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Highlights for February, 2019

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1. 24th ANNIVERSARY MONTH

University of the Philippines Mindanao celebrates its 24th Anniversary in February 2019. Opening Festivities are on 1 February, Friday, 8:30AM, at the Oblation Plaza, Administration Building, UP Mindanao, Mintal, Davao City. Koro Kantahanay will lead the singing of the National Anthem. Chancellor Sylvia Concepcion will give an Inspirational Message.  UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble will perform a Ritual Dance. The highlight will be the Placing of Solidarity Flags where everybody is invited to participate. Finally, a run-through of month-long activities will be announced. Fun activities will commence after the ceremony. Mr. Kenneth Montajes of DMPCS will serve as emcee.

Further on the Anniversary celebrations, 4-10 February 2019 is the School of Management Week of Activities; 11-17 February 2019 is the College of Science and Mathematics Week of Activities; 18-24 February 2019 is the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Week of Activities.  On February 20, Wednesday, will be held the Recognition Programs for students and employees. On 23 February is the UP Mindanao Basketball Carnival. On 25-27 February are the Student Organizations' activities. On 28 February 2019 is the "3-Minute Thesis" Competition University Finals. Also on 28 February is the Turn-over Ceremony for the Chancellorship. Culminating the day's events will be a Concert will be given by artists from the UP College of Music to be organized by the UP Alumni Association-Davao. The public is invited to any and all activities.  

2. THREE-MINUTE THESIS COMPETITION

THE 3-MINUTE THESIS (3MT) Competition was held for the first time in the Philippines in UP Mindanao in February 2019. Ms. Alma Jo Latada of BS Architecture emerged as the first 3MT Philippines champion with her thesis talk "How Would Nature Solve It?". In three minutes she explained the advantage of pine cones as building material for its ability to expand and contract with the weather and thereby adjust temperatures indoors. She also won the People's Choice award. The Runner-up was Mr. Abel Leandro Paras of BS Applied Mathematics for "Hitchhiker's Guide on Avoiding the Three Phases of Rabies Infection". The other finalists and their theses were: Mr. Justine Joshua Pungyan, BA Anthropology, for "The Importance of Connections among Farmers of Sitio Ladi-an, Marilog, Davao City"; Ms. Jan Rica Datoc, BS Computer Science, for "TED: A Mobile Tagabawa-English Dictionary"; Mr. Juan Antonio Mendoza, BS Agribusiness Economics, for "The Unfunded Revolution"; Mr. Michael Jayson Saturos, BS Food Technology, for "Power Plastics"; Ms. Janna Warain, BS Biology, for "Keeping It Fresh"; and Mr. Juven Niño Villacastin, BA Communication Arts, for "Of Villains and Murderers: What the News Tells Us about the Dengvaxia Crisis". The judges were Davao Christian High School Principal Jocy So-Yeung, Manila Bulletin’s News Coordinator for Mindanao Zea Io Ming Correa Capistrano, and Ateneo de Davao University Prof. Neil Ryan Pancho. The 3MT Competition originated in the University of Queensland in 2008 and has since spread to about 200 universities worldwide. In the original format, PhD students explain their thesis to a general audience within three minutes. In UP Mindanao, the competition was adapted for undergraduate students. A total of 47 students volunteered and competed in their individual departments and colleges towards the selection of the eight finalists representing their degree programs. Permission to use the 3MT by UP Mindanao was granted by the University of Queensland thru Prof. Isidoro Malaque III. [See the videos here]
 
ERRATUM. Ms. Capistrano has been initially identified as a correspondent for the Manila Bulletin when in fact her official designation is “news coordinator for Mindanao.” The error has been corrected.
 
3. U.P. LAW APTITUDE EXAM

UP Mindanao will host the UP College of Law Aptitude Exam on 17 February 2019, Sunday, 1-6PM, in the Administration Building, UP Mindanao, Mintal, Davao City. Applications will be accepted until Sunday morning, 17 February 2019, in the exam venue. Application fees may be paid later. Supervising the proceedings is Mr. Michael Gatela of the Office of Extension and Community Service. Application documentation requirements and other details may be perused at- http://law.upd.edu.ph/lae/         

4. RECOGNITION CEREMONIES, 20 FEBRUARY 2019

On 20 February 2019 is the 24th anniversary of the signing by Pres. Fidel V. Ramos of Republic Act 7889 "An Act creating the University of the Philippines Mindanao and appropriating funds therefor". On this day will be held the Recognition Ceremonies for Employees and Students. The Ceremonies will be held at the CHSS Audio-Visual Room, Administration Building, UP-Mindanao, Mintal, Davao City. At 9AM is the Employee Recognition Ceremony and at 2:30PM is the Student Recognition Ceremony. The guest speaker is Dr. Fedeserio C. Camarao.  

5. COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE WEEK, 18-24 FEBRUARY 2019

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE (CHSS) Week happens on 18-24 February 2019 as part of the UP-Mindanao 24th Anniversary celebration. The CHSS Audio-Visual Room will serve as venue for most events except where indicated. Public offerings begin with the 3-Minute Thesis Competition-CHSS Heat on 18 February, 1PM. On 19 February, 9AM, is the Gender Sensitivity Orientation by Dr. Pavo; at 1PM is the architecture lecture "Visualizing a city's urban and cultural heritage" by Gloryrose Dy-Metilla. On 21 February, 1:30PM, is the book launch of "Mandaya Dawot" publication; at 2:30PM, at the University Library is the "New media and society" lecture by Mishael Pueblas. On 22 February, 9AM, is the DSS Lecture Series 2019 featuring "Development of the banana industry in Davao Region" by Theresa Mae Gallardo, "Story of a woman politician in Dinagat Islands" by Raymundo Pavo, "Indigenous child protection system of the ethnic Tboli" by Maria Josefa Petilla, "Linguistic queries on Manobo history" by Janus Ruel Cabazares, and "Health in lumad and settler communities in Mindanao" by Kenette Jean Millondaga; at 1PM, at the Visual Anthro Lab, are the talks on "Four fields of anthropology" by Myfel Joseph Paluga and Andrea Malaya Ragragio. Also on 22 February, 1PM, at SM City Annex, Davao City, is the "Tandiwan Mindanao Architecture Research Symposium". On 23 February, 7PM, at Suazo Bar, Davao City, is "Litorgy: A tribute to Tita Lacambra Ayala". On 24 February is the Futsal Football Festival at the Davao City-UP Sports Complex Gym. All events are open to the public; admission is free of charge. Inquiries may be directed to Angelo at 9189238498. 

6. COLLEGE OF SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS WEEK, 11-17 FEBRUARY 2019

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS Week happens on 11-15 February 2019. Public offerings begin with the CSM Research Seminar on 11 February, 8AM-12NN, at CSM Room 227. The talks are on: Macaques as carriers of malaria by Lief Erikson Gamalo; Fat, oil, and grease deposits in drains by Dann Marie del Mundo; Solar energy for the home by Vicente Calag; Job analytics by Vladimer Kobayashi; and Artificial Intelligence and Robotics by Jose Ildefonso Rubrico. At 1-5PM, also in Room 227, will be the Mol-Tech-Volution, a showcase of technological innovations in molecular biology organized by the Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao. At 2:30PM in Room 230 will be the 3-Minute Thesis DMPCS department heat, and Sine-CSM Focus Group Discussion caps the day's events. On 12 February, 5:30PM at Room 227 will be the 3-Minute Thesis DBSES department heat. The daytime events are: Exhibit on Rape and Violence Against Women at CSM Student Center; Sine-CSM Focus Group Discussion 2; Photo-booth opening; and the Kanlu-RUN at 4:30 PM. On 13 February are: Sine-CSM Focus Group Discussion 3; Photobooth #PoseToOppose; and the PAFT Milk Processing Demo at 12-1:30PM at Room 112. On 14 February are: DOLE Careers Recruitment at 8AM-3PM at the Dorm Annex; at sundown are Acoustic Night Battle of the Bands and CSM Night Hunk and Babe of the West 2019. On 15 February is the CSM 3-Minute Thesis Competition at 1-5PM at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Audio-Visual Room. All events are open to the public; admission is free of charge. Inquiries may be directed to Ken at 9498501074 or 9755719174.     

7. THE CSM RESEARCH SEMINAR on 11 February 2019 opened with Welcome Remarks by Dean Dominica Dacera. She reported on the research productivity of the College of Science and Mathematics faculty in 2018 which had about 11 articles published in ISI and non-ISI journals, presented about 33 papers in national and international conferences, and obtained more than P120 Million of funds for research. She predicted that research activity will intensify with the construction of the Research Development and Extension Building worth P70 Million. The Seminar presentations that followed were on: Zoonotic protozoan parasites in swimming pools and Zoonotic monkey malaria parasites, both by Instructor Lief Erikson Gamalo; Fat, oil, and grease deposits in drains, by Asst. Prof. Dann Marie del Mundo; Energize the home with solar energy, by Asst. Prof. Vicente Calag; Job analytics that can help match millions of jobs to qualified persons, by Asst. Prof. Vladimer Kobayashi; and Artificial Intelligence and Robotics by Prof. Jose Ildefonso Rubrico. The Certificates of Appreciation were given by Dean Dacera with Asst. Prof. May Anne Mata.

8. MOLTECHVOLUTION: A Showcase of Technological Innovations in Molecular Biology will be held on February 11, 2019, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM at the College of Science and Mathematics, UP Mindanao. Current trends in Molecular Biology and Genomics will be presented by various organizations. An exhibit will be open for viewing. This event is organized by The Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao in line with CSM Week.

9. SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT WEEK, 6-9 FEBRUARY 2019

The School of Management (SOM) opens the college celebrations with public forums at the Lorenzo Hall, Administration Building. The SOM Public Lectures is on 6 February at 8:30-11:30AM with the following talks: The readiness of the soybean supply chain to contribute to food production by Asst.Prof. Glory Dee Romo; Consumers' awareness and willingness to pay for GAP-certified vegetables by Asst.Prof. Vlademir Shuck; Investing in real estate and a financial model for capital gains by Asst.Prof. Lemuel Calatrava. At 1PM will be the "School of Dangerous Minds" forum with lectures on popular topics by SOM students. On 7 February, 1-5PM is the 14th UP Mindanao Supply Chain Management Forum on the theme "Sustainable development of the Philippine cavendish banana value chain: Exploring options to improve competitiveness" by the CHED banana project team. On 8 February, 9AM-4PM is the annual Tabo vegetable farmers sale. Throughout 6-9 February is the SOM Research Exhibit showcasing the products of knowledge creation by SOM faculty, researchers, and students. On 13 February will be the "Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition: SOM college heat". The public is invited to any and all of the events; admission is free of charge.   

10. MOA for CRADLE 

 

A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT was signed between the Dept. of Science and Technology-Phil. Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research & Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and UP Mindanao as an Implementing Agency for the Accelerated R&D Program for Capacity-Building of Research & Development Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness: Collaborative Research & Development to Leverage Philippine Economy (CRADLE). The project to be implemented under CRADLE is Fermentation and Purification Research to Produce Food Grade, Pharmaceutical-Grade and Polymer-Grade Lactic Acid. UP Mindanao will procure equipment, set up a dedicated laboratory, conduct further purification studies to increase the purity-grade of lactic acid from 50% to at least 80%, and conduct process evaluation and techno-economic analysis of the project. DOST will provide P4.998 Million for the project which will be monitored by the PCIEERD. Chancellor Sylvia Concepcion signed on behalf of UP Mindanao on 27 February 2019 while U/Sec. Rowena Cristina Guevara and Dr. Enrico Paringit signed for DOST and PCIEERD, respectively.        

 

11. SEARCH COMMITTEE FOR SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT DEAN

With the appointment of Prof. Larry N. Digal, current Dean of the School of Management, as the next Chancellor effective 1 March 2019, a Search Committee for SOM Dean was constituted by Chancellor Sylvia Concepcion on 11 February 2019 through Administrative Order No. SBC 2019-010. Appointed to constitute the Committee were Prof. Ruth U. Gamboa (Dept. of Bio. Sci. and Envir. Studies) as Senior Faculty Representative and Chairperson, Prof. Janus Ruel T. Cabazares (Dept. of Soc. Sci.) as Junior Faculty Rep., Ms. Krishna H. Balaga (I.T. Office) as Administrative Personnel Rep., Ms. Frances May F. Baldoza (Office of Research) as REPS Personnel Rep., and Ms. Keith Justine Moreno (BS Biology) as Student Representative. They were instructed to coordinate a schedule with the appointed President's Representative and to submit their report on or before 22 March 2019.  

12. CEREMONIAL TURNOVER OF THE CHANCELLORSHIP, 28 February 2019

A CEREMONIAL TURNOVER of the chancellorship of UP Mindanao was held on 28 February 2019 between outgoing chancellor Sylvia Concepcion and incoming chancellor Larry Digal. The turnover was done through the hand-over of the University Mace, a wooden staff topped with the seal of UP Mindanao, the symbol of authority of the chancellor. Chancellor Digal in his inaugural remarks  said "This is a very big challenge for me because all our stakeholders, and UP in general, have a lot of expectations; but the work of Chancellor Concepcion and the UP Mindanao community will help us move to a higher level of development. I think it's about time to reap, to harvest a lot, from what the previous administrations have invested. It's about reinforcing the teaching, research, extension, and production continuum so that our programs and services can better serve the needs of our stakeholders."  Among the well-wishers was Rotarian Salvador Angala who recalled Chancellor Digal as a former Rotary Exchange scholar. The turnover was preceded by a Testimonial for Chancellor Concepcion, who served as 4th Chancellor for two terms from March 2013 to February 2019. In the evening was “Maroon Serenades: A Night of Classical Music” organized by the alumni, which served to culminate the 24th anniversary month of UP Mindanao.
 
13. TESTIMONIAL FOR CHANCELLOR CONCEPCION, 28 February 2019
 
A TESTIMONIAL was held for outgoing chancellor Prof. Sylvia Concepcion on 28 February 2019 in UP Mindanao. Prof. Concepcion served two terms as the 4th Chancellor of UP Mindanao from March 2013 to 28 February 2019. a/Prof. Nelfa Glova served as emcee. Faculty, non-teaching personnel, and husband Nap Concepcion were in attendance. Testimonies were given by Dean Dominica Dacera, Dean Jean Marie Juanga, a/Prof. Vlademir Shuck, VC Antonio Obsioma, VC Nilo Oponda, Mr. Joel Sagadal, Ms. Malou Montiflor, student council chairman Frederick Omalza, alumna Marie Glenn Sorila, alumnus Francisco Bobby Ramos, and alumnus John Gaisano. An audio-visual presentation produced by Rene Estremera and Mishael Pueblas was shown. Koro Kantahanay choral performed. Prof. Sylvia Concepcion gave a response where in she expressed gratitude to the speakers and a message of thanks to everyone who served the University during her term. A plaque of appreciation and flowers were given to Prof. Concepcion by VCs Obsioma and Oponda to end the ceremony.
 
14. MAROON SERENADES
 
"MAROON SERENADES: A Night of Classical Music" was held by the UP alumni in Davao and the UP Mindanao Foundation (UPMFI) as a public offering for the 24th anniversary of UP Mindanao and as a tribute for outgoing chancellor, Prof. Sylvia Concepcion and a welcome for incoming chancellor, Prof. Larry Digal. The concert was held free of charge to the public in Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City on 28 February 2019. The concert featured UP College of Music performers April Dawnena Merced-Misa on piano, Gonzalo Noel Misa on guitar, and Gabrielle Yvette Parcon on voice. The concert pieces included classical pieces by Schumann and Verdi, Filipino musical pieces "Rosas Pandan" by Domingo Lopez, "Sa Kabukiran" by Manuel Velez, "Usahay" by Nitoy Gonzales, and the original composition "Pag-ibig" by pianist Misa and poet Vim Nadera. The UP Koro Kantahanay chorale performed musical intermission numbers. 
 
The evening culminated in the oath-taking by trustees of the UPMFI as administered by Judge Ronald Tolentino. Messages of appreciation were given by UPMFI trustees Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, Marie Glenn Sorila, and John Gaisano. Responses were given by Sylvia Concepcion and Chancellor Larry Digal. Chancellor Digal said, "if you gave the love and the money to Chancellor Beng, I ask that you to double it. We, the entire UP Mindanao team face a big challenge and a big opportunity to do for development. We need your partnership and your support. Please double your support, your human infrastructure is love. Give bigger help for UP to do its mandate as a national university, a research university, and as a public service university".
 
15. DEBATE SOCIETY SUCCEEDS IN 38th MPDC
 
     The UP Mindanao Debate Society reaped awards in the recently concluded 39th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship (MPDC) held in Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) on February 22-24, 2019. The grand finals saw UP Min Team A composed of Andres Karl Segovia (IV – BA Communication Arts), Bryle Matthew Bacatan (IV – BS Food Technology) and Frederick Omalza (IV- BS Biology) defend the motion that proposed the progressive media’s rejection of journalistic objectivity in an unjust, post-truth world against defending champions and hosts, MSU-IIT Team A. Omalza was announced as the best speaker of the grand finals and MSU-IIT as the open category champion.
     The bi-annual MPDC was done in the Asian Parliamentary format which saw thirty-four teams from 17 debate institutions from all over Mindanao gathered to compete against each other in four preliminary rounds where teams in government (affirmative) and opposition (negative) benches debated in motions on diverse topics such as education, Philippine politics, popular culture, and socio-legal issues. 
     The top 8 college teams were selected based on their scores in the preliminary rounds and were pitted against each other once more. During the quarterfinals, UP Min Team A faced Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan) Team A on a motion that discussed whether or not those that are convicted of heinous crimes should be allowed to opt for aversion therapy. 
     After winning on a unanimous decision in the quarterfinals, UP Min Team A faced the top breaking team of the tournament from West Mindanao State University in the semifinals on a motion that weighed on the abolition of regional wage boards. Team UP Mindanao won on a 4-1 split against WMSU and was announced to debate in the grand finals against MSU-IIT Team A. 
     Competing judges from UP Mindanao were also awarded medals as they were recognized as part of the top 10 judges; Aleimar Villabrille (IV- BS Computer Science) was hailed as 7th Best Adjudicator while Sarika Rey (IV-BA English) was recognized as 9th Best Adjudicator. 
     This is the second time that UP Mindanao has reached the grand finals of the prestigious competition after consistently breaking into the finals series before. 
 
 
16. DEBSOC IN 4th ATENEO PEACE DEBATES
 
     DEBATE SOCIETY sent two teams to the 4th Ateneo Peace Debates held on 16-17 February 2019 in Ateneo de Zamboanga University. Team Dis-UP-pointments was composed of Jesus Roberto Dos Remedios, 1BSB; Karyn Thea Rivera, 1BSFT; and Bonseurv Marayag, 1BSAnth. Team UP-set had Renz Carl Ybanez, 1BACMA; Jherson Gutierrez, 1BSFT; and Dana Isabelle Aca, 1BSB. Subsidized Adjudicator was Bryle Matthew Bacatan, 4BSFT.
     On Health, the team defended motions to abandon the gene-editing technology that focuses on race/looks, and for terminally-ill people the right to access treatments that have not completed clinical testing. On Media, they rejected the motion on Facebook's recent attempts to police fake news. On Economics, they moved to suspend all labor benefits in times of economic crises; they defended state capitalism over liberal capitalism. On Religion, the teams rejected the commercialization of Philippine Religious Festivals (Sinulog, Hermosa, etc.); and rejected the Catholic Church's role in poverty alleviation.
     Jesus Dos Remedios was awarded as 2nd Best Speaker and Dana Isabelle Aca, 6th Best Speaker.
 
17. MESSAGE OF CHANCELLOR CONCEPCION AT THE ANNIVERSARY OPENING FESTIVITIES, 01 FEBRUARY 2019

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. It's not a recycled day. Everyday is a new day and I find that amazing. A series of new beginnings, of new opportunities. I hope you find that hopeful and inspiring. To me the very idea is a very interesting one. This phrase by the way came from John Denver who wrote it in a song. Today, 2019 is new. Malapit na ang chinese new year. Every minute that we get is new. It will never be 8:55AM, Feb 1, 2019 again. That moment in time happens once and if we waste it, we waste it. We are not handed down a series of yesterdays but new opportunities. The present is a gift and it's not recycled. We'd like you to nurture this idea and use it to move forward because we are celebrating the 24 years of existence this month of the University of the Philippines Mindanao. Next year we are 25, and kung wedding, ang tawag doon ay silver anniversary. That's a quarter of a century. and that is a milestone in our lives. If you talk to the pioneers of UPMin--the pioneers are the batch 1 students, silang mga taga CSM, mga batch one yan sila--they know what this place looks like when they came in as first year students. We had practically nothing. We didn't have this, we didn't have those. We didn't have roads. We didn't even have water. So, when we look at the past years of UP Mindanao, we can see that the institution has gone through a lot of experience that are both painful or exhilarating or both at the same time and they all helped us know more about ourselves, and learn more about this institution. Twenty-four years ago UP Mindanao was in a small rented office. There were three employees: the president, the officer-in-charge Dr. Rogelio Cuyno and one employee, Ms. Ana Gualberto. Three employees and we were trying to link up the University to the different government agencies and the different schools. A few years later more people began to come in, katulad nila Ting Nanola, iyong mga nasa admin ngayon, sila Nilo Oponda, sila Tony Obsioma, they started coming in 1997 and then we started to grow in number. We rented an old office of Dole Corporation in Ladislawa Village, downtown Davao City. It was really an old building and we all fit there: classrooms, registrar, kasya lahat ng tao doon. Later on (when we moved to this campus site) we got funds to build one side of this our administration building. When it was built, some of the offices began to move into this building. Another six years forward we got funds for this (other) side of the building. A few more six years we got funds to build a library and the road going to Kanluran. In the past six years we got a lot of funding for new equipment: new sound systems and air conditioners that actually make you feel cold; computers that your see. Several structures: the cultural center for the CHSS; the CARIM building; the library; the SOM that willl be rehabilitated and rebuilt into a large spanking building; faculty and staff housing; a new dorm next year; the sports complex and a road network. One of the new things that is exciting for me is the technology transfer office where were can turn the researches that have been developed into products and to try to find uses for them so that they really return to society for the greater good of the greater majority. These opportunities exist for you today. From today until the next six years or so, they will continue to come. New people, new partners. So, we have to get ourselves ready for this growth spurt. That's going to happen to UP Mindanao within the next four years. For the new batch of freshmen and for those who are continuing, there's bound to be a growth spurt and I hope that you are able to grow with that in terms of your character in terms of your being a better human being. We have a lot of proposals that are being given to us. Like the possibility of opening a College of Architecture, Design, and Engineering. That is one of the dreams of the University of the Philippines Mindanao. We deserve this college, right? For our 100% passing, or maybe 99% passing, we deserve this. There are proposals being crafted now for a College of Human Kinetics where we can teach sports, sports management, body movement, and the like, for the Mindanawon. So we can have a healthier population. Yes, today is just the first day of the rest of our lives. Whatever transpired yesterday are points of learning to be a better individual and better human being, points for UP Mindanao to be a better institution. Welcome to today!