An agribusiness-led multi-agency research team arrived in Davao in January to study how to enhance aspects of value chains for smallholder Filipino farmers. Chancellor Lyre Murao met the team at a welcome dinner in Davao City and a courtesy call on the UP Mindanao campus.  

The project is named “Inclusive value chain development for smallholder farming systems in the Philippines (IVC Philippines) AGB/2018/196.” The research project aims to enhance the design, implementation, and adoption of inclusive value chains in smallholder farming systems in the Philippines. The team will do this by exploring roles, conditions, and specific value chain interventions that improve engagement and benefit the livelihoods of farmers, their communities, and their chain partners.

Welcome Dinner (Jan 23) of the project Team with School of Management Dean Prof. Aurelia Luzviminda Gomez (Seated, Left) and UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao (Seated, Middle). Leading the Visayas State University team is Prof. Antonio Abao (Seated, right). Leading the UP Mindanao Team is Ms. Marilo Montiflor (Standing, 5th from the right). Also joining the team from the private sector is Ms. Suzie Vanidad (Standing, 4th from the right) from Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA).

Photo 2 (courtesy of PRO) Courtesy call to UP Mindanao Chancellor, Jan 27, 2023 Seated- Left to Right Ms. Marilou Montiflor (Coffee/Coconut Case Study Lead, UP Mindanao); Dr. Wendy Merrit (Collaborator, Australian National University); Dr. Michaela Cosijn (Project Leader, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) - Prof. Lyre Anni Murao (Chancellor, UP Mindanao). Standing Left to right - Prof. Gideon Neil Tan (Collaborator, Visayas State University), Prof. Caroline Piñon (Collaborator, UP Los Baños); Mr. Anton Palo (Project Coordinator, Foodlink Advocacy Cooperative); Prof. Hadasha Bongat (Collaborator, Visayas State University); Ms. Ella Angeline  Vaquilar (Research Associate, UPMin)

 The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is funding the research project which is a collaborative effort among the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Min), Foodlink Advocacy Co-operative (FAC), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the University of Queensland (UQ), UP Los Baños (UPLB), and Visayas State University (VSU).

The team held the welcome dinner on January 23, conducted a project workshop on January 24-26, 2023 in downtown Davao City and visited UP Mindanao on January 27, 2023.

Asst. Prof. Kim Dianne Ligue (left) and Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao cut the ribbon to open the Scholarship Fair

Asst. Prof. Ligue receives her certificate of appreciation from OSA director Maria Stella Salazar (right)

The Office of Student Affairs opened its Scholarship Fair for students on February 22, 2023. Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao and Asst. Prof. Kim Dianne Ligue cut the ribbon to open the Fair. Chancellor Murao invited the students to read up and avail of the scholarship programs available. She said the benefits of scholarships will relieve part of the student's burden of making ends meet. "You know very well the challenges of being a student. There are many students who are having difficulty and we want them to continue studying. The university is continuing to find ways and opportunities to help students meet their daily needs and so be able to focus on their studies," she said.        

Asst. Prof. Ligue, a UPMin alumna and current faculty member of the Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science, was the guest speaker. "When I entered UP Mindanao," she said, "it became soon evident that I needed assistance to continue my education. I hunted for scholarships, almost literally, to save my life."

She related her challenges in applying for and acquiring scholarships from the CHED, Oplan Kaalam, and the DOST until she completed her studies and graduated.

"I felt privileged in the way I had acquired my education. So personally, I did take it to the extreme a little bit and declared to myself that I will spend the rest of my life contributing back to our country using the education I acquired from all these scholarships," she said.

"I am sure you will be awarded the scholarships that you apply for. And when you do, I hope that every once in a while, like when you’re in the shower or on a long jeepney ride, you would try to imagine the ways that you can express your gratitude by contributing to our country," she said.

 Student Affairs Director Ma. Stella Salazar said the Fair also introduces the Adopt-a-Student program and the Bahay Kubo student kitchen. "We also seek donors for the Adopt-a-Schiolar program to provide meals, housing, and transportation allowances," she said. "The Bahay Kubo project will create a kitchen and a vegetable garden for the students' sustainable food source," she said.  

 UP President Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez, Ginang Charita Puentespina, mga panauhin, mga awardees, mga estudyante, kasamang guro, manggagawa, at mga kapwa kong lingkod-bayan, magandang umaga. 

Maligayang pagbabalik sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Mindanao. Binubuksan natin ang taong ito, ang semestreng ito, na mas may tiwala sa ating kapaligiran at mas may pag-asa. Nakikita na natin, sa ating bawat pagbalik sa campus, ang dahan-dahang pagbalik sa normal ng mga kondisyon ng ating mga mag-aaral. 

Sa muli nating pagbabalik-kampus, asahan nating lahat ang isang espasyong handang tumanggap ng ibat ibang adhikain, na siyang isa sa mga pinakamahalagang katangiang taglay ng edukasyong nagmumula sa UP. Dito, malaya ang lahat upang ipahiwatig ang kanilang mga hinaing. Sapagkat, aanhin natin ang isang diplomang nagmumula sa UP kung hindi rin naman ito magagamit bilang gabay sa pag-unlad ng sarili nitong bayan at para sa kapakanan ng mamamayan nito. 

May ilang bagay kayong muling makikita sa pagbabalik natin sa kampus. Nais ko ring ipakilala sa inyo ang ating mga sisimulan ngayong taon upang magtatag ng isang espasyong nababagay sa pag-aaral ng ating mga estudyante.

 May mga karagdagang learning spaces na tayong nailagay sa iba’t ibang lugar ng campus tulad ng Atrium at CHSS Cultural Complex. Ang ating opisyal na kainan, ang Kalimudan, ay naaabot na rin sa wakas ng ating university internet connection. Ito ay palalawakin pa sa tulong ng internet cabling project ng IT Office. 

 Dahil na rin sa iba’t ibang pangangailangan sa pag-aaral, narinig natin ang hiling na madagdag ng oras para sa ating mga pasilidad. Ngayong semestre, ang ating University Library ay mananatiling bukas hanggang alas syete ng gabi. Inilunsad na rin ang Cafe Libro, isang proyekto ng Library para mas maging kalugod-lugod ang pamamalagi ng mga estudyante sa Library.

 Naiintindihan din natin ang mga suliranin sa transportasyon dito sa campus. Nailungsad ngayong araw ang Libreng Sakay sa tulong ng ating UPMin alumni, upang mabigyan ng ginhawa ang inyong paglalakbay sa campus sa pagbubukas ng semestre. Ang dalawang linggong libreng sakay ay iikot sa mga piling lugar sa campus tulad ng admin at kanluran o ang CSM.

(Read the English translation here.)

The University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) celebrates its 28th anniversary on Monday, February 20, 2023, at the Lorenzo Hall, Administration Building. The celebration program is face-to-face with a livestream broadcast for other constituents over the Zoom platform. 

Newly-installed University President Angelo A. Jimenez will deliver an inspirational message online and a Guest Speaker will also share life lessons. Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao will recognize personnel who have served with longevity and distinction. In addition, the UPMin Dance Ensemble and the Koro Kantahany chorale will give performances.   

Students are taking part in the celebration as classes for the 2nd Semester of Academic Year 2022-2023 started on February 13, 2023. Classes are now face-to-face with health safety measures in place, and enhanced with online learning tools.  

 The 28th anniversary carries the theme, "Strengthened convergence towards sustainable partnerships/ Malig-ong panagdait ngadto sa malungtarong panag-uban," echoing Chancellor Murao’s strategy for transformative education.  

UPMin is the only UP constituent university in Mindanao, created by Republic Act 7998, which Pres. Fidel V. Ramos signed on February 20, 1995. It is mandated to provide Mindanawons with access to quality UP education. It offers architecture, communication, writing,  mathematics, economics, sports, social, natural, computing, and food sciences degrees. It also offers graduate degrees in management, food science, urban and regional planning, sports, and Ph.D. by Research. In addition, it focuses on opening new degree programs and colleges in human kinetics, medicine, and engineering. It aims to be a graduate, research, and public service university primed to contribute to Philippine development.