Highlights of September 2021

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Achievements

Chancellor’s Report to the President’s Advisory Council

MINDANAO COVID-19 SITUATIONER

September 2021 PAC Report 1 The COVID-19 Tracker (https://ncovtracker.doh.gov.ph) had the following data for the six Mindanao regions as of 30 September 2021:

330,645 total cases since the start of the pandemic

19,719 active cases

5,526 deaths since the start of the pandemic

The quarantine status of Davao City’s quarantine status was lowered to the more relaxed General Community Quarantine on 06-30 September 2021, from the “General Community Quarantine with Heightened Restrictions” in effect starting July to August 2021.

CONTRIBUTE TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

COVID-19 Initiatives & Collaboration

In September 2021, the UP Mindanao Multi-Purpose Gym and the Faculty and Staff Housing Building completed their 17th month of use as COVID-19 Isolation Facilities of the Davao City government. The memorandum of agreement was extended for another three months beginning 20 July 2021.

The Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao provided SARS-COV-2/ COVID-19 Diagnostics Training to six (6) medical personnel of Kidapawan City Molecular Lab on 29-30 September 2021, as part of the continuing UP TRAINS Program to assist the Department of Health.

PGC Main in UP Diliman provided Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) equipment and manpower to PGC-Visayas and PGC-Mindanao to further expand their capacity for genomically-informed biosurveillance in the country.

In September 2021, PGC Mindanao prepared to procure equipment and consumables for the project, “Enhancing National Pandemic Preparedness and Response in the Philippines Through Genomic Biosurveillance: Utilizing the UP PGC Network in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” funded by the Department of Budget and Management. Also, PGC Mindanao received a donation of OT-2 Liquid Handler Labware from Opentrons and Bacillus subtilis protein secretion toolkit from Stanford University.

“Molding Learners into Leaders:” Knowledge Creation and Public Service; Promote Access and Diversity

Towards producing competent and ethical graduates

The BS Architecture program again witnessed a 100%-passing performance by its graduates in the August 2021 Architects Licensure Exam, adding to its roster eight new licensed architects:

Antonrey Catabas, BSA 2018
Kenneth Dolero, BSA 2018
Yna Corazon Espinosa, BSA 2018
Nezcel Federizo, BSA 2018
Kate Gallofin, BSA 2018
Emman Militar, BSA 2019
JC Waldo Serquiña, BSA 2019
Duane Soliva, BSA 2018

Image for bulletin above: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PZB6q6gDVesd9QzKDWySWZAqI3d6jFOu/view?usp=sharing(CREDIT: Graphic courtesy of UAPSA)

UP Mindanao welcomed two batches of students – from Academic Years 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 – in its first online University Convocation on 13 September 2021, marking the start of classes for the First Semester of Academic Year 2021-2022. Chancellor Larry N. Digal delivered the welcome remarks and reminded the students to uphold the university’s values of “Honor and Excellence;” Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Nilo B. Oponda presented the current remote learning solutions; Dr. Exequiel P. Dimaano, BS Food Technology 2007, gave an inspirational message. Faculty and staff members, and members of the student councils, were introduced. University Registrar Vladimer B. Kobayashi reported that the 368 new students comprising batch 2021 represented an 18% increase over the 312 students of batch 2020, who were also presented and welcomed in the ceremony. A new degree program was introduced: the Associate in Arts in Sports Studies (AASS). Arabella Fiona E. Cebulleros (1BS Biology), the highest University Predicted Grade (UPG)-holder of batch 2021, delivered the student speech while Al-Abedin A. Salahuddin (2BS Biology), the highest UPG-holder of batch 2020, led the Student Pledge.

The Koro Kantahanay chorale’s video recording of “Kayo Mungay Daun,” a tribal song, was played in the Convocation. Two video predictions were given their premiere screenings:

UP Mindanao 2021 Campus Tour video (short version), produced by the UP Mindanao Virtual Tour Committee and the BACMA Sibya Media Production Unit (https://youtu.be/cXI_rcSdXpQ)
“Mensahe,” a short film of a student undergoing remote learning, by BA Communication and Media Arts student Jeneva Pauline Zulueta (https://youtu.be/HNDuMid-w64).

UP's Pride and Glory