Serve the people and country – the UP battle cry has been very much inculcated in UP alumna Francis Lyn Malalis, who, in her college years ten years ago, started being a scholar for others. 

After her classes, she would tutor kids in the community together with her fraternity brothers and sorority sisters. They would also go into far-flung areas and would walk a narrow terrain for almost 2 hours just to reach out to indigenous communities. They would provide support for their livelihood, feed the kids, and send kids to school through a scholarship program that their organization initiated.

"It's so humbling to be part of initiatives bigger than myself. If we just look around and realize how much we can be of help to others, the world becomes a better place in small ways. Small, yes, but we're still making a difference."

It is in the same aim that she narrated her adulting story and gathered similar stories of her friends and brilliant individuals to guide fellow millennials and younger generations in transitioning to the workforce – hence, The Millennial Black Box.

"Infused with insights and tactical advice, Francis decrypts valuable lessons about the future most people wish they had drawn when they were young," this is the book review of Zeel Patel and Eric Lin, co-presidents of Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations Conference (HPAIR) and computer scientists at Harvard University.

Among the 10 contributors of the book is the famed child prodigy of their generation, Mikaela Fudolig, who graduated from UP Diliman with a degree in physics at 16 years old. She graduated class valedictorian and summa cum laude with 1.099 GWA.

Other contributors also graduated from UP and other reputable universities.

From UP Manila: Anjelica Izabelle Napala, earned her Master in Public Health with 1.46 GWA 

From UP Mindanao: Glenn Pelayre, graduated with a degree in architecture and received thesis with distinction award; Ariesha Faith Dimaano, graduated with a degree in communication arts, cum laude and received thesis with distinction award; and Jenna Mae San Luis, completed her master's in management degree.

From UP Diliman: Jeff Windell Tan, took up business administration and accountancy, manga cum laude; and Theo Lozada, finished with a degree in film

From UP Visayas: Azie Marie Libanan, graduated cum laude with a degree in psychology and also completed her master's degree in public management from UP Open University. Other contributors: Jorisse Gumanay, graduated from Cebu Normal University with 1.0 GPA in MA Literature and magna cum laude, top 1 in her undergraduate degree in English literature;  and April Rose Cañete, graduated cum laude from Western Mindanao State University with a degree in BA English. "To our readers, this was the book that we never had. And now, we're giving it to you. It is our hope that you dream on despite unfavorable circumstances," Francis said.
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Francis is now a national corporate leader. She's experienced in recruitment, training, management, marketing, and communications. She graduated with a degree in BA Communication Arts from UP Mindanao as college valedictorian, cum laude, and with the second-highest CWAG (cumulative weighted average grade) of the class. She earned her master's degree in Public Management from UP Open University in Los Baños, Laguna with GWA equivalent to undergrad cum laude. Last year, she was accepted to the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations Conference (HPAIR) and to the UP College of Law.
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The book is now up for pre-order and will be available soon on Amazon and other retail channels!
Pre-order the book now and win exciting prizes: https://bit.ly/3MaICFd!

Visit their accounts for more info and inquiries:
Facebook: The Millennial Black Box
IG: tmbb_2022
Email:

The Autonomous Societally Inspired Mission Oriented Vehicles (ASIMOV) Program, through the Harmonized Aerial Watch Knowledge-based Survey (HAWKS) Project, received one FLIR Vue Pro thermal camera from Davao UAS Photography in a turnover ceremony conducted on December 15, 2021. The thermal camera and data recorder with 640 x 480 resolution, 9-hertz refresh rate, and 19-millimeter lens have a market price of 3,649 USD, which translates to around 250,000 PHP or greater if procured through the usual government process. The imaging device would help expand the operational horizon of the ASIMOV Program and will be used by the HAWKS Project towards the development of subsystems for pertinent life-saving applications, such as those for search-and-rescue missions in the aftermath of disasters. 

Mr. Joseph Tjader P. Regis, President of Davao UAS Photography, said “I’m really very excited with where this [direction of the ASIMOV and SkAI-Pinas Programs] is going and I’d like you to know that you have my full support. We are very happy to be a part of this in whatever way. ”

Dr. Karen Joyce G. Cayamanda, Vice-Chancellor for Administration, who represented UP Mindanao Chancellor Dr. Larry N. Digal in the event, expressed the University’s gratitude to the donors. 

“We are grateful for this support and the donation is just one way of telling us they will be supportive of this project. Congratulations, Prof. Rubrico and the team, and of course thank you to our donors and to their expression of support for the program,” she said.

Davao UAS Photography received a Plaque of Appreciation under the name of Ms. Maria Cristina Regis, the Proprietor, for supporting the AI & Robotics research endeavors of UP Mindanao through the ASIMOV-HAWKS Project. Mr. Joseph Tjader P. Regis and Mr. Reginald Alfred P. Braceros received Certificates of Appreciation with the same citation.

Prof. Jose Ildefonso U. Rubrico, Ph.D., ASIMOV Program & HAWKS Project Leader, also expressed his thanks and appreciation to the donors for their donation, as well as to the project team and the University for their efforts and support. 

After the ceremony, both parties discussed possible future collaborations and partnerships.