Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann

(left-right) PSC Mindanao Coordinator Noli Ayo, PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann, UPMin Chancellor Lyre Murao, PSC chief of staff Nino Urquiaga

seated clockwise from top left: Asst. Prof. Abarca, Inst. Camia, Coach Ayo, Chairman Bachmann, Chancellor Murao, Chief Urquiaga, Asst. Prof. Protacio

Chairperson Abarca, Vice-Chancellor Estana, Chairman Bachmann, Chancellor Murao, Coach Ayo, Instructor Camia, Director Protacio

The UP Mindanao administration welcomed Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard E. Bachmann at the UP Mindanao-Davao City Sports Complex on January 20, 2024. 

They discussed the proposed Isports Scholar Program for UP Mindanao students and the goal of the PSC to expand its reach to the BARMM, the Caraga region, and the Indigenous People's communities through various programs.

The PSC Chairman also pledged support for House Bill 6143, “The Mindanao Sports Development Training and Research Institute,” and the creation of the UP Mindanao College of Sports and Human Movement Sciences.

The PSC Chairman was accompanied by Coach Noli Ayo, PSC Coordinator for Mindanao, and the Chairmain's Chief of Staff Niño Deo R. Urquiaga, and was received by UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao, Vice Chancellor for Administration Asst. Prof. Leo Estaña, Department of Human Kinetics Chairperson Asst. Prof. Jezreel M. Abarca, Varsity Coordinator Ms. Cherry Ann C. Camia, Extension Director Asst. Prof. Erwin E. Protacio, and Ar. Modesto Tolentino.

The collaboration between UPMin and the PSC addresses the Sustainable Development Goal #3 on Good Health and Wellbeing, and SDG #4 on Quality Education. 

Dean Jhoanna Cruz and Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao

AL Navarro NHS Principal Randy Alonzo and Coordinator Raph Pehid

Chancellor Murao, Vice Chancellor Estana, Dean Cruz, Director Protacio, Chair Abarca, Principal Alonzo, Coordinator Pehid at the Stadium Office

Director Protacio, Coordinator Pehid, Vice Chancellor Estana, Chancellor Murao, Principal Alonzo, Dean Cruz, and Chair Abarca at the Football Field

Officials of UP Mindanao and the Alejandra L. Navarro National High School (AL Navarro NHS) signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the Implementation of the Sports Track Program in AL Navarro NHS. UPMin Chancellor Prof. Lyre Anni Murao, Vice Chancellor for Administration Asst. Prof. Leo Estaña, AL Navarro School Principal Mr. Randy B. Alonzo, and AL Navarro Adopt-a-School Moderator Mr. Raph B. Pehid signed the MOA at the DC-UP Sports Complex Football Stadium on January 5, 2024. College of Humanities & Social Sciences Dean Prof. Jhoanna B. Cruz, Office of Extension and Community Service Director Asst. Prof. Erwin E. Protacio, and Department of Human Kinetics Chairperson Asst. Prof. Jezreel M. Abarca served as witnesses to the agreement. The MOA with AL Navarro is envisioned to contribute to the Mindanao Sports Development Program by training sports specialists from high school to college and subsequent career opportunities, through the Davao City-UP Sports Complex housed in the UPMin campus. This is UPMin's second Sports Track MOA, following one between UP Mindanao and Calinan National High School signed on October 20, 2023,

Associate Professor Dennis John F. Sumaylo (Department of Humanities) shared photos from the highlights of his book launch for the book "Engaging Isolated Communities in Disaster Preparation and Communication in the Philippines," held at the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne, Australia, on December 6, 2023. 

Prof. Sumaylo took his PhD in Media and Communication at the RMIT University in Australia. In UP Mindanao, he teaches Crisis Communication, Communication Planning, Business Communication, Research in Communication, Voice and Diction, and Theater Communication. He is also a Resource Person for workshops in Communication Planning, Crisis Communication, Technical Writing, Theater, Journalism, Documentary Photography. He does consultancy work as Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist.

Chancellor Lyre Murao receives the Blaan representatives, and Prof. Quintero's book

The Blaan representatives receive their ceremonial copies

Prof. Quintero shares highlights form the books

The Blaans and the UPMin faculty

The creative writing atudents

Prof. Quintero signs students' copies

Blaan indigenous peoples' representatives received 100 copies of two new books on the indigenous peoples' literature from Associate Professor Genevieve Jorolan-Quintero (Department of Humanities) in the book launch held at the UP Mindanao University Library on December 5, 2023.  

Kag. Manuel Gullava, the Indigenous Peoples' Mandated Representative of Brgy. Pag-asa, Mlang, North Cotabato, welcomed the donation as a timely gift for the barangay fiesta to be celebrated the following day.

The books are "Saftuk, Lingen, Katbut (Riddles, Songs, Stories) of the Blaan of Brgy. Pag-asa, Mlang, North Cotabato," and "When Gods Cry," short stories adapted from indigenous peoples' oral literary tradition, both by Prof. Jorolan-Quintero. The book publications were sponsored by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.  

Writer and College of Humanities & Social Sciences Dean Jhoanna Lynn Cruz, Humanities department chairperson Asst. Prof. Dennis John Sumaylo,  fictionist Assoc. Prof. John Bengan, and University Librarian Briccio Merced Jr. gave personal messages at the ceremony.

Prof. Jorolan-Quintero shared highlights of her experiences in the years researching and writing the books. Creative writing and other students and faculty representatives from the academic departments attended the event.