Brawner, Director of the Science as mathematics, is among the leading Education Institute of DOST and BPI Senior Vice physics, chemistry, cause of death in the President Randy Maranan (DOST SOI) engineering, United States. computer science, biology Sy said standard drug dosages do not a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l s c i e n c e . guarantee normal metabolic responses for UP System Technology Licensing Office each individual. Hence, a person should Director and Molecular Biology and be prescribed with the right dosage that Biotechnology Professor Reynaldo L. matches his/her genetic profile. Garcia was Sy’s research adviser. “I think that the study can actually bring us closer to the goal of personalized ( h t t p : / / w w w . p h i l s t a r . c o m / b r e a k i n g medicine – drug dosages tailored to specific news/2013/01/24/900624/personalized-drug-dosageindividuals and each person’s specific drug bpi-dosts-project-year)r)r metabolic speed, thereby reducing the risks of side effects or drugs having no apparent College of Law moves forward reaction or benefit,” he said, adding that his project is relevant to all human beings. Dr. Filma Brawner, director of the Science Education Institute of DOST, said the competition is a proof of the Filipino’s competitiveness in the field of science and technology research. “Scientific research provides optimism for the Philippines and other developing countries in their drive to be at par with the high performing economies of the world. Through research, we are able to come up with new knowledge and ultimately, technologies that should contribute in enhancing productivity of our local industries,” she said. Jose Paolo Aguilar of the University

Photo courtesy of AVP Capili

Photo courtesy of DOST-SEI

http://alimbukad.com/2013/01/29/ si-virgilio-s-almario-ang-bagong-kwfchairman/

UP student’s drug dosage study DOST ‘Project of the Year’

PROUD ALUMNA.UP Speech Communication alumna, former Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism, and actress Liza Diño returns from Los Angeles to promote her new film, Will Fredo’s “In Nomine Patris,” an entry for the new wave category during the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Last December 27, Diño received the 2012 MMFF new wave best actress award for the film. More than a decade ago, Diño helped Prof. J. Wendell Capili and UP College of Arts and Letters (CAL) Dean Rosario Torres Yu raise funds for the construction of the new CAL building. She also donated a room to honor her mentor, emeritus professor Tony Mabesa.

Atty. Liza D. Corro, the new dean of the UP Cebu, took her oath of office last January 30 with a promise to work for the institution’s conversion into UP’s eighth constituent university. On the same day, she buckled down to work and presided at the inauguration of the UP Cebu Professional Schools along the city’s prime South Road Properties. UP President Alfredo Pascual administered the oath to Corro who became UP Cebu’s 9th dean, in formal rites at the Cebu Cultural Center in the university’s heritage campus in Cebu City. “I would like to invite all of you to support UP Cebu and make it a leading institution that will truly address the development needs of our region and country,” Corro said in her inaugural speech. “I bring with me the strength and support of different organizations for the growth and betterment of UP Cebu,” she said. An alumna of the UP Diliman College of Law, Corro was active in various organizations such as the Rotary International District 3860 and the Legal Alternatives for Women, Inc. As a gesture of suppor t to Cor ro, Pascual said in a news conference that UP Cebu’s budget this year is double the amount allocated for it last year. Corro identified as her flagship project the setting up of an Innovation Lounge that will serve as an IT Creative hub for students and faculty in keeping with her plan to nurture and harness an IT culture in UP Cebu. She also pledged to develop arts and culture, particularly that of the Cebuano, and improve UP Cebu’s stature both as a research and an educational institution “The expertise of UP Cebu’s staff and faculty will always be at the disposal of the public as speakers or resource persons,” she said. “I feel there is an urgent need for t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f mu l t i m e d i a facilities that will enhance teaching in the General Education Program, the heart of UP education,” Corro said. She added that the moder nization plan connects well with Pa s c u a l ’s e l e c t r o n i c o r e U P p l a n . Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara who sits in the Board of Regents, joined the vice presidents of UP and chancellors of various UP constituent universities in gracing the oath-taking ceremonies. Seven of the dean’s siblings led by Lapulapu City Mayor Paz Radaza also attended the event. UP Serenata, UP Cebu’s official chorale rendered inspirational songs PAGE

5►

after 100 years

INSIDE

Jason A. Baguia

Pascual swears in UP Cebu Dean, opens Professional Schools

Photo courtesy of Dean Liza Corro

Almario KWF Chair


2 U.P. News

january 2013

College of Law moves forward after 100 years Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc

Photos courtesy of the UP College of Law, UPSIO

The UP College of Law observed its centennial year last January 11with the unveiling of a historical marker outside Malcolm Hall. The marker embodied significant milestones in the annals of the country’s premier and influential law school, beginning with its organization through the initiative of former Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice George Malcolm in

1910, with the help of the Young Men’s Christian Association. The school eventually found its way to the Diliman campus in 1948. The marker was installed by the National Historical Commission (NHC), led by Commisioner Ferdinand Llanes. The College prides itself with a rich history that produced Presidents Jose P. Laurel, Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino,

and Ferdinand Marcos. Alumni who became Chief Justices were Jose Yulo, Ricardo Paras, Cesar Bengzon, Jose P. Laurel, Querube Makalintal, Fred Ruiz Castro, Enrique Fernando, Felix Makasiar, Ramon Aquino, Marcelo Fernan, Pedro Yap, Hilario Davide, Reynato Puno, and recently, Maria Lourdes Sereno. College of Law alumni, professors and allied institutions were instrumental in crafting bills, analyzing public policies and advocating for constitutional reform, environmental justice, and administration of justice. Many of the UP law faculty increased the visibility of UP acting as exper ts during the impeachment of Chief Justice Corona. The college tur ned exactly 100 years old on January 12, 2011 based on its establishment by the Board of Regents. The College marked its centennial with several academic, extension, social, and infrastructure projects. In Januar y 2011, the college had a groundbreaking ceremony for its new dormitory. It also conferred for mer Chief Justice Puno with the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa. Puno UP Law alumni in Congress and government constitute a major support for the UP Professional Schools in also presented the first of a Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, shown together with university officials during ground-breaking ceremonies last series of centennial lectures July. At the college’s homecoming last November at Makati Shangri-La, UPD Chancellor Caesar Saloma and by luminaries from the UP Law Dean Danilo Concepcion share tables with distinguished alumni Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, College of Law. Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, and Sen. Koko Pimentel. Photo on front page shows the unveiling of the historical marker at Malcom Hall, UP Diliman with Dean In March 2011, the Concepcion, Chancellor Saloma, Sen. Edgardo Angara, Prof. Ferdinand Llanes, and President Afredo college launched its online Pascual.

‘When a great tree falls…’

edition of the Philippine Law Journal and the new UP College of Law website. Prof. Pacifico Agabin’s Mestizo: The story of the Philippine legal system, was launched in July 2011. The Centennial March was launched in August 2011, during which a testimonial was held to honor distinguished UP law alumni in public service. In November 2011, the college had a grand homecoming with Vice President and UP Law alumnus Jejomar Binay as guest of honor. In January 2012, a grand concert featuring faculty members and alumni was held at the UP Film Institute. A highligh of the centennial celebration was the construction of the law wing at the UP Professional Schools in Bonifacio Global City. Last November, the 2012 grand alumni homecoming featured Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, another alumnus, as keynote speaker. The activities were coordinated under a Centennial Commission headed by Senator Edgardo Angara, with Justice Marvic Leonen as convenor and Associate Dean Patricia Salvador Daway. The members are Sen. Franklin Drilon and Richard Gordon; for mer Chief Justices Hilario Davide and Reynato Puno; Justices Ameurfina Melencio Herrera, Flerida Ruth Romero, and Antonio Carpio; Estelito Mendoza, Felipe Gozon, and Mercedita Santiago Nolledo; Professors Francis Jardeleza and Rafael Morales; Ma. Lourdes Rausa-Chan, and Rodolfo Waga Jr.; and from the Law Student Government, Presidents Teresa Ira Maris Guanzon and Gilliane Joyce de Dumo. (Sources of information include the UP College of Law website and UP Diliman Landmarks: Sites and Symbols 2, Oscar Alfonso, ed., 2005, published by the UP Diliman Office of the Chancellor)

Raul C. Pangalangan (reprinted from his Philippine Daily Inquirer column)

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. said: “When a great tree falls, we are surprised to see how meager the landscape seems without it.” Legal academia lost two icons the past weekend—Araceli Baviera who taught civil law and Domingo Disini who taught labor law, both at the University of the Philippines. Baviera belonged to what is technically the nonexistent graduating class of 1942 of the UP College of Law, which included Sen. Jovito R. Salonga. In the last semester of their senior year, on Dec. 8, the Feast of the Assumption, the Japanese invaded the Philippines and the class members eventually finished their law degrees in various law schools and at different times. That is why Baviera passed the bar in 1944 (during the Japanese occupation) but received her law degree only in 1954. After a brief period of law practice, she joined the UP law faculty where she taught for the next half century. She belonged to that rare breed of full-time professors who specialized in their field with a passion, and, even more impressive, she chose civil law, a field that has traditionally attracted the best and brightest (think Arturo Tolentino and Ambrosio Padilla). The scope of civil law is so diverse and broad, including family law, torts, property, contracts, sales and leases, wills and succession, secured transactions, and land titles—and Cely Baviera was one of the few who taught every one of them. She was one of the drafters of the Family Code, which has enabled estranged couples to have a fresh start in life and, her students

love to say, was the rare teacher who could say, “When we were drafting this provision, I said….” When I was law dean, I went all the way to Malacañang to petition that she be allowed to teach beyond the age of 70. Civil service regulations required her to retire at 65, allowed only piecemeal yearly extensions until 70. But I also knew that great universities abroad lavished more love on their faculty, where old professors are even elevated as “emeriti.” So how to keep Professor Baviera on board? I argued that lecturers were appointed on semestral contracts, and this was a contractual and not civil service matter—and mercifully, Malacañang agreed. (Before I drove off to Malacañang to meet a senior lawyer, I asked Professor Baviera if that lawyer was ever her student, and when she said “yes,” I took that as the signal to damn the torpedoes and go full steam ahead.) The law school also arranged for a car to chauffeur her to her classes. Her younger colleagues were worried that she would take public transport. I was told she declined the pick-up (she didn’t want to keep the driver waiting), but I think she did take the car home because it was dark by the time her classes ended. In 2009, the UP Alumni Association gave her its “Lifetime Achievement” award. But the real tribute comes from all the Facebook posts by her former students, who reveled in the fact that their octogenarian teacher, despite computers and the Internet, would still use mimeographed study guides

that contained a wisdom beyond the ken of glossy reviewers and iPads. *** Generations of law students from both UP and Ateneo know Domingo P. Disini as the oracle of bar examination questions. Doming twice served as bar examiner in labor law and his “notes” were the most sought-after reviewer during the annual bar exam ordeal. What they don’t know is that being a law professor was just a second act in Doming’s life. He came to the law faculty rather late in life, having worked as a young lawyer at ABS-CBN (during quiet moments, he would reminisce fondly of years he spent with the Lopez group of companies) and later at the National Economic and Development Authority. Before that, he did start his legal career in labor law when, fresh out of law school, he joined what was then the Asian Labor Education Center at UP. He returned to labor law only after he had retired from the Neda and he joined the UP law faculty, at exactly the same time I began teaching right after graduation. Doming loved to say that the best thing that happened to his teaching career was when I left to study at Harvard—and he took over all my subjects (I taught labor law then). In a sense, Doming reinvented himself as a legal academic when, right after Ninoy’s assassination and before Edsa 1, he returned to his original love, labor law, and then served as guru to adoring students for the next almost three decades. On Facebook, a former student, now a prosperous lawyer,

recounted how he would have dropped out of law school if not for the gentle, fatherly prodding from Professor Disini. I wasn’t surprised at all; that was the Doming I knew. Late last year, he briefly recovered enough strength to resume teaching. I recall having lunch with him then. Had I known that it would be my last conversation with my friend, I would have lingered much longer. I would have asked him to retell his favorite stories and pretend I was hearing them for the first time. Doming loved to go to second-hand bookstores to forage for classics. He recently gifted me with Michael Sandel’s “Justice.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him I already owned a fresh copy. What he’ll never know, too, is that I gave away the brand-new copy to a bright young colleague, and kept his gift for myself as a treasure and, now, for the memory of a friend who will be missed. *** The metaphorical “grief that can’t be spoken” is that teachers are underappreciated by Filipinos and, if not for the magic of social media, their former students’ sense of loss would remain unheard. Perhaps that is why some tributes focus on the lucrative careers they forswore by remaining in academia. I’d much rather that we look not at what they gave up in order to be teachers, but at what they gave of themselves to make their students learn. *Pangalangan is the publisher of the Inquirer. (http://opinion.inquirer.net/46381/whens s) a-great-tree-falls)


january 2012

UPLB CDC, UPD ComRes, declared CHED Center of Excellence

PAGE

4►

Corro installed as... ◄PAGE 1

including the traditional Cebuano “Rosas Pandan.” UP president Pascual, along with other UP System officials, attended he ribbon cutting and unveiling of a marker, signaling the opening to the public of the second professional schools in the UP System. The new facility, which incorporates green architecture as conceptualized by Prof. Christopher Espina and Prof. Raymund Fernandez, was seen to be the center of graduate studies in UP Cebu. The ecofriendly architecture features natural lighting and passive ventilation, among others. Among the programs offered are master degrees in education, environmental science, computer science, and business management. The campus sits on a five-hectare lot donated by the Cebu City government during the ter m then mayor now cong ressman Tomas Osmeña. Pascual thanked Sen. Sergio Osmeña III for contributing to the completion of the building through his priority development assistance fund. In a message on behalf of Rep, Osmeña, Councilor Margarita Osmeña said the UP Professional Schools SRP Campus sits on a very expensive land, but was donated to UP because her husband believed that education is more valuable. In response, Pascual reiterated the university’s commitment to producing high returns on the city’s investment.

Stephanie S. Cabigao Photo by Jun Madrid

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has declared the UP Los Baños College of Development Communication (CDC) as a Center of Excellence in Development Communication for 20122014 . The conferment ended a thorough deliberation that started in August last year. CDC Dean Ma. Theresa H. Velasco learned of the good news from Prof. Ramon R. Tuazon, chair of the CHED Technical Committee for Communication and Development Communication, last December 12. Earlier on, the CHED identified the Department of UP Diliman as a Center of Excellence in Psychology. Republic Act 7722, or the Higher Education Law of 1994, authorizes the agency to identify centers of excellence and development among educational institutions in the country to serve as “potent catalysts for world-class scholarships, best practices, innovative curriculum, research and extension, and professional development in communication.” “We are truly grateful with this Christmas gift from CHED and the technical panel. The CDC is now doubly inspired to pursue excellence in all aspects of development communication education,” Velasco said. CHED has also designated the Visayas State University’s Department of Development Communication under the College of Agriculture and Food Science as a Center of Development for Excellence (CODE) in Development Communication. Named as the Center of Excellence in Communication is UP Diliman’s Depar tment of Communication Research under the College of Mass Communication.

Professors emeriti Zafaralla and Jimenez lead series on UP’s great minds

Professors Emeriti Jimenez and Zafaralla

To celebrate the various contributions of UP’s more than 280 professors emeriti, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Gisela Padilla-Concepcion launched a lecture series entitled “Celebrating UP’s Great Minds” last December 10 at the National Institute of Physics Auditorium. Newly proclaimed Emeritus Professors Macrina T. Zafaralla, Ph.D. (UP Los Baños) and Elsie C. Jimenez, PhD (UP Baguio) delivered the inaugural lectures. Completing the batch of professors emeriti appointed last March 29 are Prof. Erlinda S. Echanis, Ph.D. from the College of Business Administration (UPD); Prof. Nicanor G. Tiongson, Ph.D. from the College of Mass Communications (UPD); and Prof. Serafin Hilvano, M.D. from the College of Medicine (UPM). In 1970, Prof. Elsie C. Jimenez entered the College of Science at UP Baguio, signaling her journey t o join the university’s prominent natural scientist and chemist. Her presentation at the series was entitled “Great Publications, Great University. Jimenez also recalled the three factors that compelled her to pursue a career as an academician. First was her MS Biochemistry thesis under a faculty fellowship in UP Manila headed by national scientist Lourdes Cruz. She said Cruz urged her to submit her first scientific paper for publication. The paper is now listed in the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) journals and indexed in the Science Citation Index (SCI). Second was her UNESCO fellowship in Tokyo Institute of Technology, which enabled her to pursue further studies in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering in 1980. Finally, she obtained her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Utah, USA under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) project with internationally distinguished scientists Dr. Baldomero Olivera and Cruz as mentors. Later, her work was once again published and SCI indexed, subsequently making her an academic collaborator at the Utah University. Jimenez also discussed the worsening conditions of researchers in the university. She noted that in UP Baguio and elsewhere, professors were overloaded with teaching units and large classes while pursuing research and creative productions. According to her, many constituent units lacked adequate research facilities and equipment. She suggested that increasing faculty and research associate items, as well as

upgrading laboratory equipment might encourage more graduates to pursue academic careers in the country. Dr. Zafaralla, a retired professor of Botany and Environmental ScienceInstitute of Biological Sciences at UP Los Baños, obtained her Ph.D. in Environmental Science in 1980 at UP. Earlier, she completed her coursework at Cornell University. In 2010, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in 2010 recognized her pioneering studies by presenting her the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)-Hugh Greenwood Environmental Science Award. Among her numerous researches and publications consist of a book on micro algae of Taal Lake with the support of NAST; a study about Laguna de Bay winning Best Paper Award; and a coauthored book titled “Saving the Present for the Future,” and “Philippine Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.” Zafaralla presented her study “On the Apparent Interrelationships Triggering the Occurrence of Freshwater Fish Kill in Taal Lake.” She theorized that the fish kill phenomenon could be due to too low oxygen levels and too much hydrogen sulfide—toxic gas emissions that depleted the lake’s oxygen supply. She also cited sudden increase in temperature, climate change, decomposing organic matter, and overstocking of the fish cages as probable causes of the fish kill. She added that other pollutants included garbage and refuse thrown on the lakeshores, notably animal manure being dumped along the shores. Dr. Zafaralla recommended the implementation of several control measures to protect the ecological conditions in Taal Lake, particularly the decongestion of the lake’s fish cages by bringing down the number of cages from the present average of 12,000 units to 6,000 units; complying to the recommended stocking and feeding rate; prohibition of non-ecologically sound practice of increasing cage depths to compensate for limited area; lakeshore clean up and improvement on solid waste management; application of the closedand-open seasons strategy; centralization of the issuance of permits for fish cages and facilitation of the identification of illegal cages; and the provision of equal opportunities for Filipinos to practice aquaculture within the limits of fish cage practice. The professor had been closely working with local government units in this study, as well as in the dissemination of newly found information regarding aquaculture

U.P. News 3

21 named new UP Scientists, 20 more restored to SPS status Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc

The UP System named 21 new UP Scientists in rites held last December 18 at the Executive House in UP Diliman, bringing the total of UP professors and researchers given the much-coveted distinction to 102. Twenty others who have previously joined the elite club regained their Scientific Productivity System (SPS) standing. The rank of UP Scientist is effective for three years, hence the new batch case will hold the distinction during the period 2012-2014. The conferment of the title comes with yearly monetary rewards of P120,000 for Scientist I, P144,000 for Scientist !!, and P180,000 for Scientist III. T he UP Scientists must remain productive within the system’s standards to maintain the title, or must surpass themselves to qualify for a higher title. The SPS, given every year, is now on its third cycle after its approval by the Board of Regents on August 26, 2005. Scientific productivity is evaluated based on scientific publications in refered reputable scientific journals and books, peer-reviewed technological outputs, and scientific and professional standing in the international science community. Named UP Scientist I were Professors Percival Amoro, Evangeline Amor, Clarissa David, Laura David, Christine Hernandez, Dennis Mapa, Maria Lourdes McGlone, Alfred Pawlik, Jonas Quilang, and Ronald Villanueva, all from UP Diliman; Inocencio Buot Jr., Cleofas Cervancia, Maribel Dionisio-Sese, Victor Ella, Merdelyn Lit, Teodoro Mendoza, and Oscar Zamora from UP Los Baños; and Annabelle Campos and Liberato Laureta Jr. from UP Visayas. Professors Eric Galapon, Marie Antonette Meñez, and Fernando Siringan, also all from UP Diliman, retained their title. Prof. Cynthia Hedreyda of UP Diliman was named UP Scientist II. Professors Windell Rivera and Cesar Villanoy from UP Diliman, and Damasa Macandog and Conrado Valdez from UP Los Baños retained the title UP Scientist II. Prof. Perry Ong of UP Diliman was named UP Scientist III. Professors Porfirio Aliño, Rhodora Azanza, Erniel Barrios, PAGE

5►

in various fishing communities. UP President Alfredo E. Pascual, who attended the public lecture, said he was interested in the processes that could stimulate research and publication in the university to enable greater contribution to the country’s national development, adding that it could contribute to raise the academic level and ranking of the university. He assured researchers that funding is not much of a problem as there are so much funding available mainly from government and private entities. Pascual stressed that more importantly, the university should focus on the challenge of promoting a culture of research and writing within the institution. Capping the lecture sessions was an open forum Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Antoinette BassHernandez acting as moderator.


4 U.P. News

january 2013

UPM tasked to draft IRR for health research bill

Forum tackles LGBT issues Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo

Jazmin S. Camero

University of Mindanao has been tasked to draw up the implementing rules and regulations for the proposed Philippine National Health Research S y s tem (PN H R S ) l aw r ecen tl y passed on third and final reading by the House of Representatives. The measure seeks to promote scientific researches meant to strengthen the country’s health care program. Principal authors of House Bill 6735 are Reps. Juan Edgardo Angara (Lone District, Aurora), Joseph Emilio Abaya (1st District, Cavite), Angelo Palmones (Party-list, Agham), Lani MercadoRevilla (2nd District, Cavite), Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao). Angara said it is important to build the country’s capability for research and development because it can fuel the necessary innovation that will lead to a responsive and efficient health care system. “The country must provide for a favorable research environment wherein government agencies, nongovernment organizations, public and private hospitals, academic institutions and private agencies can optimize their research activities,” Angara said. Pa l m o n e s s a i d t h e P N H R S i s a framework of cooperation and resource sharing of the core agencies and stakeholders in health research anchored on the principles of inclusiveness, participation, quality, equity, efficiency and effectiveness. “The bill will promote good governance in research towards high performing and ethical health research organizations and to establish a realistic system that shall strengthen national and international networking partnerships for health research development,” Palmones said. U n d e r t h e p r o p o s e d l aw, t h e PNHRS is institutionalized within the umbrella of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), the national coordinating body for health research. The PNHRS was initiated through a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Health in 2003 and 2007. Regional health research facilities would be created in all regions and will address concerns relating to health research agenda, development of human resource in health research, conduct of researches, dissemination o f r e s e a r c h r e s u l t s, r e s e a r c h utilization, resource mobilization, leadership and management. The DOST - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), Department of Health (DOH), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the UP Manila-National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH) shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of under the measure.

Manalastas expresses a view, while guidance counselor Tulipat takes note and student leader Diño listen.

A forum to address ticklish issues about the third sex was recently held at the UP Diliman faculty Center under the sponsorship of the Third World Studies Center. Questions like “Winner na ba ang LGBT sa UP?” “Ang tama ba sa UP, tama rin sa bayan?” were raised during the Nov. 28, 2012 forum in a bid to come up with a sub-culture meant to come with a comprehensive solution to the sexuality issues among the Philippine society. The event formed part of a lecture series titled “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)” which the university sought to address, according to UPDUniversity Student Council (USC) chair Heart Diño. Dino explained that the existence of the Diliman Gender Office (DGO) and Center for Women’s Studies, the gender committee of the UPD-USC, and recognized student organizations such as Babaylan, Spectrum, and Proud to be LGBT prove that among higher education institutions in the country, UP sets the pace in addressing LGBT concerns. Prescilla Tulipat, guidance counselor at the DGO, added that with respect to her office, interventions are being carried out to create a “safer place” for LGBTs. These interventions include gender-responsive counseling, gender sensitivity and sexuality training, alternative dispute resolutions, mentoring, reading materials, course evaluation, advocacy, and the conduct of interviews with students towards genderfair education. Psych 195 or LGBT Psychology is an example of how the academe attempts to be more inclusive of LGBT concerns. This course was conceptualized and is being taught by Prof. Eric Manalastas, who was also a speaker at the forum. Apart from this course at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, he mentioned Gay Literature, offered by the College of Arts and Letters, and Queer Cinema, offered by the College of Mass Communication. While these may be the only LGBTspecific courses in the UPD, Manalastas said other courses have also integrated LGBT issues in their discussions. Going beyond the academe, he stated that one winning point for LGBTs is decriminalization—as opposed to some countries in Southeast Asia, it is not a crime to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender in the Philippines. Despite the positives, however, the three speakers pointed out that much has yet to be done.

Diño talked about how LGBTs are not very visible in the political arena and mostly confined to the entertainment industry. She also said that while LGBT students are active participants and have been elected to the student council, discrimination still exists in the university. If UP wants to be at par with the best universities in the world, Diño stated that non-discrimination policies have to be instituted, similar to the policies of Stanford University, Harvard University, and Columbia University. Manalastas included to his list of negatives, the absence of gender recognition, right to marry, right to adopt as an LGBT couple, and hate crime protection. Basic human rights to nondiscrimination, education, employment, marriage, and life are seldom afforded to members of the LGBT communities, not only in the Philippines but in other countries worldwide. Still, a silver lining shines on the horizon. The possible creation of a Center for LGBT Studies, the strengthening of existing university policies on anti-sexual harassment, the strict implementation of the Quezon City ordinance on nondiscrimination of LGBTs, as well as the recognition of the Magna Carta for Gender Inequality are steps towards progress, Diño said. Tulipat said that aside from the university policies on anti-sexual harassment, counseling practices are guided by the 2008 Guidance Counseling Code of Ethics, Republic Act No. 9500 or the UP Charter of 2008, and Republic Act No. 8353 or the amendment to the Anti-Rape Law of 1997. In the field of Psychology, Manalastas said that the Psychological Association of the Philippines issued a statement in 2011, taking a stand against conversion therapy—a method that involves making LGBTs “return” to being “straight” or heterosexual. According to him, Psychology in the Philippines, with respect to LGBT concerns, needs three things: pedagogy specific to university-based instruction, empirical studies to form a research base, and strengthened professional practice. In UP, he added, the success of LGBT Psychology, Gay Literature, and Queer Cinema can pave the way for other academic units to create LBT-specific courses. Moreover, facilities and spaces need to be safe and secure for LGBTs, LGBT materials in the library should not be labeled “pornographic,” and that perhaps bathrooms can become gender-neutral.

Psych Dept holds inaugural forum on RA 10029 The UP Diliman Department of Psychology (UPDP) has organized a forum on the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Philippine Psychology Law, also known as Republic Act (RA) 10029, for a better understanding of the new law and its mandates. The forum was held last January 29 at the Benitez Theater in coordination with the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP), the Interim Psychology Organization. A total 147 faculty members, students and practitioners from more than 60 educational and private institutions in Luzon attended the event. Miriam Cue, chair of the Professional Regulatory Board (PRB) of Psychology, was guest speaker. The convenor-moderator for the forum was Dr. Grace Aguiling-Dalisay, chair of the Department of Psychology and PAP Board Member. T he Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said RA 10029 regulates the practice of psychology and psychometrics in the Philippines to nurture competent, upright and assiduous psychologists whose standards of professional practice are excellent and globally competitive and to protect the public from inexperienced or untrained individuals offering psychological services. The IRR, published last January 8, covers the guidelines on the processes for application for the first licensure examinations for Psychometricians and Psychologists to be held not earlier than October 2013. Most of the participants in the briefing sought clarifications on the requirements for registration without examinations. The law allows for registration without examinations for those who have been involved in the practice of psychology prior to 2010.

UPLB CDC, other... ◄PAGE 3

Through a memorandum issued order on Dec. 20, 2012, CHED declared UP Diliman a Center of Excellence in Psychology. Another memorandum on the same day declared UP Diliman as Center of Excellence in Political Science. The designation is effective until May 31, 2014 As of Sept. 20, 2012, UP’s other centers of development included UP Baguio in mathematics, UP Los Baños in environmental science and statistics; UP Visayas in biology and marine science; and UP Mindanao in information technology. CAL Associate Dean and CHED technical panel member Prof. Mila Laurel has access to the updated list of CHED centers of excellence in UP. The other UP centers of excellence are UP Diliman in biology, chemistry, geology, information technology, marine science, mathematics, molecular biology, physics, and statistics; UP Manila in medicine and nursing; UP Los Baños in agricultural engineering, agriculture, biology, chemistry, forestry, information technology, mathematics, and veterinary medicine; and UP Cebu in information technology.


january 2012

U.P. News 5

UPD and DOST launches training software for call centers Albino C. Gamba, UPDIO

UP Diliman (UPD) and the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry (Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST- PCIEERD) launched a trial balloon for their Learning English Applications

for Pinoys (LEAP) last November 22 at the Richmonde Hotel in Eastwood City, Quezon City. The project involves a stand-alone computer program that will primarily address deficiencies in basic English

language issues among Filipinos. LEAP is a software developed through the joint efforts of the UPD College of Engineering’s Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, the Department of Computer Science, the College of Arts

UPV profs bat for immediate passage of land use bill Lyncen M. Fernandez

At least three professors of the UP Visayas are batting for the immediate passage of the National Land Use bill, saying it would provide a rational and integrated framework governing Philippine watersheds. The UPV mentors issued their call during the 11th General Assembly and National Watershed Conference held November 22- 24, 2012 at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City. The assembly had for its theme: “Sustaining Watershed Services,

Meeting Future Needs.” Prof. Pepito R. Fernandez Jr. of the Division of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, sat in the conference as chair of the newly-formed Watershed Academic Consortium (WAC). The WAC is in partnership with Central Philippine University (CPU), St Paul’s University (SPU), University of Iloilo Phinma (UIP), and West Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) with the goal of developing an integrated

UP property re-zoned for urban development Monica Joy Cantilero

The Quezon City Council has reclassified a UP property into commercial zone, allowing for its development into a hub for shops and offices. Under City Ordinance No. SP-2160, series of 2012, the UP Diliman East Campus Property — currently occupied by the UP Integrated School — has been reclassified from its present institutional classification to special urban development zone. T h e m ove wa s t a ke n “ i n v i e w o f t h e r e d e ve l o p m e n t v i s i o n a n d proposed land uses” for the lot. Ayala Land, Inc. is currently developing the area located along Katipunan Av e . i n t o t h e U P To w n C e n t e r “What would change is the permitted uses in the area,” said Quezon City Councilor Ricardo T. Belmonte Jr. in a via text message. With the rezoning, the property can now be used as host for retail shops, restaurants, offices, galleries, and recreational facilities. “Ayala Land will develop it similar to the

Ayala Technohub,” said UP President Alfredo E. Pascual, in a phone interview, refer ring to the UP proper ty along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City which the firm developed under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement. The old buildings of the UP Integrated School, the current occupant of the property, will be torn down this summer after the school’s offices and classrooms for basic education have been transferred to the new school facilities nearer to the college buildings, said UP Vice-President for Development Elvira A. Zamora. The new school buildings, valued at P260 million, have been donated by the company as part of the BOT deal. Completion of the project, pegged at P3 billion, has been set for the last quarter of next year. (http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?sect ion=Economy&title=UP-property-re-zoned-for2 2) urban-development&id=65242)

watershed management and sustainable development of the Iloilo watershed and rivers. Levi de los Santos, another WAC representative from CPU also attended the event. The team’s participation in the assembly was sponsored by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), a non-profit organization assisting local government units in adopting a bioregional or integrated framework for urban watershed management and sustainable development. The CUI supports organizations like the WAC, an advocacy entity helping implement integrated watershed management systems in local government units. The two other UPV faculty members who attended the conference were former College of Management (CM) dean Dr Joy Lizada, Program Expert/ Site Coordinator of the Emerging Interdisciplinary Research Development Program funded by the UP System titled, “Towards Good Water Governance for Development: A Multi-case Analysis,” and current CM dean, Prof. Mary Ann Gumban, coordinator and fund manager of the Western Visayas Local Governance Resource Consortium (WVLGRC), a coalition of UPV, CPU, WVCST and University of San Agustin in support of local governance. Lizada’s attendance was sponsored by the EIRD project she is helping to implement, while that of Gumban’s was sponsored by the GIZ. (http://www.upv.edu.ph/upv/index.php/96news-and-features/788-upv-profs-advocatefor-the-immediate-passing-of-the-national-landuse-law

21 named new... ◄PAGE 3

Photo courtesy of UPDIO

UP Scientists with President Pascual during awarding ceremonies at the Executive House, Diliman

Gisela Concepcion, Carla Dimalanta, Christopher Monterola, Caesar Saloma, and Maria Helena Yap, from UP Diliman;

Professors Rex Victor Cruz and Evelyn Mae Mendoza, both from UP Los Baños; and Vicente Belizario Jr., Maria Carmela

Lapitan, and Carmencita Padilla, from UP Manila, all retained the highest title of UP Scientist III.

and Letters’ Department of English and Comparative Literature, and Department of Speech Communication and Theater Arts. The DOST bankrolled the study through its “Interdisciplinary Signal Processing for Pinoys (ISIP) Project 7: Development of an English Language Training Software for Call Centers.” With the growing call center industry in the Philippines, the demand for call center agents dramatically increased. According to Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), the BPO sector can grow to up to $20 billion by 2016, and the country’s GDP can also increase from six to nine percent depending on how well the employment in the industry is sustained. BPAP is the umbrella association for the IT-BPO and Global In-House Center (GIC) industry in the Philippines. It plays a “pivotal role in sustaining rapid growth of the IT-BPO and GIC industry by ensuring an enduring supply of high quality labor, supporting service innovation, and providing country visibility.” BPAP’s forecast could be achieved if the demand of the industry to provide first-rate call center agents is met. However, BPAP data show that majority of the current college students and college graduates in the Philippines do not possess the necessary competencies for the IT-BPO and GIC industry. This is demonstrated in the present hiring rate in the call center industry wherein only three to eight percent of the total applicants pass the screening process. If not addressed, the problem may lead to a failure to supply the workforce needed by the BPO industry in the coming years. It is the problem of poor English language skills that the LEAP project wants to address. By arresting the difficulty in the earlier stages, i.e., with the high school and college students, in the long term, the country could meet the call center industry’s manpower demand, as well as those of the other sectors. LEAP has two modules; the grammar and vocabulary module, and the speech module. The grammar and vocabulary module is designed to improve communication skills in English in order to cope with the demands of working in a global workplace. The program consists of various types of exercises that guide the user in improving his/her vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension. A trainee is not allowed to proceed to the next exercise unless he/she gets the required number of correct items. Passing rate for each exercise is 60 percent. The full version of the software, together with the speech module, is set for release in July 2013. Present during the launching were Dr. Cristina L. Guevarra, PCIEERD executive director; Dr. Susan P. Festin, project leader of ISIP Project 7; acting director III of CHED’s Office of Policy, Planning, Research & Information, Dr. Maria Teresita M. Semana; and Penny Bongato, BPAP Executive Director for Talent Development. (http://upd.edu.ph/~updinfo/ dec12/index1.htm, reprinted with per mission from UPDIO) The members of the of the Inter-dsiciplinary Signal Processing for Pinoys Program during the launching of the trial version of LEAP.


6 U.P. News

january 2013

Lyncen M. Fernandez

Pioneering graduates of the UP Visayas School of Technology, Chemical Engineering passed the 2012 licensure examinations with an impressive average of 90.91 percent thereby proving the school’s high standards of education. In June 2007, the UP Visayas School of Technology opened its doors for the first time to qualifiers in the five-year, BS Chemical Engineering program. The first batch graduated on April 25 last year, and took the board examinations in November, posting a remarkable 90.91 percentage points. The passing grade for the November 2012 Chemical Engineering Board Exam was set at 54.83%. UPV was one of four universities that had a passing percentage above 90%. The three others were UP Diliman with 91.75%, De LaSalle Taft 92.86%, and University of San Carlos 92%. Among the schools in Region 6, the Central Philippine University had a 40% passing percentage; LaSalle Bacolod, 60%; and the University of San Agustin, 14.29%. (With report from the School of Technology) (http://www.upv.edu.ph/upv/index. php/96-news-and-features/796-sotechpioneer-chem-eng-batch-scores-9091-inm m) nov-2012-licensure-exam)

Spatial, political discourse in artworks launched at Vargas Museum

Photo by Misael Bacani

UPV SoTech Chem Eng pioneers pass licensure exams with flying colors

Stephanie S. Cabigao

The Jorge B. Vargas Museum opened 2013 with two group exhibits featuring discourse of space as a site of struggle and empowerment of the people. One exhibit titled “Lupa: Struggle for Land” consisted of various pieces of visual art that narrate land as a long-standing contested territory in feudal exploitation that persisted until today. The exhibit was a counterpoint to an earlier show dubbed “Kapital: Tribute to Labor” that opened in 2010 and still going on at the Jorge B. Vargas Museum. Understanding land as a vital tool for equity and change, the “Lupa: Struggle for Land” exhibit shows images of the landless majority that locked in a continuing the struggle to regain their rights to territory and life. Such narratives of struggle come to life in the works of Buen Calubayan, Ted Camahalan, Neil Doloricon, Federico Dominguez, Gerilya, Renato Habulan, Gene de Loyola, Nikki Luna, Renan Ortiz, Iggy Rodriguez, Jose Tence Ruiz, Pablo Buen Santos, Manolo Sicat, Mel Vera Cruz, and Chitoy Zapata. Opening on the same day at the museum was another show titled “President’s Office” focusing on the Malacañang Palace as a seat of authority, power, and a democratic tradition, among other things. The Palace however, also symbolizes a public space that is open for everybody. The shows curator, Dawn Atienza and Antares Gomez-Bartolome, explained that the seeming openness of such space is apparently and practically operated with tight security measures, making it obscure and concealed from public scrutiny.

UPD-CFA caps 2012 with art exhibits Stephanie S. Cabigao

Prof. Librero keynotes 2nd national CDECPP confab

The College of Fine Arts (CFA), UP Diliman, ended 2012 with an exhibition dubbed “Art Gifts” featuring various works of art by students, faculty members and alumni of the school. The exhibits mainly consisted of drawings, paintings, illustrations, prints, photographs, digital art, ceramics, pottery, and sculptures, objects, installations and other small works by UP Fine Arts faculty members, students and alumni. The event, held on Dec. 6 at the Corredor, CFA’s Gallery in Bartlett Hall, was organized by prominent artist-professors Neil Ortega Doloricon and Benjamin Isla Cabangis,. Among the exhibitors were Armand Burgos, Aman Santos, Bim Bacaltos, Jose Alberto Tañedo, Mark San Valentin, Manolo Sicat, Yasmin Lantz, Mitzi Reyes, Marc Malto, Rita Gaudino, Ninel Constantino, Rico Lascano, Mitch Shivers, Ernesto Enrique, Dakila Fernando, Monet Narciso, Joy Ilagan, Kathy Sta. Ana, and Nestor Vinluan. The exhibits also included visual allegories by Cabangis and Doloricon.

Photo courtesy of UPOU-IO

Criscelle Moya, UPOU-IO

“The guidepost for a development communicator is to reach a level of mental preparedness and willingness to pursue the achievement, through the use of communication, of a human development purpose or end-goal.” Professor Felix Librero underscored this principle in his keynote address at the 2nd National Conference of the Consortium of Development Communication Educators and Practitioners in the Philippines (CDCEPP) at the Isabela State University in Cauayan, Isabela last November 9. The affair had for its theme “Development Communication: A ‘Global’ Practice.” L i b r e r o, s e c o n d o f t h e U P O U chancellor, is a professor of Development Communication and chair of the UPOU Doctor of Communication program. CDCEPP aims to promote the ideals of development communication as a field of study and practice which contributes to community development and nationbuilding through meaningful and relevant communication. (http://www2.upou.edu.ph/component/content/ article/66-news2012/688-professor-lex-librero-atdevcom-conference) e e)

UPD-CBA scores UPLB Choral Ensemble tops 2012 NAMCYA The multi-awarded UP Los Baños the UPLBCE has performed in numerous a three-peat Choral Ensemble (UPLBCE) won the concerts locally and abroad. championship at grand prize in the Adult Choir Category It has received notable awards from the th of the 2012 National Music Competition Tolosa Choral Competition in Spain, ITB the 13 PANAnaw for Young Artists (NAMCYA) held at the International Choral Festival in Indonesia Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay in 2010 (four gold medals), A Voyage of Awards UP Diliman College of Business Administration (UPD-CBA) retained for the third consecutive year its title in the Philippine Association of National Advertisers Foundation (PANAF) 13th PANAnaw Awards held at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City last November 17. Having won in 2010 and 2011, CBA scored a three-peat in the competition to duplicateits feat in 2004-2006. The college has now won six championships in the past 13 years of the competition. UP Visayas College of Management (UPV-CM) came in second, followed by Asia Pacific College, De La Salle UniversityTaft, and Assumption College. Twenty-five schools joined this year’s competition. PANAnaw Awards is an integrated marketing communications (IMC) students’ competition of PANAF. This year’s competition called for an advocacy campaign for solid waste management. UP-CBA’s winning entry, “Swak Attack,” is anchored on a social media platform to encourage the youth to practice the three Swak Attack moves of “taktak, bitbit, and ulit,” the team’s re-interpretation of the traditional 3Rs (reduce, reuse recycle). (Sources: UP CBA Alumni News Vol. 2012 No. 18 and UPV-IPO article by Anna Razel Ramirez with reports from Prof. Neil Hortillo Hortillo)

City, last November 23. Led and conducted by Romel Lomarda, the 23-member choral group performed the obligatory piece Yver, vous n’estes qu’un villain composed by Claude Debussy and their two chosen pieces, Eriks Esenvalds’ Stars and Xander Choy’s A Fantasy. Formed in 1991 with founding members from the UP Rural High School Glee Club,

Songs International Choral Festival (Grand Prix Winner) in Zhuha, China in 2011, and the 28thTakarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest (two gold medals for romantic and contemporary categories) in Japan last July 2012. (http://www.uplb.edu.ph/index.php/whats-new/720-uplb-choral-ensemble-tops-2012namcya

UPV SoTech, DTI train Miagao natives in culinary art Lyncen M. Fernandez, UPV-IPO

Residents of several barangays in Miagao, Iloilo have been trained in cooking and packaging native delicacies with a view to augmenting their family income. T he Skills Development for the Preparation of Selected Native Delicacies training was organized by the UP Visayas (UPV) School of Technology (SoTech) in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry, Region VI office. The training was held last November 28-30 at the SoTech food laboratory, UPV Miagao campus. Some faculty members and alumni of the BS Food Technology program of SoTech served as resource persons for the seminar.

Aside from skills development and enhancement, additional lectures on product standardization, quality control, safety practices, packaging and simple product costing were also conducted. About 40 participants attended the training. Follow-up training sessions were held December 4-6 on simple and practical techniques about food safety preparation. The training series was organized to provide a holistic approach in preparing participants to become entrepreneurs. (With report from SoTech) (http://www.upv.edu.ph/upv/index. php/96-news-and-features/792-sotechupgrade-skills-of-miagaoanons-on-makingnative-delicacies)


january 2012

Photo courtesy of UPOU-IO

Filipino expats in HK get insight on UPOU distance learning

An MOA is signed between the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong and UPOU, designating the former as a UPOU testing center.

The UP Open University (UPOU) has expanded its area of coverage to include Filipino expatriates in Hong Kong via an orientation seminar dubbed “Learning at UPOU through Distance Education” held at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong last Nov. 25-26. Co-organized by the Philippine Consulate General and the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) - Hong Kong Chapter, the seminar, led by UPOU Chancellor Grace Alfonso, underscored how UPOU delivers its programs in a flexible manner to meet the needs of Filipino professionals. (http://www2.upou.edu.ph/component/content/article/66news2012/686-orientation-on-upou-programs-in-hong-kongg)

UPMin launches arboretum eco-park project

Photo courtesy of Rene Estremera, UPMin-OC

Rene Estremera

Chancellor Rivero and Vice President for Academic Affairs Emma Ruth Bayogan participates in the ceremonial tree-planting.

Archi students rule 9th Arch-Quiz

Photo courtesy of Rene Estremera, UPMin-OC

Rene Estremera, UPMin-OC

UP Mindanao holds forum on Bangsamoro framework accord Rene Estremera, UPMin - Office of the Chancellor

Outgoing Chancellor Gilda Rivero leads the opening of Tinukib.

UP Mindanao students grabbed the top three spots in the 9th Arch-Quiz, an interschool competition among architecture schools held last Dec. 5. The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) organized the quiz contest as part of the annual National Architecture Week celebrations. UPMindanao’s winning team consisted of Gwen Harriet Bautista, Lyndon John Cabahug, Alvin Jason Faja, and Jude Ezequiel Garcia. The runner up team was composed of Anna Tricia Acuna, Raissa Barandino, Aldeah Belotindos, and Ben Gonzales. Another team composed of John Joseph Cahatian, Faith Lejarso, Kristin Faye

U P M inda nao h as launched an arboretum and ecology park project designed to create wider public awareness o n e nv i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n a n d preservation. The project launch, highlighted by a tree planting activity, was initiated by the Beta Sigma Alumni Association of Southern Mindanao led by its president Solomon Carpio and national president Rene de Rueda, in collaboration with the UP Mindanao administration headed by Chancellor Gilda Rivero. Two units of motorized grass cutters donated through Betan Sonny Pagador were also presented during the event. Also in attendance were Betans led by UPMin Chapter Grand Princep Angelo Lukban, Sigma Beta’s Cristine Abrea, and resident Betans from UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Visayas, and UP Baguio. (http://www.upmin.edu.ph/index. php?option=com_content&view=articl e&id=969:betans-arboretum&catid=1& Itemid=19)

Olalo, and Felanie Ternio placed third. In another development, UP Mindanao hosted the Tinukib 2012: Urog sa Lumad, with the theme “Infusing Indigenous Fashion in Architectural Retail Design”, at the Abreeza Mall of Davao last Dec. 10-11. UP Mindanao Chancellor Gilda Rivero delivered the opening remarks, while Prof. Jean Marie Juanga presented the newlyorganized Department of Architecture, followed by a series of lectures on “Basic Architectural Communications, Concepts, Planning and Retail Design Techniques”. (http://www.upmin.edu.ph/index. php?option=com_content&view=artic le&id=1026:archi-students-sweep-archquiz&catid=1&Itemid=19

To generate a better understanding of the issues surrounding the ongoing peace talks between the Philippine government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), UP Mindanao sponsored last December 7a forum on the framework agreement between the two panels. Dubbed “Building Peace in Mindanao: A Forum on the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro of the GPH-MILF, and Updates on the GPH-NDF Peace Talks” the exercise was co-organized by UP Mindanao with AFRIM (Alternative Forum for Research in Mindanao). Sami Buat of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society presented a history of the Bangsamoro struggle. MILF representative Dr. Parido R. Pigkaulan spoke on the Framework Agreement on

U.P. News 7

Balitang Unyon Mga Kawani ng UP, tutol sa PBB ni Pnoy Hindi sang-ayon ang mga kawani ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP) sa sistema ng Performance Based Bonus (PBB) na isinulong ni Pangulong Aquino sa kanyang 2012 state of the nation address (SONA). Maraming empleyado ang nagmungkahi na gawin na lamang itong across-the-board o pantay-pantay para diumano maiwasan ang mga negatibong resulta nito tulad ng silipan at inggitan sa kanilang hanay. Inihayag ng mga kawani ang kanilang pananaw sa isyung ito sa nakalipas na Kapihan forum na inilunsad sa Kalayaan Hall kaugnay sa napipintong pagpapatupad ng PBB. Ang Kapihan ay isinagawa noong nakaraang Pebrero 4 sa pakikipagtulungan ng OSH na pinamumunuan ni Dir. Gerry Lanuza, katuwang si OSH administrative officer si Noel Marquina. Tinalakay naman ni Ramon Guillermo, pambansang tagapangulo ng All UP Academic Employees Union ang dalawang lumabas na matrix system ng PBB para sa kaalaman ng mga kawani. Naging mainit ang talakayan hinggil sa pagkaltas ng PEI at ang pag-alis na PIB. Sa pagtatapos ng Kapihan, sinabi ni Felix Pariñas, pambansang pangulo ng All UP Workers Employees Union, na ipinarating na niya kay UP President Alfredo Pascual ang saloobin ng mga empleyado tungkol sa PBB, partikular na ang mungkahi nilang gawin itong acrossthe-board ang naturang benepisyo. Hindi ito kinatigan ng pamunuan ng UP dahil diumano sa iba’t ibang kadahilanan, partikular na ang isang direktiba mula sa Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Kilos Protesta na isinagawa ng Alliance of Health Workers sa NKTI, nilahukan ng AUPWU Nakiisa ang Unyon sa pagkondena ng patuloy na pagssapribado ng mga pambulikong hospital partikular ng pagsasagawa ng bidding upang isapribado ang National Orthopaedic Center na ginanap nitong nakaraang Enero 25, 2013 sa NKTI Hospital. Ang nasabing PAGE

10►

the Bangsamoro. Malaysian Lt. Col. Andi Irawan of the International Monitoring Team reported on their activities in Mindanaom while updates on the peace talks were given by Ednar Dayanghirang, a member of the government panel. (http://www.upmin.edu.ph/index. php?option=com_content&view =ar ticle&id=1032:10-december2012&catid=1&Itemid=19)

US writer teaches Davao students creative writing

Photo courtesy of Rene Estremera, UPMin-OC

Rene Estremera, UPMin - Office of the Chancellor

Noted American writer Tim Tomlinson, co-founder of the New York Writers Workshop and co-author of the popular The Portable MFA in Creative Writing, visited recently Davao to conduct writing workshops at the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) and UP Mindanao from January 12 to 14. Tomlinson has been conducting workshops in fiction and poetry since 1991 in New York, as well as in Thailand, Singapore, China, and the Philippines. Through a combination of writing prompts, discussions, and critiques, the

exercise in Davao dubbed “Shapeless Experience, Formal Shapes,” guided participants in narrating personal experiences in fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry formats. The first workshop was held at ADDU on January 12, followed by a literary reading session with Tomlinson and the members of the Davao Writers Guild. The second workshop took place January 14 at UP Mindanao College of Humanities and Social Sciences AVR. The events were organized by the

Davao Writers Guild in cooperation with ADDU Department of Languages and Literature and UP Mindanao Department of Humanities. Davao Writers Guild leaders and UP Mindanao faculty members Prof. Ricardo de Ungria, Prof. Jhoanna CruzDaliling, Prof. Antonino de Veyra, Prof. John Bengan, Inst. Lysette Sandoval, and Dean Maria Araceli Dans-Lee actively participated in the workshops. Tomlinson also discussed prospects for developing an MFA program at UP Mindanao’s Department of Humanities.


8 U.P. News

january 2013

UPD fêtes R&D partners

BIOTECH opens pilot plant

The UP Los Baños National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology As a National University, UP is expected (UPLB-BIOTECH) inaugurated last to perform its role as the leading research November 29 a pilot plant, in conjunction university in the country by producing firstth rate scientific researches and creative works. with the observance of the 8 National However, this herculean task will not be Biotechnology Week. The plant which recently acquired a realized without the continuing assistance and support of research and development (R&D) number of new equipment, was made possible through the support of the partners. As a way of acknowledging and showing Department of Science and Technology gratitude to UPD’s R&D partners in the past (DOST). The new facility was deemed crucial to years, the Office of the Chancellor hosted a Christmas dinner called “Pasasalamat 2012: research and development initiatives of the A Celebration of Research Partnership.” The institute, the university and other public or dinner, held last December 7 at the Balay private institutions. Tsanselor, was also a celebration of long-term The plant has a Fermentation Engineering partnership in R&D pursuits. Service Laboratory (FESL), with its Fêted during the dinner were national building and old equipment rehabilitated agencies namely: Commission on Higher at a cost of P25 million provided by the Education (CHED), Department of Philippine Council for Industry, Energy Agriculture (DA), Department of Energy and Emerging Technology Research and (DOE) and Department of Science and Development (PCIERD) under the DOST. Technology (DOST). According to Dr. Fidel Rey Nayve, CHED’s R&D program with UPD is the Science and Engineering Graduate Scholarship. The grant is for graduate students in the following discipline clusters: engineering, Imee Su Martinez, Ph.D. information technology, mathematics, and A Solid State workshop involving natural and physical sciences. Its ultimate goal intensive lectures on the synthesis, is to create a pool of experts in academic characterization, and properties of inorganic institutions. materials was held from January 14-16 at DA, on the other hand, supports projects the CHEMREZ Seminar Room in the that are in line with the National and Regional New Teaching Building of the Institute of Integrated Research and Development Chemistry (IC), UP Diliman (UPD). Extension (RDE) Agenda and Program. It The workshop was deemed vital to the also provides funding support to researches that address current needs and problems of faculty and students of UPD, particularly tthose involved in solid-state materials the agriculture and fisheries sectors. To lessen the country’s dependence on development research. Prof. Arnold Guloy, a noted professor imported oil and to provide cheaper and in solid-state chemistry, currently graduate environment-friendly alternatives to fossil chair of the Department of Chemistry, fuels, DOE is implementing the long-term University of Houston acted as main Alternative Fuels Program. This program intends to tap the country’s domestic produce resource speaker. Guloy is also a prominent alumnus of as viable sources of indigenous renewable the IC, as well as an adjunct professor of energy, which will be the pillar of our country’s the institute. sustainable growth. Guloy came to Manila courtesy of the DOST is the biggest source of external Visiting Professor Program of the Office of funds for R&D at UPD. Three of its sectoral planning councils, specifically the Philippine Vice-President for Academic Affairs under Council for Industry Energy and Emerging Prof. Gisela Concepcion. Prof. Leon Payawan, academic chair of Technology Research and Development the Inorganic Division of IC, organized the (PCIEERD), the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources workshop, along with Dr. Imee Su Martinez, Research and Development (PCAARD) and a newly hired associate professor of IC, and the Philippine Council for Health Research an alumna of the University of Houston. Participants in the workshop were and Development (PCHRD), along with the National Research Council of the Philippines, faculty, research associates, graduate and which is also associated with the DOST, undergraduate students of IC, National support the R&D programs and projects Institute of Physics, and Material Science implemented by UPD. These projects aim to Engineering Department of the UPD produce patentable inventions with industrial College of Engineering. applications in various fields, in addition to Such exercises provide alternative academic publications and other copyrighted learning experiences for both faculty works. and students in the university, allowing The aggregate level of funding for UPD them to experience lectures coming from R&D increased significantly, Vice Chancellor internationally recognized professors and for Research and Development Dr. Benito M. scientists. Pacheco said. From 2011 to 2012, the reported The students can imbibe not only new programs and projects funded by the Philippine knowledge, but also the manner of delivery government were estimated to total at more of the speakers. In addition, these types than P1 billion or approximately P502 million per year, compared to the 2005 to 2009 total funding which amounted to P595 million or approximately P120 million per year. Pacheco also said that R&D partners internal funding for R&D is made possible,” graciously allowed incorporating the said Pacheco. administrative cost or indirect costing for In 2012, internal funding for R&D projects the R&D activities in the approved budgets. through OVCRD is projected to exceed 21 From 2011 to 2012, the administrative cost million pesos, compared to annual average incorporated to the externally funded projects from 2005 to 2010, which was about 16 million averaged 26 million pesos per year. The pesos, he added. administrative costs for R &D activities are not PCIEERD executive director, Dr. Rowena part of UP’s annual budget for operation. Cristina L. Guevara, who accepted the plaque “By freeing up a part of the administrative of appreciation on behalf of DOST Decretary MOOE and PS for externally funded projects, Mario G. Montejo, said “DOST believes that which is now incorporated in their own indirect UP is the main source of R&D personnel in or administrative budget, increased in the the country, we will continue to support and Albino C. Gamba, UPDIO

BIOTECH-FESL program leader, the pilot plant is crucial in the scale-up production of biotechnology products such as enzymes, microbial inoculants or microbial fertilizers, probiotics, animal vaccines, antibiotics and other products. The plant will translate the technologies developed in the lab into pilot or semicommercial scale. Through this facility, the technologies are fined-tuned and refined while generating reliable data for technology and economic feasibility studies. Revolutionary products can also be produced, Nayve explained. The R&D program proposal on enhancing biotech products and services consisting of eight projects officially started in March 2012. Phase 1 of the biotech pilot plant rehabilitation is now in progress. When completed, five bioreactors would be restored with complete monitoring and control. Other equipment like centrifuges and ultrafilters as well as facilities like

IC holds Solid-State workshop Photo courtesy of Dr. Imee Su Martinez

of activities provide a venue for free exchange of ideas, and fer tile grounds for research and development to thrive. Capping the workshop was a session t o d i s c u s s Guloy graduate studies at the University of Houston, providing information to students, interested to pursue graduate studies abroad. The workshop was made possible through the support IC director Prof. Florian del Mundo, and her staff, as well as a collaboration between Department of Chemistry, University of Houston and the IC. Both institutions have an existing memorandum of agreement (MOA) that provides aa program for a dual doctorate degree in Chemistry from UH and UP. Currently, Guloy together with Prof. Eva Ratilla of IC has two Filipino students under this particular program. This workshop is just one of Guloy’s projects for the IC, in addition to the MOA, which he helped realize. For this year, he is also planning to participate in team-instructions with inorganic professors in the IC to teach solid-state chemistry as a graduate course. This is expected to strengthen solid-state education in the institute, and help enhance the capability of materials development research in the university. *Martinez is an associate professor at the IC, UP Diliman

steam generator, compressed air system, and process water policy would have been upgraded as well. The biotech plant is the only facility in the country that caters not only to the academe and researchers, but also to assist start-up entrepreneurs and other interested parties. The pilot plant is envisioned to help accelerate the advances of biotechnology in the country in order to generate the products and technologies that would benefit a greater number of Filipinos. D r. A m e l i a P. G u e va r a , D O S T U n d e r s e c r e t a r y f o r R & D, l e d t h e inauguration, along with UPLB Chancellor Rex Victor O. Cruz; Dr. Emil Q. Javier, former UP president and first ever director of BIOTECH; Dr. William G. Padolina, president of the National Academy of Science and Technology (DOST-NAST); Dr. Rowena L. Guevera, executive director, PCIERD; and Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, current BIOTECH director. On the same day, BIOTECH also collaborated with PCIERD in hosting the DOST and the Department of Trade and Industry business forum. The BIOTECH technology products/ business opportunities presented included the Brown Magic Roor Inoculant, a biofertilizer for orchids; a Salmonella DAS (DNA Amplification System) Kit, a diagnostic system for use in food, water and animal feeds; BIOVAC HS Oil Vaccine, a vaccine for cows, goats and carabaos against Haemorrhagic Septicemia, a blood poisoning disease; and BIOTECH Rennet, an enzyme preparation that can substitute animal rennet as milk coagulant in cheese making. The 8th National Biotechnology Week’s theme for this year was “Bioteknolohiya para sa Kalikasan, Kagandahan, Kabuhayan, at Kaunlaran. OK ang 5K sa Kalusugang Pangkalahatan: Mamamayan at Kalikasan.” (http://www.uplb.edu.ph/index.php/what-snew/715-biotech-celebrates-nat-l-biotechnologyweek-inagurates-pilot-plant

CFOS holds milkfish processing and business training Lyncen M. Fernandez, UPV-IPO

In keeping with its continuing advocacy for people empowerment, the UP Visayas’ College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) conducted a three-day seminar on milkfish (bangus) processing and entrepreneurship last Dec. 12-13 at the UPV Miagao campus. “This training is in fulfillment of UP’s tripartite function to teach, do research and perform extension services,” said Prof. Leticia Ami, director of the Institute of Fish Processing Technology, UPV CFOS in her opening remarks for the training. After a session on how to prepare a business plan that covered market and product matching, pricing, promotion, and distribution, the participants were asked to draw up and present a draft business plan partner with the University.” for their product. Usec. Loreta G. Ayson of DOE received Sixteen representatives from state the plaque of appreciation, while Dr. Marco colleges and universities, as well as Nemesio E. Montaño and Dr. Henry Ramos government agencies in Western Visayas represented DA and CHED, respectively. attended the training. At the event were UP President Alfredo An overview of government assistance E. Pascual, UPD Chancellor Dr. Caesar A. on business enterprises capped the threeSaloma, UPD and UP System officials and day exercise. UPD faculty members who are recipients of (http://www.upv.edu.ph/upv/index. research grants. php/96-news-and-features/800-milkfish(http://upd.edu.ph/~updinfo/dec12/ processing-and-entrepreneurship-trainingindex14.ht , reprinted with permission from conducted-by-cfos) index14.htm UPDIO)


january 2012

U.P. News 9

UP Mindanao assists Typhoon Pablo victims

UPB prof proposes setting up of Cordillera Studies Center Program for Languages and Literatures

Rene Estremera, UPMin - Office of the Chancellor Photo courtesy of Rene Estremera, UPMin-OC

Ruth Tindaan, UPB

in education. In June 2012, the Department of Education (DepEd) implemented the Mother Tongue Based Multi-Lingual Education Program which mandates the use of children’s native language as medium of instruction in the first three years of elementary school. This shift in language policy was based on a theoretical ground which recognizes that children’s cognitive development is best fostered by a language they understand and use in everyday dealings instead of a language (e.g. English) that is alien to them. This policy maintains that the use of a foreign language in school impedes the children’s comprehension of concepts and their acquisition of academic skills. This new educational policy has created the need for instructional materials that are based on the specific native languages of communities in the country. Unfortunately, the DepEd is still in the process of producing ample and appropriate language-based materials. In the midst of this difficulty in elementary schools, the program can become useful by collaborating with the education department in the development of instructional materials for schools in Northern Luzon. The literary landscape Literature, of course, cannot be separated from language. As a cultural production, literature is a record of thoughts, practices and aspirations of a community. Besides entertaining readers with its aesthetic appeal, literature also heightens the readers’ awareness of certain aspects of life. This program takes an inclusive definition of literature to cover a wide range of literary practices from indigenous cultural forms to contemporary literary practices such as popular culture, media productions, emerging literatures, and other forms including those that have not been traditionally legitimized as literature. Indigenous communities like those in Northern Luzon have oral literature traditions that present views of the social order including desires, restrictions and projections of fear. Many of these traditions, however, have been undervalued or forgotten due to the colonial experience that either or both demonized and erased indigenous culture for colonialist ends. Undeniably, the residual effects of colonial design are prevalent today. An indication of this is the general lack of knowledge and unflattering opinion on cultural literary traditions compared, for instance, to western popular culture. It is therefore part of this program to recuperate buried or submerged indigenous literatures and to strengthen the use of these literatures in the education and socialization of children in Northern Luzon communities. Tempered with awareness of the debilitating effects of mere nostalgic return to origins, this effort may help bring about a consciousness among children that is anchored on or informed by their cultural circumstances, but which also looks beyond cultural boundaries. The program will treat literatures as important links to cultural, national and global identities as it is an effective device for education. Many scholars now, especially those of PAGE

Names of residents are read in preparation for distribution of relief goods.

The men and women of UP Mindanao led by Vice Chancellor for Administration Vicente Calag came out in full force to help extend relief and comfort to the victims of Typhoon Pablo. For starters, they helped repacking relief goods for distribution to the displaced families. The relief goods were stored in the Department of Public Works and Highways depot in Davao City. UPMin relief drive In addition, UPMin and its partners conducted a parallel charity drive by soliciting donations notably of relief goods such as food items, clothing materials, drinking water, and medicines that were distributed in New

Bataan town, the hardest-hit municipality in Compostela Valley province. The relief drive began with the solicitation of donations from partners spearheaded by the UP Mindanao Office of Extension and Community Services (OECS). The donations in kind and in cash amounted to 40 sacks of rice, assorted goods and drinking water. The UPMin delegation left on December 14 for its first stop at the provincial capitol of Compostela Valley, located in the Nabunturan town, to coordinate with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reducation and Management Council command post. The team then proceeded to Barangay Andap, a remote upland community in New PAGE

10►

UPMin signs MOA on disaster science and management Rene Estremera, UPMin - Office of the Chancellor

UP Mindanao has forged a partnership “Regional Disaster Science and Management S&T Capacity Development” with other Mindana-based schools and pertinent government agencies. UPMin Chancellor Gilda Rivero and Prof. Joseph Acosta of the Department of Math, Physics, and Computer Science signed the memorandum of agreement in behalf of their institution. The University of Southeaster n Philippines (USEP) was designated as the lead agency, with Davao del Norte State College (DNSC), Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST), SPAMAST, Department of Science and Technology(DOST)-Region XI, and Office of Civil Defense-Region XI/ Regional Disaster Coordinating Council-XI and UP Min as partners. The one-year project was funded by the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) with P3,708,864 and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with P1,294,000, for a total of P5,002,864,

to be divided among the par tners. The project seeks to strengthen the disaster science regional capacity through state colleges and universities; establish regional and provincial hazard exposure databases; conduct regional and provincial risk assessments; and establish an inventory or database of Disaster RiskReduction (DDR) and Climate ChangeAdaptation (CCA) studies and hazard maps. The expected outputs are a regional and provincial support network of S&T service providers for disaster science and management (DSM); a regional and provincial multi-natural hazard exposure database; a preliminary study of hazard assessment, vulnerability, and capacity; a regional and provincial inventory of DDR and CCA studies, hazard maps, and in-place multi-hazard early warning systems; and a DSM training module and curriculum program. (h t t p : / / w w w. u p m i n . e d u . p h / i n d e x . php?option=com_content&view=article &id=1075:upmin-signs-moa-on-disasterscience-and-management&catid=1&Item id=19) Photo courtesy of Rene Estremera, UPMin-OC

Dr. Purificacion Delima, former dean of the UP Baguio College of Arts and Communication (UPB-CAC), has proposed the creation of a Sentro para sa mga Wika at Kultura that will serve as a research arm of the school. Some colleagues suggested, however, that instead of coming up with a new center for research in language and literature in the college, the proposed function be placed as a program component of the Cordillera Studies Center (CSC). Several faculty members of the CAC discussed and submitted the following program concept to the CSC. Language contexts and trends As pointed out by language scholars, the manner in which speech communities understand the world around them is reflected in language. Each language expresses a unique world view that accounts for a people’s systems of thought, regulations of conduct, modes of movement and means of adaptation and survival. However, these intangible cultural contents in language which reflect the communities’ culture can be lost when communities which underlie them disappear, often under the impact of intrusive, powerful cultures. According to the UNESCO, the past 300 years have seen a dramatic increase in the death and disappearance of languages leading to the situation today in which 3,000 or more languages that are still spoken are endangered, seriously endangered or dying. The Philippines’ Summer Institute of Linguistics identified the following languages in Northern Luzon as examples of endangered languages because of the diminishing number of native speakers (NS). 1. Karao (NS: 1,400; Site: Bokod, Benguet) 2. Kalinga Madukayang (NS: 1,500; Site: Madukayang, Kalinga) 3. Kalinga Upper Tanudan (NS: 3,000; Site: Upper Tanudan, Kalinga) 4. Iwak (NS: 3,261; Site: Itogon, Benguet) 5. Itneg Banao (NS: 3,500; Site: Banao, Abra) 6. Itneg Adasen (NS: 4,000; Site: Adasen, Abra) 7. Finallig (NS: 5,000; Site: Lias, Barlig, Kadaklan, Bontoc) Studies conducted on the causes of the disappearance of languages are not conclusive, but many of these point out that the unequal configurations of power in a globalized world enable certain languages to command prestige and patronage, while others are less utilized or abandoned because of the speakers’ need to cope with economic challenges. The urgent world situation concerning languages in danger of extinction has prompted language scholars and organizations to focus their attention on the protection and preservation of endangered languages. Some areas like Wales and the aboriginal regions of Australia have taken steps to formulate language policies and educational reforms to arrest the loss of entire world views. The program aligns its initiatives with the efforts of individuals and institutions to document, preserve and revitalize languages especially in the Northern Luzon area. In addition to language preservation and revitalization, one other concern with regard to language has to do with its role

Signing on behalf of their respective institutions are (seated, from left) DOSCST President Edito Sumile, DNSC President Jonathan Bayogan, UPMin Chancellor Gilda Rivero, USEP President Perfecto Alibin, and DOST-XI’s Mirasol Domingo. SPAMAST President Irvin Generalao was able to catch up and sign the agreement on behalf of his institution. The project team leader is Prof. 11► Angel de Vera of USEP.


10 U.P. News

january 2013

Katutubong medisina at gawing pangkalusugan ng tribong Palawan, nasa libro na

“Natutuwa akong makaabot sa isang gawain na paggawa ng libro upang ingatan ang maaaring mawalang kultura naming mga Palawan. Mapalad tayong lahat na mga katutubo na inabutan ng ganitong gawain. Isipin natin ang lupa na ginawa

Larawan mula sa UPM-IPPAO

Naiibang yamang dapat panatilihin at itaguyod, ibahagi sa iba, at ipagkapuri. Ito ang katutubong medisina at gawing pangkalusugan ng isang grupo ng katutubo sa Palawan, na tinatawag ding Palawan, na matutunghayan sa isang aklat na pinamagatang Ubat Ne Banar it Palawan: Ethnomedicine of the Palawan People of Mount Domadoway, Palawan, Philippines. Inilunsad noong Disyembre 17, 2012 sa Buenafe Auditorium, Kolehiyo ng Medisina, UP Manila (UPM), ang aklat ay dokumentasyon ng kulturang pamana ng mga katutubo ng Palawan sa kalusugan, sakit, at paghihilom at nagtatampok sa mga halamang gamot na ginagamit ng katutubong komunidad ng Mount Domadoway. Sa kanyang mensahe sa paglulunsad ng aklat, sinabi ni UPM Chancellor Manuel Agulto na matutunghayan dito ang yaman ng kaugalian, paniniwala, kaisipan at pilosopiya ng mga kapatid nating Palawan sa pangangalaga ng kanilang kalusugan at sa panggagamot ng kanilang mga sakit gamit ang mga nasa paligid nilang mga halaman at iba pang handog ng kalikasan. “Salamin po ng mayamang kultura ng pamayanang Palawan ang naidokumentong kaalaman sa aklat na ating ilulunsad ngayon. Gayundin po, sa pangkabuuan, yaman din itong maituturing ng kultura ng ating bansa,” dagdag pa ni Agulto. Higit sa lahat, kinilala ang pagsisikap ng mga Palaweñong maitaguyod ang katutubong medisina sa panahong ito ng umiiral na modernong panggagamot. Sa nasabing programa, dumalo si Tito Mata, pangulo ng Mount Domadoway Foundation, Inc at nirerespetong Palawan. Narito ang bahagi ng mensahe niya sa aklat na binasa rin niya sa paglulunsad:

UP Mindanao assists...

Binabati ninaChancellor Manuel Agulto, Dean Agnes Mejia, at Dr. Isidro Sia si Tito Mata, pangulo ng Domadoway Foundation, Inc. sa pagiging tunay na may akda ng aklat, kasama ng kanyang kapwa katutubong Palawan.

ng Panginoon natin. Iyong Empo na tinatawag natin. Ginawa niya ang lupa na pinanggagalingan ng gamot na banar. Ng ating tubig at pagkain. Ng ating bahay at baro. Lupa na batayan ng ating kultura. Dapat nating ingatan ang lupa. Saan ka kukuha ng gamot kung walang lupa? Ng tubig at pagkain kung walang lupa? Marami ang gamot natin. Hindi lang isang daan. Marami tayong gamot talaga. … Ang kultura at lupa ay dapat ingatan.” Sa mensahe naman ng UP Medical Alumni Society of America (UPMASA)Delaware Valley Chapter, isinaad nilang nakatutulong ang ganitong proyekto sa ating pagkaunawa sa mga katutubong sakit at ang mga pamamaraan sa paggamot nito sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng lokal na halaman at mga herbal na gamot. Dagdag pa nilang mahalagang maidokumento at irespeto ang mga ganitong katutubong gawing pangkalusugan at tradisyon. Sa nasabing programa, pinasamalatan ang lahat ng tao at grupong nagtulung-tulong sa pananaliksik, pagbuo, at paglilimbag para sa aklat: mga mananaliksik mula sa Kolehiyo ng Medisina, Kolehiyo ng Public

Health at National Institutes of Health na kinabibilangan nina Dr. Isidro Sia, Dr. Ma. Sandra Tempongko, Lydia Israel, Maria Gabriela Aparentado, UPMASADelaware Valley Chapter, mga katuwang sa Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), at Haribon Palawan. Higit sa lahat, pinasalamatan at ipinagbunyi ang pangunahing may-akda ng aklat—ang Palawan Community of Mount Domadoway sa pangunguna ni Tito Mata. Kabilang sa mga dumalo sa paglulunsad sina Dekana Agnes Mejia ng Kolehiyo ng Medisina, Direktor-Heneral Dr. Jovencio Ordońa ng PITAHC, Dr. Emmanuel Besa at iba pang mga kasama sa UPMASA, at iba pang mga opisyal, guro, at kawani ng UPM.

sining, ay dinakip ng AFP sa Leyte habang nagsasagawa ng pananaliksik sa tunay na kalagayan ng mga magsasaka sa nasabing lugar. Pinagbintangan siya ng gawa-gawang kaso kasama na ang diumano ay pag-iingat ng baril at pampasabog. Napiit siya sa Kalbayog Provincial Jail ng dalawang taon. Nagkaroon ang ilang kasapi ng Unyon ng pagkakataong dalawin siya sa nasabing piitan nitong nakaraang taon. Sa tindi ng pagnanasa na makadalaw ng ilang opisyal at kasapi ng AUPWU ay hindi naging hadlang ang kawalan ng pondo. Nagambagan ang mga ito ng tig-P1,500.00 upang makalikom ng sapat na halaga na gagamitin sa transportation at iba pang pangangailangan. Isang kahanga-hangang dedikasyon ang kanilang ipinamalas. Ang nasabing pagdalaw ay pinamunuan ni Clodualdo “Buboy” Cabrera na dating Staff Regent at kasakuyang Executive Vice President ng AUPWU. Diliman Council at UPLB Council naglunsad ng Strategic Planning Sabay na nagdaos ng Strategic Planning ang UP Diliman Council at UP Los Baños para sa darating na tatlong taon. Ang stratehikong pagpaplano ay tumagal ng mahigit na dalawang araw. Nakapaloob dito ang mga programa

ng unibersidad partikular na ang mga gawaing pang-edukasyon at mga isyu na my kaugnayan sa mga kawani at makabayang Pilipino. Kasama rin dito ang pagsasanay sa mga bagong kasapi ng unyun para maging susunod na mga lider. Matatandaan na naging masigasig ang UPLB at Diliman sa sunud -sunod na paglulunsad ng pag-aaral gaya ng Militante, Progresibo at Makabayang Unyonismo (MPMU), Unyon at Bayan at Leadership Training. Kasama rin sa mga pagsasanay sa ilang piling miyembro ang Instructor’s Training , Writer’s Workshop, at Lakbay Aral (Basic Mass Integration) na isinasagawa nang halos tatlong beses isang taon. Ang Strategic Planning ay idinaos nitong nakaraang Enero 25, 26 at 27 ng taong kasalukuyan. Samantala, dalawa lamang ang nagharap ng kandidatura kaugnay ng pagpili ng 3rd staff Regent. Batay sa pinakahuling pahayag ng staff regent selection committee, ang dalawang kandidato ay sina Bb. Rara Ramirez ng UP Iloilo at Bb. Talaltala ng UPLB. Dahil dito ay posibleng hindi na magkaroon ng 1st round CU’s level selection na gaganapin sa Pebrero 12, 2013, samantalang ang System-wide selection naman ay gaganapin sa Marso

Para makabili ng aklat, maaaring makipag-ugnayan sa UP Medical Alumni Fund, Inc. na may teleponong 526-4255 or sa Opisina ng Dekana ng Kolehiyo ng Medisina, 526-4170, may email na dean-cm@post.upm.edu.ph. (Cynthia M. Villamor/IPPAO-UP Manila)

◄PAGE 9

Bataan, where it handed out more relief goods Majority of the barangay residents were reportedly from the Mandaya and Mansaka indigenous communities. The tribes descended from the mountains in search of assistance for their suffering families. The medicines were donated to the evacuation center under the supervision of professional health workers. The UPMin field team was composed of OECS Director Genevieve JorolanQuintero, OECS staff member Diocy Cloribel-Guilabtan, REPS Salome Sendrejas, and alumnus Ram Botero. Second truckload UPMin delivered a second truckload of relief goods to Typhoon Pablo-stricken towns in Compostela Valley province. This time the relief goods were delivered to the Municipality of Laak, where UP Mindanao’s Land Reservation is located. UP Mindanao’s core team was composed of the OECS staff led by Quintero, and staff members and REPS, former Gurong Pahinungod volunteers Michelle Panis and Michael Gatela, using a truck provided by Barangay Mintal. The team coordinated with Laak Mayor Reynaldo Navarro, a UP Los Baños alumnus. The team went directly to Barangay Kidawa, at the heart of the 2,800-hectare Laak-Veruela Land Reservation. According to Navarro, the area had been the “fruit basket” of the region with extensive acreage devoted to fruits, bananas, coconut, and palm oil. Now, a quick glance will reveal the extent of the flattened landscape. The team made its base camp in Bgy. Kidawa, where the high school initiated by UP’s Gurong Pahinungod program has been renamed Kidawa National High School. Two former Pahinungod volunteers are still connected the school. Donations came from inside and outside UP Mindanao, including other UP campuses and alumni chapters.

Balitang Unyon ◄PAGE 11

kilos protesta ay nilahukan ng Unyon mula sa UP Manila sa pamumuno ni Benjamin Santos, pangulo ng All UP Workers Union Manila Chapter, at ng UP Diliman komyuniti kasama si Arnulfo Anoos na dating pambansang tagapangulo at kasalukuyang Board of Directors ng nasabing AUPWU. Ang patuloy na pagsaspribado ng mga pampublikong ospital na siyang takbuhan ng ating mga kababayang walang kakayahang magpagamot ay mistulang pagpinid ng pintuan ng pag-asa ng lunas sa mga karamdaman. “Pagpako ito sa kabaong ng tiyak na kamatayan,” ayon sa pahayag ni G. Anoos. Ericson Acosta, malaya na S a wa k a s ay n a g d e s i s yo n a n g Department of Justice nitong nakaraang linggo lamang na dapat nang palayain ang bilanggong pulitikal na si Ericson Acosta, dahil sa kawalan ng “probable cause” sa kanyang kaso. Konsistent na nagpakita ng suporta ang mga kasapi ng unyon sa lahat ng yugto ng kaso ni G. Acosta. Ang isa sa isinagawang pagkilos ay may kinalaman sa pagdinig sa kanyang kaso na naganap sa DOJ nitong nakaraang buwan ng Enero. Si Ericson Acosta, na dating estudyante ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, at isang magaling na manunulat, makata , at alagad ng

19, 2013. Rice Subsidy, may Pondo na Magandang balita para sa lahat ng miyembro ng All UP Workers Employees Union (AUPWU). Aprobado na ang pagpapalabas ng pondo para sa una at ikalawang Rice Subsidy. Ito ay naganap sa pulong ng Board of Regents (BOR) nung nakaraang Enero 24. Sa liham na ipinadala ng AUPWU sa pagbubukas ng opisina makaraan ang Bagong Taon, apat na sakong bigas ang hiningi ng union. Hiniling din ng unyon sa komite na itakda na ang pulong para sa preprocurement conference sa darating na buwan ng Marso o Abril upang mapabilis ang proseso sa bidding kaugnay pa rin ng rice subsidy. Ang buwan ng Marso at Abril ay panahon ng anihan ng palay kung kaya inaasahan na mas mababa ang halaga ng bigas. Nananatiling P1,500.00 ang presyo ng isang sako ng bigas. Minabuti na rin ng unyon at ng administrasyon na sabaynang isagawa ang bidding para sa dalawang sako upang makatipid ng salapi para sa naturang benepisyo.


january 2012

U.P. News 11

Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo

Asian Studies, a peer-reviewed journal by the AsianCenter of UPDiliman (UPD), recently published Islam and Philippine Society: The Writings of Cesar AdibMajul AdibMajul, a double issue commemorating one of the most brilliant minds in Philippine intellectual history. This volume reprints ten of Dr. Majul’s articles published in previous issues of Asian Studies over the past five decades. Released as a retrospective issue, it contains five articles on Islam and Muslims in the Philippines, and another five on Filipino nationalism and the Philippine Reform Movement. These include “The Role of Islam in the History of the Filipino People” (1966); “Islam in the Philippines and its China Link” (1999); “Social Background of Revolution” (1971); and “Principales, Ilustrados, Intellectuals and the Original Concept of a Filipino National Community” (1977). In his introduction, JulkipliWadi, dean of UPD’sInstitute of Islamic Studies, writes that the republication of Majul’s articles comes “auspiciously” after the signing of a Framework Agreement between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. They offer a rich “historical canvas that can help determine the context and possible trajectories of the Framework’s vision of peace.” Moreover, the republication pays tribute to Dr. Majul’s seminal contribution to Philippine scholarship. He authored several books and penned numerous articles in reputable publications. This voluminous body of work spans five decades, and covers groundbreaking studies in Philippine history, the sociopolitical thought of ApolinarioMabini, and the history of Islam and Muslims in the Philippines. Educated in Cor nellUniversity, Majul occupied various academic and administrative positions in UP from the late 1940s to the late 1970s. He was once dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, which incorporated the now separate College of Arts and Letters, the College of Science, and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. He passed away in October 2003.

A Bulatlat scribe and a Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) reporter bagged 1st Chit Estella Journalism Awards last December 7 in rites held at the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication. Ina Alleco Silverio of Bulatlat.com won in the online media category for her stories, “Three months after Sendong, Iligan residents still far from rebuilding their lives” and “In Makati, the poor of Guatemala street know nothing about the city’s wealth.” On the other hand, Elizabeth Lolarga Silverio ruled in the print media category for her article “356 political prisoners go on hunger strike.” Each winner received a trophy and a P10,000 prize. Finalists in both categories received certificates prior to the announcement of the winners. Joining Silverio as finalists in the online media category were fellow Bulatlat.com reporters Ronalyn Olea for “Jonas Burgos, gentle and brave,” and Anne Marxze Umil for her “Privatization of government hospitals, further marginalizing the poor in the name of profit” and “K+12, worsening shortages to greet school opening.” Lolarga’s colleagues at the PDI, Tonette

Majul was an intellectual “giant,” says Asian Studies editor in chief, Eduardo C. Tadem, Ph.D. “We came out with this issue to allow veteran academics to look back at and reassess the significance of Dean Majul’s writings, perhaps with the benefit of hindsight. We also wanted to introduce new generations of scholars to his work, which is arguably unparalleled and relevant as ever.” To get a hard copy of Islam and Philippine Society: The Writings of Cesar AdibMajul AdibMajul, visit Room 205 of the AsianCenter, GTToyotaBuilding, Magsaysay cor. Guerrero Sts., University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. The price is P300. Enrolled UP students get 30% off. A free online version will be available for download by April 2013. For inquiries, email upasianstudies@gmail.com or call (02) 981.8500 local 3586. (UP Asian Center)

Call for papers: Asian Studies Asian Studies, a peer-reviewed journal published twice a year by the Asian Center, UP Diliman, is looking for original contributions in the form of research articles (social sciences, humanities, and/ or culture), commentaries and documents, reviews (books, films, events, music, emedia, etc.), poetry and short fiction, and travel narratives. Consult the guidelines for content and submissions at http://journals.upd.edu. ph/index.php/asj. Send manuscripts to the editor in chief at upasianstudies@gmail. com. The journal welcomes submissions all year round. One of the pioneering journals of its kind in Asia, Asian Studies offers a critical and multidisciplinary forum where scholars, practitioners, researchers, and activists on Asia can dissect various issues that impact Asian societies and their peoples. Since 1965, the journal has published the works of (now) renowned scholars, both foreign and Filipino, including Cesar AdibMajul, Juan Francisco, Benedict

Prof. Raul Pangalangan, PDI publisher, receives a certificate on behalf of finalists from PDI. The award-giving body was represented by Prof. Roland Simbulan, President Alfredo Pascual, and CMC Dean Roland Tolentino.

Orejas and Julie Alipala, were also finalists in the print media category. Orejas’ entry was titled “Kin of ‘desaparecidos’ keep up fight,” while Alipala sent in “In Sulu, human rights work starts with letting the people know.” After the awarding ceremony, journalist, human rights activist, and former Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Satur Ocampo delivered a memorial lecture Ocampo discussed how human rights violations persisted since the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. In relation to journalism, he said independent publications flourished because of the antidictatorship movement that exposed and criticized human rights violations during the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos. Ocampo explained that human rights violations are “systemic and systematic,” and have evolved through time with organized struggles for self-determination against the Spanish and American colonizers, the ongoing neocolonial conditions, agrarian reform conflicts, and unjust social, economic, and political structures. He talked about how leaders of indigenous peoples groups have been persecuted because of their resistance to large-scale mining and logging activities, often by foreign companies, in ancestral domains and properties. Ocampo related human rights violations to existing counter-insurgency tactics adopted from the US Army’s strategies in Iraq and Afghanistan—the shift from “winning the war” to achieving peace by “winning over the hearts and minds of the people.” According to Ocampo, the present administration under President Benigno

Kerkvliet, Nicholas Tarling, David Sturtevant, Norman Owen, and James Scott. The journal has recently undergone a new organizational set-up. Heading the eight-member editorial board is editor in chief, Eduardo C. Tadem, Ph.D. ◄PAGE 9 The advisory board, which consists of the post-structuralist school, argue that the twenty-four scholars with diverse research literatures of communities, in fact, may be interests, includes Benedict Anderson taken as historical records, not just products (CornellUniversity), Benedict Kerkvliet of the imagination. As an alter native to traditional (AustralianNationalUniversity). Patricio historiography, a bottom-up approach to the Abinales (University of Hawaii at Manoa), writing of history then values the records MelaniBudianta (University of Indonesia), Caroline Hau (Kyoto University), and insights contained in literature. For KinhideMushakoji (Osaka University), this reason, the close study of these artistic VediHadiz (Murdoch University), Armado productions becomes very important in Malay, Jr. (University of the Philippines), accounting for what may have been missed Lau Kin Chi (Lingnan University), and or deleted in official histories. Concerns in contemporary literary Michael Pinches (University of Western productions are interesting because of Australia). For inquiries, call the editorial office of the complications posed by contemporary Asian Studies at 63.2.981.8500 local 3586 or circumstances. For example, many younger generations email upasianstudies@gmail.com. Visit the journal website http://journals.upd.edu. of writers in the regions engage in issues of cultural hybridity as a result of mixed ph/index.php/asj. (UP Asian Center)

Aquino III has merged the Philippine’s counter-insurgency program with the peace process in Mindanao—a combination of peace negotiations and field operations. He pointed out that all military operations must uphold human rights. Ocampo also said the doctrine of command responsibility must be instituted, and that judicial reforms would address this need. He stressed that commanding officers must be held accountable for human rights violations committed by their subordinates. Command responsibility, he said, could even go all the way up to the President, as he is the Commander-inChief of the Philippine military. Human Rights Commissioner Coco Quisumbing dropped by the event and advised aspiring journalists to do research and contextualize their reports. She also told students of Journalism that there is a “big burden in becoming a good journalist” and that there is no excuse for “inaccuracy, carelessness, hyperbole, and just plain lying.” Prof. Roland Simbulan, husband of Chit Estella, delivered the closing remarks. He recounted how the awards and memorial lecture were conceptualized a few months after his wife was killed in a vehicular accident along Commonwealth Avenue on May 13, 2011. The Chit Estella Journalism Awards and Memorial Lecture were meant to keep her ideals of excellent and principled journalism alive. Simbulan explained that the issue of human rights was very important to his wife and that it was only fitting that they hold the event around the celebration of the International Day for Human Rights every 10th of December.

UPB prof proposes ...

parentage and mobile lifestyle, displacement from cultural roots as a consequence of increased movement to urban areas or migration to foreign countries and an unnatural order of cultural rearing where children discover and learn about their culture in academic settings rather than in the home. Because contemporar y literar y productions attempt to make sense of these conditions, the resulting body of work is a gold mine for explorations in diverse styles, innovations, experimentations and problems. Though the program will encourage the production of regional literature as a form of cultural identity formation, this will be done in the spirit of enriching rather than rejecting Filipino national literature.

Photo by Misael Bacani

Asian Studies PDI, Bulatlat reporters win 1st Chit Estella launches Journalism Awards commemorative Majul issue


january 2013

DZUP people went around UP Diliman giving away radio sets and other valuables free of charge, in celebration of the station’s 55th anniversary on November 26 to December 11, 2012. Many other events marked the twoweek long celebration under the network’s banner “Kasali Ka!” DZUP, a member of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, is the official radio station of UP Diliman. It is an alternative educational radio station in the country, which has been on and off the air since 1957. Its colorful history included being a rebel radio station during martial law, which led to its closure by the military. In 1987, DZUP was transferred from then Institute of Mass Communication to its present “home”—the Broadcast Communication Department of the College of Mass Communication (CMC). The station was “revitalized” in February 2010, and now airs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday. Currently, it has 34 programs hosted by UP deans, professors, and students. DZUP 1602 kHz is heard all over Metro Manila, Pampanga, Cavite, Bulacan,

U.P. NEWS JANUARY 2013

DZUP celebrates 55 years By Robelyn Bañez, Maria Zain Gapit, Ruiel John Valencia and Criz Lanzaderas

Photo courtesy of DZUP

12 U.P. News

At the DZUP@55 roving celebration at the College of Architecture, 2011 Miss Universe 3rd Runner UP and UP College Architecture alumna Shamcey Supsup co-hosts the event with DZUP Promotions Assistant RJ Valencia.

and Laguna. The network can be accessed worldwide through online streaming at www.dzup.org. Its tagline “Kasali Ka” indicates that DZUP is not only for the UP community but also for everyone who actively participates in a “Matinong Usapan para sa Maunlad na Bayan” through its programming Owing to the quality of its programs, the new DZUP has gained awards from the Philippine media industry such as the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Golden Dove Awards and Catholic Mass Media Awards in just less than a year after its 2010 relaunch. The anniversary celebration had the support of the Offices of UP president Alfredo E. Pascual, UP Diliman chancellor Caesar C. Saloma, and UP Manila chancellor Manuel B. Agulto and private companies such as Manila Bulletin, Roche (Philippines), Maynilad Water Services, Inc., Manila Electric Company, SMART Communications, Inc., Unilever Philippines, and Data Recovery Center and media partners ClickTheCity.com, WheninManila. com, and Business World. —With report from DZUP Marketing Team

CBA alumnus is new AFP chief of staff (With a report by Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)

Hail to the newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of Staff, General Emmanuel Bautista, an alumnus of the UP College of Business Administration (CBA). Bautista took over the AFP top post from retired Gen. Jessie Dellosa in simple rites at the AFP general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City last January 17. In a remarkable display of leadership by example, the turnover of command was shorn of pomp and pageantry. The motorized contingent and sky diving exhibition were scrapped along with the assets and capability demonstration. And unlike in previous AFP anniversary celebration and change of command ceremonies, the traditional participation of from the Philippine Military Academy and Officers Candidate School cadets was

also absent from the event. Dellosa held the AFP’s top post for more than a year since assuming office on December 12, 2011. He reached his mandatory retirement age last January 20. Previous to his new appointment as the 44th AFP chief of staff, Bautista was commanding general of the Philippine Army. He also served as Commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. “I can only repay this trust and confidence by devoting the remaining days of my career in the service to our people and the performance of the AFP’s mandate,” Bautista said in a statement. Bautista was a graduate of the PMA’s “Dimalupig” Class of 1981. He completed his Masters in Business Administration at the UP Diliman, Quezon City, in 1985.

(Based on http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/localnews/2013/01/16/simpler-afp-change-command-ritesset-263201)

Girls rule Philippine Sudoku championships anew Jerry Esplanada,

Philippine Daily Inquirer

U.P. NEWS J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III Editor in Chief DANTE VELASCO Editorial Consultant JOSE WENDELL P. CAPILI Issue Editor JO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC Managing Editor ARBEEN ACUÑA, STEPHANIE CABIGAO, FRED DABU, ANDRE ENCARNACION, CELESTE ANN CASTILLO LLANETA, JO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC, KIM QUILINGUING, ARLYN VCD P. ROMUALDO Writers BONG ARBOLEDA, MISAEL BACANI, JONATHAN MADRID Photographers OBET EUGENIO Editorial Assistant TOM MAGLAYA Circulation The U.P. NEWS is a monthly publication of the UP System Information Office, Office of the Vice-President for Public Affairs. We welcome contributions from the faculty, non-academic staff, REPS and students. Please send your contributions to: THE EDITOR U.P. News Mezzanine Floor, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City 926-1572, 436-7537 e-mail: upnewsletter@up.edu.ph upsio@up.edu.ph

For the second year in a row, girls ruled the annual Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge (PSSC) championships. Kaye Janelle Yao, a junior high school student of the Grace Christian College in Quezon City, is the country’s new Sudoku champion. Yao, 15, and a mainstay of the national mathematics team, topped the finals of the 7th PSSC Grandmaster Division, held last January 27 at the SM CityNorth Edsa mall, also in Quezon City. Alvin Ian Chan, 18, from the Ateneo de Manila University and Ralph Joshua Sarrosa, 20, from the UP Visayas in Miag-ao, Iloilo, placed second and third, respectively. Both are BS Applied Mathematics students. Aside from trophies, Yao, Chan and Sarrosa also took home cash prizes of P60,000, P40,000 and P20,000, respectively. In the competition’s Wizard Division, Candice Renee Beatrice Solidarios from the UP Rural High School in Los Baños, Laguna, placed first. The 12-year-old high school freshman won P50,000 and a trophy. Natalia Beatrice Dy from St. John’s Institute in Bacolod City and Mike Paul Ayroso from Grace Christian College took the

second and third places. They won trophies and P30,000 and P20,000, respectively. In the Whiz Kid Division, Sanielle Meliz Ong, also from St. John’s Institute, emerged champion. She was followed by Vicente Raphael Chan from Zamboanga Chong Hua High School in Zamboanga City and Jan Vincent Simbol from the BHC Educational Institution in San Fernando, La Union. Aside from trophies, they won P20,000, P10,000 and P5,000, respectively. A total of 176 students, all winners in the PSSC regional contests, which saw over 5,200 participants, competed in the finals, according to Dr. Simon Chua, president of the non-government Mathematics Trainers’ Guild, which cosponsored the competition with SM Malls. This year’s PSSC winners will represent the country in any of the following international competitions: 2013 World Sudoku Championship in Beijing; 2013 Brand’s Sudoku Asia-Pacific Open in Singapore; and the 7th Brand’s Sudoku Thailand International Open and Princess Somsawali Cup in Thailand. (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/349865/girls-rulew w) philippine-sudoku-championships-anew)


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.