UP Alumni Association Davao (UPAAD) members installed another set of Legacy Tiles onto the UP Mindanao Oblation Plaza today (20 April 2021). Project chairman Roberto "Bo" Puentespina and Michael Gatela facilitated the installation activity led by chapter president Pedro "Bogs" Quitain III, chapter chairman Nap Concepcion and former UP Mindanao chancellor Sylvia "Beng" Concepcion, Ana and Dodie Gualberto, Maris and Khalil Guinomla, Mona Abad, Rene Estremera, and UP Los Banos Alumni Association Davao president and UPAAD ex-officio director Ramon Bien. The group also visited the prospective site of the Bahay Alumni at the eastern end of the campus.

 Chancellor Larry N. Digal and the UP Mindanao team met with Mr. Kelly Moran of the University of Hawai'i-Hilo and his associate Dr. Loye Ashton today (August 19) for a discussion on partnership opportunities. Mr. Moran offered a draft memorandum of understanding for the two universities to cooperate on international programs based on the principle of reciprocity. Among the programs mentioned for consideration are collaborations on joint research and conferences, exchange of faculty, researchers, students, and academic publications, and other academic exchanges to which both universities agree. The exchange of business startup incubatees is, likewise, mentioned. Chancellor Digal welcomed the opportunity for international exchange and the proposed memorandum, together with Prof. Emma Ruth Bayogan, director of UP Mindanao's Center for the Advancement of Research in Mindanao (CARIM), and Prof. Cleto "Ting" Nanola, director of the Office of Extension and Community Service (OECS). The meeting was arranged by Asst. Prof. Miguel Carlo Guillermo, head of UPGRADE, UP Mindanao's technology business incubation unit.

UP Mindanao’s BA Communication and Media Arts (BACMA) Program is launching an online show this month called ON-Live-Talks which will be streamed on Facebook via StreamYard on August 14, 2021.

ON-Live Talks is a public service/community extension and an Academic Program Improvement (API) project proposed by Assoc. Prof. Karen Joyce G. Cayamanda and Instructor Ena Marie O. Dizon. It is a one-hour, six-episode, live public service talk show that will run via social media live streaming in a span of five consecutive months.

The talk show is an information drive that aims to discuss real-life experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and enhance the skills of BACMA students in delivering timely and relevant issues remotely. It is participated by BACMA student volunteers to substantiate the needed exposure and hands-on experience on remote TV production.

“People need thorough knowledge on what is happening among societies. They need a space for public dialogue that tackles real-life experiences during the pandemic. People need to hear information that are important and helpful. These messages, when effectively conveyed, are vital in our fight against COVID-19. This will also sustain BACMA students in the substantial fulfillment of their cultural, educational and social roles in times of crisis,” said Ms. Dizon.

The first two episodes will run on August 14 and 28, respectively, with the theme “Bakuna, bakuna, paano ka ginawa?” that aims to debunk vaccine myths and misconceptions. The show will feature medical experts, researchers, and social media influencers, and will be hosted by BACMA student volunteers.

A research paper on B’laan communities earned a Best Presenter award for Instructor Ena Marie O. Dizon of the UP Mindanao Department of Humanities alongside three other UP Mindanao research papers in the 2nd International Conference on Multidisciplinary Industry and Academic Research (ICMIAR) last 31 July 2021 via Zoom with the theme, “The world in different perspectives: Re-building lessons after a Crisis.” 

Ms. Dizon’s paper "Transforming B'laan Communities through Communication: The Case of UP Manila Community Health Development Program” dwelled on identifying normative changes brought about by health communication strategies in Barangay Kalkam, Tupi, South Cotabato. 

Assoc. Prof. Karen Joyce G. Cayamanda, one of the Plenary Speakers, presented her research titled "Transcending the Pandemic: Flood-Risk Communication for Risk Reduction in Davao City, Southern Philippines” that showed the challenges in coordination between government agencies in flood-risk reduction, management, and response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Humanities faculty Instructor Juven Nino Villacastin; and School of Management University Researcher Marilou O. Montiflor also presented papers at the conference under the Humanities and Social Sciences session. Villacastin’s paper “Distinguishing Rhetorics of Fear: Conceptual and Practical Implications in Distinguishing Fear Appeals from Medical vs. Militaristic COVID-19 Rhetorics in the Philippines” focused on the strategies adopted by the local government in producing health communication materials pertaining to COVID-19 and its persuasive effects in people’s behavior. Montiflor’s paper “Sowing Seeds of Hope: Building Resilience of Women in Agriculture during Pandemic Times” identified strategies adopted by women in the farming sector in the Davao Region.

ICMIAR 2021 is an international research conference that focuses on a multidisciplinary approach revolving around concerns in the pandemic - from health, economics, mental health, business and workplace, environment, and delivery systems. It was organized by the Institute of Industry and Academic Research Incorporated.