Speech of UP President Atty. Danilo L. Concepcion at the 44th Regional Alumni Institute

Senator Zubiri, the representative of Mayor Sara, Vice-Consul of the Peoples Republic of China, Regent Laserna, who is also the incumbent president of the UP Alumni Association, Regent Angelo Jimenez, who was also my former student, former chancellor Rey Velasco of UPLB who is also here, former chancellor Sylvia Concepcion, BOI governor Napoleon Concepcion, who is also an alumnus, Chancellor Larry Digal and officials of UP Mindanao, officials of the UP Alumni Association and UP Alumni Association in Mindanao, UP Mindanao Foundation president and Regional Alumni Institute chair Atty. Marie Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, UP Mindanao vice-chair Mr. John Gaisano Jr, UP Mindanao Foundation chairman of the board Mr. Sebastian Angliongto, higit sa lahat ang aking, pong, butihing kabiyak Atty. Gaby Concepcion, nag-absent, po, siya sa Unang Hirit just to be with us, sa ating mga kasama sa university, mga alumni, mga kaibigan, magandang hapon, po, sa inyong lahat.

Ako ay lubusang nagagalak na tayo ay nagtitipon-tipon. Tayong lahat ay nagmamahal at nagmamalasakit sa UP, nagmamahal and nagmamalasakit sa Mindanao. Kung ang UP ay para sa bayan, bakit wala ang UP dito sa Mindanao kung saan may matinding kahirapan? Ito ang tanong ng ating mga alumni sa Mindanao noong dekada nobenta. Ito rin ang simula ng kanilang pagpagpapamalas ng pagmamahal at pag mamalasakit sa Mindanao. Mahalaga para sa kanila ang kahalagahan ng isang UP campus dito para maibsan kung hindi man tunay na mabawi ang kahirapan sa rehiyon. Tulung-tulong na nagkampanya ang ating mga alumni at mga mambabatas noon para isulong ang pagtatatag ng UP campus sa Mindanao. Bukod dito, nangalap din sila ng pondo para maitayo ang UP Mindanao Foundation na unang naglalayon na hikayatin ang UP faculty mula sa iba’t-ibang mga kampus na magturo dito sa UP Mindanao; nagbibigay na rin ng tulong pinansiyal sa ating mga mahihirap nga magaaral. Para sa lahat na bumubuo ng UP Mindanao Foundation kasama ang UP Alumni Association Davao Chapter na nag organisa ng ating pagpupulong o pagtitipon ngayon, tanggapin, po, ninyo ang aking taos-pusong pasasalamat.

Tunay na malayo na ang narating ng UP Mindanao. Itong nakaraang buwan lamang ay pinasinayaan natin ang Philippine Genome Center Mindanao Satellite Facility. Sa tulong ng DOST at Monde Nissin may bagong equipment ang UP Mindanao Fermentation and Purification Laboratory na nagkakahalaga ng 12 milyong piso. Umani ng mga parangal ang mga propesor at magaaral ng UP Mindanao sa ika-siyam na health research and development expo.
Nagtamo ng 100% passing ang ating BS Food Technology nang pumasa lahat ng ating mga graduates na kumuha ng chemical technician licensure exam.
Marami pa, po, ang nasa aking listahan ng mga nagawa at naabot ng UP Mindanao; mula sa mga international conference at seminar, workshops ng mga departamento, mga libro at paglalathala ng ating mga faculty, mga infrastructure projects gaya ng Davao City-UP Sports Complex, hanggang sa mga pampublikong serbisyo ng ating mga magaaral, faculty, at mga kawani.

Sa katunayan, kabilang ang UP Mindanao sa Mindanao Earthquake Response Team na kasalukuyan ay nasa Makilala, North Cotabato, at nagbibigay ng serbisyong medical at psychological sa mga biktima ng nagdaang lindol. Katatapos lang din ang mga ginawang geological at structural assessments ng ating mga expert sa mga gusali sa Makilala, sa Cotabato.

Tunay na malayo na ang narating ng UP Mindanao. Ngunit malayo pa ang ating tatahakin. Kasunod, po, ay ibabahagi ni Chancellor Larry ang kanyang mga adhikain para sa UP Mindanao at ang mahalaga nitong papel sa kaunlaran ng rehiyon at maging sa buong bansa na rin. Sapagkat may obligasyon ang UP na paglingkuran ang buong sambayanan. Walang saysay ang husay at dangal kung hindi ito i-aalay sa sambayanan, lalo na sa ating mga hikahos na kababayan. Ang mandatong ito ang nagbibigay inspirasyon sa mga taga-UP na patuloy pang magpa-dalubhasa hindi para sa salapi at sa tagumpay bagkus para sa paglilingkod sa iba. Ako, po, ay lubusang nagagalak na makalipas ang mahigit na dalawang dekada, buhay na buhay pa rin sa UP ang pagmamahal natin sa ating pamantasan at ang ating pagmamalasakit sa Mindanao. Nawa’y panatiliin, po, nating nag-aalab ang pagmamahal nating ito sapagkat ang UP ay Universidad ng Pilipinas para sa Pilipinas.

Kaya lang, natalo, po, tayo sa nakaraang basketbol game. Alam ninyo, pag lumalaban tayo sa basketbol, sa championship, lahat, po, ng state universities and colleges sa Pilipinas ay kakampi natin. At lahat ng unibersidad sa Maynila, maliban doon sa ating kalaban, ay kakampi din natin. Pero dahil hindi tayo ang lumaban doon sa championship, hindi na, po, naging exciting ang championship. Exciting lang ang championship pag tayo ang lumalaban. Kaya lang, dahil matatalino ang mga estudyante natin, exempted lagi tayo sa finals.

Hindi man tayo number one sa basketbol, number one naman tayo sa ranking. Tayo nga lamang ang unibersidad sa Pililpinas na pumasok sa ranking. Bago ako pumasok ng panungkulan bilang pangulo ng ating unibersidad tayo ay nasa top 1,000. A year after, tayo’y nasa top 800. A year after, tayo ay nasa top 600.  At ngayon tayo ay nasa top 500 na sa buong mundo. Hindi kasama roon ang iba pang mga eskwelahan. Sabi nga nila, manalo o matalo, UP pa rin tayo. Sila, others lang. Sa southeast Asia, dati tayo ay kulelat din. Dati rati siguro ang ranking nating diyan kung hindi pang labing dalawa ay pang sampu. Pero ngayong sa buong southeast Asia tayo ay number four na. Number one ang National University of Singapore. Parang UP-Ateneo yan, lampaso tayo niyan. Number two ang Namyang University sa Singapore, at number three ang Universiti of Malaya. Natanggal natin sa pwesto ang Chulalongkorn University, ang Baylor sa Indonesia, at marami pang unibersidad sa Singapore at Thailand.

Sa susunod na taon ay susuportahan natin na ang lahat ng ating reporma matutupad upang umunlad ang ating unibersidad sa ating pag-asa, tataas pa tayo ng mataas pa sa ranking natin sa buong mundo.

Mindanao. Ano, po, ba ang balak natin sa Mindanao? Nahuli man ang Mindanao sa pagkakalikha nito -parang pang-apat ata siya o pang anim ata siya na campus na ating naitatag outside Diliman-ay sisiguruhin natin na ang UP Mindanao ay hahabol sa development at baka nga malampasan pa ng UP Mindanao ang ilang pang mga CU na naunang itinatag sa kanya. Dito sa Mindanao ay itatayo natin ang College of Human Kinetics.  Ang UP Mindanao ay pinaki-usapan ko na. Una kong pinaki-usapan nito si Chancellor Beng pero dahil natapos na yung term ni Chancellor Beng e di nalipat na yung aking paki-usap.  Sabi ko lang paki-usap pero actually utos iyon. Utos kay Chancellor Digal na buo-in na yung curriculum para sa Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics sa Mindanao at ilista na ang lahat ng pangangailangan upang ito ay atin nang maumpisahan.

Sa aking palagay kayang-kaya natin itong ipatupad next year. Next year dapat simulan na natin ito. Bakit kaya natin ito simulan next year? Kasi, po, ang president ng Pilipinas ay taga-Mindanao, ang chairman ng committee on appropriations sa House of Representatives ay taga-Mindanao, ang budget secretary ay hindi lang taga Mindanao, taga Davao pa. At ang ating magiting na senador sa congreso ay taga Mindanao. Si Senator Migz Zubiri ang akin, pong, number one na supporter sa Senado habang ang pinag-uusapan ay Mindanao, kasi parang siya lang ang UP graduate na taga-Mindanao. Si Koko nga pala who was also my student, kaklase ni misis.

At may balak din tayo, may plano tayo na makipag-tulungan sa Philippine Olympic Committee na pinamumunuan ng isang taga Mindanao, si secretary Butch Ramirez, na gawing national training center ng ating mga national athletes ang UP Mindanao sapagkat nandito na ang makabago at maganda na sports facilities. At nangako naman si representative Sid Ungab, who’s an alumnus of UPLB, na sinabi niya pagsisikapan namin sa three-year term namin ay  makumpleto lahat ng pasilidad sa sports sa UP Mindanao. Sa susunod na mga araw, pupunta din dito ang mga manlalaro natin mula sa UP Diliman. Sila ay magte-train dito sa Mindanao siguro mga isa o dalawang buwan. Sapagka’t  gagawin, po, natin itong National Sports Training Center.

Para ito ay matupad, kailangan natin ng additional facilities at unang una dito ay additional classrooms. Pangalawa, kailangan din natin ng dormitory facilities para sa ating mga atleta at ating magaaral. Nakita ko lang, po, ang suporta ng mga senador dahil humingi tayo ng pondo para magpagawa tayo ng Balay Atleta sa Diliman. Hindi, po, tayo nag dalawang salita. Binigay nila agad pero kailangan nating makita ito sa bi-cameral. Senator Migz, bantayan natin na hindi matanggal doon sa dagdag sa insertion yung 300 million para sa Balay Atleta. Hihingi din, po, tayo ng ganong halaga para sa Balay Atleta sa UP Mindanao.

Iyon, pong, iba pa nating mga balak, hahayaan ko nang si Chancellor Larry Digal ang mag-bulgar sa inyo. Marami pa, po, tayong balak sa Mindanao. At ako ay labis na nagagalak sapagkat ang mga dumalo pala sa tipon ngayong araw ay nagmula pa sa malalayong panig ng Mindanao. Ngayon ay bumabalik sa akin yung ating awit, “malayong lupain, amin mang marating, di rin magbabago ang damdamin.”

Magandang hapon, po, sa inyong lahat.    

The keynote and plenary speakers in the 9th International Conference on Agribusiness Economics and Management, 13-15 November 2019

Professor Rodolfo M. Nayga Jr.

Prof. Nayga is the Distinguished Professor and Tyson Endowed Chair in Food Policy Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas, United States. He received his PhD in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University, MS from University of Delaware, and BS in agribusiness economics from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). His research interests include the economics of food consumption, policy, and health. Prior to joining the University of Arkansas, he was a professor at Texas A&M University for twelve years and was a faculty member at Rutgers University, United States, and at Massey University, New Zealand. He has published more than 250 refereed articles in several economics, behavioral science, marketing, and public health journals. Prof. Nayga worked with other universities such as Korea University, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Zhejiang University, Waseda Institute of Advance Studies, Wageningen University, and the Institute of Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast

Mr. Grahame Dixie

Mr. Dixie is the executive director of Grow Asia, a multi-stakeholder partnership platform that catalyzes action on inclusive agricultural development in Southeast Asia. The platform convenes governments, farmers, nongovernment organizations, and other stakeholders to co-create value chain initiatives focused on smallholder farmers and environmental sustainability of agriculture. Mr. Dixie brings over thirty-five years of professional experience as a practitioner of agricultural development in over seventy-five countries, including an early career in the private sector. For the past decade, he served as the World Bank’s lead agribusiness advisor where he was involved in the design and review of the World Bank’s portfolio of projects linking smaller scale farmers to markets and agribusinesses. These programs leveraging public and private investment involved innovative financing and research on key issues. His work included advising World Bank teams globally on project design, emerging good practices, and key trends in the food and farm sector, with a focus on market-oriented farming and multi-stakeholder partnerships. More recently, he has served as an advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Dr. Kenneth Menz
Dr. Menz began his career as an agricultural scientist before spending the bulk of his working life as an agricultural economist. He specialized on the interface between agricultural science and economics from a range of perspectives (e.g., farming systems research, evaluation of agricultural research, factors affecting agricultural productivity, social science). He spent twenty years as research program manager for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), where such a multi-disciplinary orientation proved valuable. He has worked for universities (Queensland, Minnesota, RMIT), government agencies (Australian Bureau of Agricultural Economics), international agencies (IITA, Nigeria), and he spent six years undertaking graduate work in the United States. Since “retiring” from ACIAR ten years ago, he continued engagement in head office consultancies as well as via active research roles in ACIAR research projects in Vietnam and the Philippines. Dr. Menz’ notable publications are in weed control economics and impact assessment.

Dr. Rica Joy Flor
Dr. Flor is a postdoctoral fellow of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Wageningen University, the Netherlands (Wageningen University Postdoc Talent Program). She received her bachelor of arts in anthropology (cum laude) and master of arts in anthropology from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She got her PhD in social science (innovation studies) from Wageningen University where she was on a Global Rice Science Scholarship from IRRI. Dr. Flor has relevant experiences in applied social science research on technology adoption and innovation, impact assessment of technology change in agricultural innovation systems, and facilitating multi-stakeholder processes in agricultural research for development (AR4D) in Southeast Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.  See the video here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DRZY7uonW8rx3zDFszMKoTfyBdr765al/view?ts=5e181bc9

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

7-8 November 2019 - Pag-aboll 2019: Facets of Mindanao, Apo View Hotel

13-15 - 9^th International Conference on Agribusiness Economics and Management (ICAEM), Waterfront Insular Hotel

22-23 - UP 44^th Regional Alumni Institute, Grand Regal Hotel

DONATIONS FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF AND RECOVERY

Persons from the Philippines and abroad who wish to donate for the earthquake relief and rehabilitation effort may do so through the UP Strategic Research and Management Foundation Inc. with address at School of Management Building, UP Mindanao, Mintal, Davao City, and tel. no. (+63 82)295-2188.
Donations may be deposited in the name of the UP Strategic Research and Management Foundation Inc. to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)-CM Recto Davao City branch, account no. 1522601256 with Swift code RBCPHMM. Please email a copy or image of your deposit slips to <. Further inquiries may be directed to UP Mindanao Pahinungod through 09196398805 (Smart), 09451076756 or 09674194345 (Globe/TM), by private message to https://www.facebook.com/upmindanao.pahinungod

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO MS FOOD SCIENCE PROGRAM

Application to the Master of Science in Food Science program is now open, for admission to the 2nd semester of academic year 2019-2020. Deadline for application is 18 December 2019. Applicant must have a bachelor's degree in food science or related course. Documentiton requirements are a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, transcript of records, and two sealed recommendation letters from employers or former professors.  For further inquiries, email <;.

Conferences

The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao will hold two conferences in November in Davao City, Pag-aboll 2019: Facets of Mindanao on 7–8 November 2019 at the Apo View Hotel and the 9 th International Conference on Agribusiness Economics and Management (ICAEM) on 13–15 November 2019 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel. Pag-aboll 2019, organized by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), aims to contribute to the shaping and reshaping of Mindanao discourse by bringing scholars and learners from the diverse fields of architecture, humanities, human kinetics, and social sciences together to share histories, perspectives, narratives, and creations of Mindanao. “In Pag-aboll, one discipline can learn from another, especially in issues, concerns, and also in methods of conducting research,” said CHSS dean Jean Marie Juanga. “Pag-aboll” is the Mandaya word for “weaving.” The conference keynote speakers are Mindanao studies scholar and author Lualhati Abreu of UP Mindanao, poet-author and professor emeritus Marjorie Pernia of De La Salle University, risk communication specialist Rotacio Gravoso of Visayas State University, heritage architect Gerard Lico of UP Diliman, and sports director Jose Alther Rivera of the University of Southeastern Philippines. The conference will feature 25 papers to be presented by various scholars on Mindanao studies.

ICAEM 2019, co-organized by the School of Management (SOM) and the Center for the Advancement of Research, development, and engagement in Mindanao (CARIM), will have the theme “Inclusivity, Innovation, and Sustainability in Agricultural Value Chains” and will convene international scholars and practitioners in the areas of agriculture, agribusiness, management, and economics to share researches that deal with issues affecting various nodes in the agri-food chains. The conference is supported with funding from the UP Office of International Linkages and sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). “ICAEM is about strengthening our research program on the economics of agricultural value chains. Because of that research we are able to develop ideas that can be used that will feed into further research or policy and for other researchers to develop the research program network,” said conference convenor and UP Mindanao chancellor Larry Digal. The keynote speaker of the conference is Rodolfo Nayga Jr., distinguished professor of policy economics and agribusiness from the University of Arkansas, United States. The conference will also feature plenary talks from our international speakers: Grow Asia executive director Grahame Dixie from Singapore, International Rice Research Institute researcher Rica Joy Flor who is doing research in Cambodia, ACIAR program manager for agriculture Howard Hall from Australia, and agricultural economist and RMIT industry fellow Kenneth Menz from Australia. The conference will feature 84 paper and poster presentations and estimated to be attended by over 120 participants. Conference sponsor ACIAR will also launch its storybook G’day, Mate: ACIAR Filipino Alumni Stories during the first day of the conference. By hosting these two conferences, UP Mindanao is fulfilling its mandate to serve as a research university, particularly in the research areas of Mindanao studies and sustainable agri- and biosystems, by promoting research among higher education institutions in Mindanao and the rest of the country and contributing to the dissemination and application of knowledge. Both conferences are endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education. For more information on Pag-aboll 2019, visit http://bit.ly/2MG3cQU; and for ICAEM 2019, visit http://bit.ly/2MFbA34

The Welcome dinner of the International Conference on Agribusiness Economics and Management (ICAEM 2019) and book-launch of the storybook, "G'day, Mate: ACIAR Filipino Alumni Stories" was pn 13 November 2019, Davao City. Sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). UP Mindanao chancellor and conference director Larry Digal gave the welcome remarks and ACIAR Canberra outreach director Ms. Shannon Miskelly gave a brief talk on ACIAR scholarships and ACIAR's work in the Philippines. The cover of the storybook was presented, accompanied by a slideshow of the featured alumni: Dr. Larry Digal, Ms. Marilou Montiflor, Dr. Glory Dee Romo, Ms. Anne Shangrila Fuentes, Dr. Rotacio Gravoso, Ms. Lilia Vega, Dr. Nelda Gonzaga, Ms. Evy Carusos, Dr. Ana Notarte, and Dr. Delia Catacutan, who gave a response on behalf of the alumni. ACIAR Country Manager Ms. Mai Alagcan gave the closing message. Dr. Larry Digal gave the special citation to conference sponsors who were present: ACIAR, Dole Philippines Inc. (Stanfilco Division), Jabez La Primera Power Corp., and financial namagement partner Strategic Research and Management Foundation Inc. UP Mindanao Koro Kantahanay and UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble provided entertainment and the Dance Ensemble led the community dancing.

Earthquake response

The University of the Philippines (UP) combined its expertise in science and public service with a unified response within a week after the Mindanao earthquakes of October 2019. In the aftermath of the earthquakes, the DSWD website reported that Regions XI and XII had 24,000 displaced persons in evacuation centers and another 7,465 outside evacuation centers with a total of 188,533 affected persons.

UP executive vice president Teodoro Herbosa immediately created the Mindanao Earthquake Response Team and UP Mindanao chancellor Larry Digal created the counterpart Task Force.  UP Mindanao Task Force initiated a donation drive and sent volunteers to help repack relief goods in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).  
On 8 November, a UP team of geologists and the UP Mindanao Task Force arrived in Sitio Flortam, Barangay Batasan in hard-hit Makilala municipality. The geologists, led by Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay and Dr. Genaro Cuaresma, had their first close look at cracks in the road and the landscape and the UP Mindanao team delivered donations to the local residents. At the Office of the Provincial Governor in Kidapawan City, the team met Acting Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza and Acting Vice Governor Shirlyn Macasarte-Villanueva, who had previously written UP president Danilo Concepcion, to request structural and geological assessments, and psychosocial support for trauma victims. Over the next two days the UP group inspected barangays Kisante, Batasan, Buenavida, Sto. Niño, Buhay and Malasila, and took a helicopter fly-by over Bgy. Bato, all in Makilala. Before departing, they shared assessments with the Incident Management Team and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PhiVolcs) team and vice-governor Villanueva. “Four barangays in Makilala suffered 100% damage,” said Dr. Cuaresma. “Resettlement is the only prospect for those families whose homesites are now uninhabitable,” he said.

CALL FROM UPGRADE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS INCUBATION OF UP MINDANAO: 

Have an idea/technology that will solve socio-economic problems? Be one of UPGrADE’s incubatees and upgrade your innovations with us. Incubation is Free.
Register your solutions by submitting your concept note. Click: http://bit.ly/2rTYuaq
✅Who are we looking for?
UP Mindanao’s TBI – UPGrADE will incubate today's most creative thinkers
• UP Mindanao constituents
• Start-ups
• Enabling institutions
• Young innovators
✅What ideas/technologies do we support?
UPGrADE offers a number of incubation programs on
• Sustainable Food Systems
• Food Products
• Bio Economy
• Smart Industries
• Green Economy
• Support Community Solutions
✅What support can we give?
UPGrADE will help you grow through:
• Capacity Building Activities
• Participation in startup community events
• Linking with research funding and MFIs
• Providing support on intellectual property rights
• Support networking
• Business model and plan making
• Organizational development
• Mentorship
• Workspace

4TH DR. NELSON NATURAL CUP

The 4th Dr. Nelson Natural Cup was concluded on 17 November 2019 with awarding ceremonies held at the Davao City-UP Sports Complex Football Field. The 2019 champion was the Philippine College of Technology. The 1st Runner-up was Calinan FC, 2nd runner-up was UP Men's Football Varsity, and the 3rd runner-up was Oi! Rogers FC.
Representatives of the co-organizers, the UP Mindanao Siki ni Obli, awarded certificates to the winning teams and the outstanding players and coaches. The organizers extended their congratulations to all the participating teams and expressed their wish for all the participants to keep the football spirit alive, and to uphold camaraderie and sportsmanship in every game.

MENTAL HEALTH FORUM

"Break The Silence, End The Stigma: Let's Talk About Mental Health," a lecture-forum, was held on 11 November 2019, 8:30AM-12NN, at Davao City-UP Sports Complex Training Gym, UP Mindanao, Mintal, Davao City. Welcome Remarks were given by Prof. Larry Digal, chancellor of UP Mindanao. The speakers were Ms. Precious Manliguez, Executive Manager of Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA)-Davao Chapter and Dr. Bihildis Magbunga, Psychiatrist and Chair, Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine-Southern Philippines Medical Center, who spoke on the state of mental health and the common forms for mental health ailments. The keynote was given by Hon. Mary Joselle Villafuerte, MD, Davao City Councilor and Chair of the City Council Committee on Health, who introduced new city ordinances making mental health facilities and services available to citizens. Closing Remarks were given by 
Prof. Maria Teresa Escano, Director, Office of Student Affairs.

PHILIPPINE COLLEGE RADIO CONGRESS
 
The BA Communication and Media Arts (BACMA) students and BACMA faculty Ms. Merle Dawn Comidoy-Acol represented the university in the 4th Philippine College Radio Congress (PCRC) from November 26-28, 2019 at the University of the Philippines Diliman. The event was organized by the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication and participated by around 30 schools all over the Philippines. This year’s theme was Back to Basics which was aimed at reintroducing basic yet essential topics for the operation of college radios in the country such as media ethics, station management, media buying and placement, acoustics and recording, voice acting, podcasting, etc. The sessions and hands-on training were facilitated by media experts including veteran radio news anchor Rey Langit, veteran radio drama actor and director Leonel Benjamin, acoustic engineer Mike Pedero, multi-awarded journalist Roby Alampay, and many more. Next year, the BACMA program is planning to launch the first-ever college radio of UP Mindanao which will be made available online through podcast. The UP Mindanao delegation was the third biggest delegation of this year’s PCRC with a total of nine participants namely: Merle Dawn Comidoy-Acol (faculty) and students Dianne Nicole Capuno, Michelle Angielou Deslate,  Ma. Teresa Flores, Clarice Marcellones, Tracy Shikainah Omalza, Jairus Perez, Trisha Teruel, and Bonizza Sarco.

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As the sixth constituent university of the University of the Philippines, UP Mindanao continues the tradition of excellence in providing higher quality education, research and development, and public service for the people of Mindanao. UP Mindanao aims not only to contribute to the body of knowledge but also to the sustainable development and transformation of Southern Philippines and the rest of the country. Armed with this mission, the university uses its intellectual resources to understand Mindanao’s past while laying the groundwork for its future.