April 2017

APRIL 2017 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 4

Bicol University, Legazpi City Telefax No. (052) 480-0167 www.bicol-u.edu.ph

AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER

Graduation Highlights P.3 ISSN 2094-3991

The PRESIDENT’S OUTBOX

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ICOL UNIVERSITY GRADUATES OF 2017, I share in your tremendous pride and joy for having reached the most awaited moment of your academic life. Your perseverance has paid off. You are now graduates from a reputable University that continuously celebrates its journey of excellence in its 47 years of existence. You have been blessed because Bicol University has made you ready to face the new set of challenges that will definitely be part of your journey after graduation.

I am grateful for the trust and confidence that your parents and family have given to Bicol University. Their faith in an exceptional education as exemplified by Bicol University’s history of excellence, has motivated them to entrust the molding of your young minds and hearts to your various professors and other personnel who have contributed much to your growth. I am confident that having been equipped with the right knowledge, skills, and attitude, you are now ready to test the waters of destiny and find your rightful places in your respective worlds.

As you prepare to leave the familiar pillars of your Alma Mater, bear in mind the values of Character, Leadership, Scholarship, and Service. These are the values that you must live by if you are to live your life with passion and excellence. These are the foundations by which you can become change agents for social development and transformation if you are to continue the legacy of excellence that your beloved Bicol University has worked hard to achieve and maintain.

But never be blind followers of excellence.

Remember the words of Aristotle: “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

Go out into the world and be a living monument for Bicol University.

Congratulations!

Cherrylyn Persia Labayo, an AB in Economics Magna Cum Laude graduate, with Pres. Mascariñas, after receiving the Presidential Award for the Most Outstanding Graduate during the 47th Commencement Exercises of Bicol University held at the BU-Albay Sports Complex on April 6, 2017.

5,908 BU graduates to join PH labor force; graduation rate up by 13.12%

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n its 47th commencement exercises, Bicol University (BU) has sent off 5, 908 graduates from its seven campuses into the “real world” who are about to join the country’s labor force.

BU President Arnulfo Mascariñas (CBEM) – 597; and College of Social confirmed 3,143 graduates from the Main Science and Philosophy – 338.

Campus, East Campus, and Daraga From April 7 to 11, 1, 955 graduates Campus during the graduation ceremony from the satellite campuses marched on held at the BU Albay Provincial Sports stage and received their diploma. The Complex, Legazpi City on April 6, 2017.

Polangui Campus (PC), Tabaco Campus, The following colleges have produced Gubat Campus (GC) and CAF had 649, the corresponding number of graduates: 482, 451, and 373 graduates respectively.

GS – 38; College of Arts and Letters (CAL) With the theme “BU @ 47: Celebrating – 371; College of Nursing – 102; College of Our Journey of Excellence,” Dr. Patricia Education (CE) – 493; College of Science Licuanan, Commission on Higher – 198; IPESR – 94; College of Engineering Education Chairperson served as the – 300; IA– 70; CIT – 542; College of keynote speaker.

Graduation/p.4 Business, Economics and Management With an MA in

BU caps third straight RME top 1 placement

or the third time in a row, Bicol University (BU) clinched the top spot in the Registered FRegulation Master Electrician (RME) board exam released on April 15, 2017 by the Philippine Commission.

Cedie Pamplona, incoming fourth year student, lorded over 3, 129 RME examinees nationwide with an outstanding rating of 94%. Pamplona continued BU’s remarkable streak in the said test joining Alexander Zurbito Jr. and Reymark Embate who topped the September and April 2016 RME exams respectively.

The BU graduates who also penetrated the top 10 are Reymond Borbe who ranked

8th with a rating of 90% while Melchor Bombales and Jorem George Villareal both capped the 10th place with a score of 89%.

BU has produced 35 new RMEs. Meanwhile, for the Registered Electrical Engineers (REE) exam, BU has produced 14 REEs. The PRC announced that 994 out of 2,213 passed the REE exam and 1,817 out of 3,130 in the RME.

AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER

ISSN 2094-3991

4 BU grads dominate 2017 Midwife Licensure Exam

dding to the roster of topnotchers in the A institution, four Bicol University (BU) graduates placed in the top 10 passers in the

Changing of the Guards: Dr. Antonio P. Payonga, the new BU Graduate School (BUGS) dean, is congratulated by Dr. Victor Soliman, former BUGS dean and now VP for Research and Extension, during the turnover ceremony held at the BU Amphitheater, April 25, 2017.

Soliman is new VP for Research, Development and Extension

o achieve its vision to become a world-class institution, Bicol University formally TExtension established and activated the Office of the Vice President for Research, Development and (VPRDE) and its centers and divisions on April 21, 2017 at HERRC Amphitheater, East Campus.

Headed by Dr. Victor Soliman, former BU Graduate School Dean, the VPRDE shall be in-charge of the over-all administration and supervision of the university research, development, and extension undertakings.

The VPRDE shall have the following functions: Supervise the planning, organizing, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the research and extension agenda of BU; initiate the formulation and approval of university policies and procedures related to research and extension services; coordinate the preparation and management of research and extension budget of BU; establish linkages with other agencies to promote the research and programs of BU; coordinate with various colleges and research and extension centers to ensure that their plans and programs are harmonized with the thrusts and priorities of BU; and perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the University President.

The VPRDE’s Divisions are the Research and Development Management Division headed

by Dr. Luis Amano, Extension Management Division by Dr. Lester Narvaez, Publication and Knowledge Management Division headed by VP Soliman, and Intellectual Property Management Division directed by Engr. Christopher Pacardo.

The six centers of VPRDE are the BU Regional Center for Food Safety and Quality Assurance headed by Prof. Ida Francia Revale; BU Center for Teaching Excellence directed

by Dr. Rebecca Rosario Bercasio; BU Center for Gender and Development under Prof. Ma. Elaine Salazar; BU Regional Center for Science and Mathematics Education Development supervised by Prof. Magnolia Vida Cano; BU Center for Technology Commercialization and Enterprise Development headed by Engr. Arnulfo Malinis; and BU Center for Policy Studies and Development led by Prof. Erwin Torres.

April 2017 Midwife Licensure Examination (MLE).

Donna Mae Imperial of BU Tabaco Campus (TC) ranked second in the national exam with an outstanding rating of 90.80%. Edgar Philip Patriarca placed fourth with a score of 90.15% while Darlene Grace Ranera of Polangui Campus landed in the fifth place with 89.90%. Rounding up the top 10 is TC’s Kate Cabataña in rank nine who scored 88.80%.

Bicol University attained an over-all passing rate of 100% with 101 passers. The Professional Regulation Commission announced that 965 out of 2194 passed the MLE. Meanwhile, 13 Bicolanos dominated the top 10 passers in the said exam with only two topnotchers from other province.

Legazpi Youth Camp from p.4 kan (Organization of Migrants’ Families in Legazpi) gave their solidarity messages during the Mayor’s Night.

Team building activities and indigenous games (Laro ng Lahi) were also conducted.

The youth camp was capped with a Eucharistic Celebration officiated by Rev. Fr. Jeronimo Ma. Sevilla. Atty. Melissa A. Armadillo, Chairperson on Committee on Migration, presided over the awarding ceremony along with the other partnerrepresentatives. Mayor Noel E. Rosal gave the closing message after which, the Signing of Covenant was held.

The summer youth camp is one of the series of trainings and activities under the M&D program, which is an off-shoot of the UNDP Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) cascaded to local government units (LGUs). The City Government of Legazpi has a long-standing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on a continuing triangulated collaboration engagement on Migration and Development with Social Action Center-Diocese and Bicol University. (Renelyn E. Bautista/CPRO)

Payonga sits as new Grad School dean

Bicol University Extension FP. ormer Service Center Director, Dr. Antonio Payonga, was formally proclaimed as the new Dean of the BU Graduate School during the turnover ceremony held on April 25, 2017 at the College of Arts and Letters Amphitheater.

Payonga replaced Dr. Victor Soliman who is now the new Vice President for Research, Development and Extension.

Meanwhile, former Acting Dean of BU College of Nursing, Prof. Ruby Mediona, is now the BUGS Associate Dean.

Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry alumni and professors together with BU President Arnulfo M. Mascariñas participated in the 28th Philippine Agricultural Engineering Week held at Legazpi City Convention Center on April 23-29, 2017.

PAEW from p.4 alumni and faculty participated in the 28th PAEW. Some of the

facilities of the University were utilized for the different activities and accommodation of the students.

Meanwhile, BU President Arnulfo Mascariñas, who delivered a welcome message during the opening ceremony held on April 25, served as one of the honoured guests in the Ribbon Cutting of Agri-Fishery Exhibits.

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Change Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

CONSOLIDATED REPORT ON GRADUATES From SY 1970-1971 to SY 2016-2017 BU@47: CELEBRATING OUR JOURNEY OF EXCELLENCE

COLLEGE/PROGRAM

TOTAL NUMBER OF GRADUATES

Graduate School Doctoral Program 652 Masteral Degree 2,142 Program Non-Thesis Program 57 Dr. PATRCIA B, LICUANAN Diploma Program 342 Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education BUGS Total 3,193 Baccalaureate Program 95,768 College of Arts & 5,255 Letters College of Nursing 5,281 College of Science 3,476 College of Education 15,466 College of Engineering 10,250 Institute of Architecture 224 College of Industrial 13,790 Technology Inst. Of Physical 853 Education, Sports & Recreation Gubat Campus 2,564 College of Agriculture 8,901 & Forestry College of Business, 9,214 Economics and Sen. CYNTHIA A. VILLAR Management Chair, Senate Committee College of Social 5,992 on Agriculture and Food, Sciences and and Senate Committee Philosophy on Environment and Polangui Campus 5,437 Natural Resources Tabaco Campus 9,065 Secondary Program 24,743 Elementary Program 9,517 GRAND TOTAL 133,221 Dr. CESAR H. MEDINA CESO V Director, Source: BU Registrar’s Office CHED, Region VI

Mr. EDUARDO B. ELLANA Manager for Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance (Masterfeeds LP, Alltech Company, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Atty. RODOLFO A. SALALIMA Secretary, Department of Information and Communication Technology

Photos by: EARL EPSON L. RECAMUNDA | JOSHUA CALEB P. PACLETA | JOHN ROY DAVID S. TIANSAY | Communication and Public Relations Office

AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER

ISSN 2094-3991

Agri Engineers First mayoral summer M&D youth camp spurs focus on migrant families convene to address

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nchored on the theme, “Pagtiripon, Pagkaburunyog, Pagkasararo, Pagkasararo Pasiring sa Danay na Paguswag kan Pamilya asin Komunidad,” the first mayoral summer M&D youth camp on April 25-26, 2017 at Bigaa Elementary School, Legazpi City, spurs focus on issues that matter to migrant families.

The M&D (Migration and Development) Action Center-Legazpi, and Bicol University, the Camp commenced with a Eucharistic Celebration M&D Summer Youth Camp conducted parallel headed by Rev. Fr. J.C. Omar Socrates Vita, sessions on leadership, financial literacy, and Diocesan Commission on Migrants and Itinerants disaster preparedness. The parallel sessions for Chairman. Dr. Renelyn E. Bautista, Bicol the migrant youth were given by Nydia Delfin, University Communication and Public Relations National Youth Commission ROV Commissioner; Office Director, presented over a hundred youth Marilyn Paje, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy participants covering all education levels and Director; and Myra Marbella of Legazpi City served as facilitator and documenter; while Ms. DRRM Office.

Zorayda Revelo, Legazpi City Schools Division Rev. Fr. Bernard Collera, SVD, Divine Word PSDS, gave the welcome remarks. Engr. Joseph College of Legazpi Guidance Counselor, gave a B. Esplana, Head of the City Planning and separate session for guidance counselors and Development Office (CPDO) introduced Rev. Fr. advisers in attendance on Guidance Counseling Rex Paul B. Arjona, SAC Executive Director, who for Children of Migrants. Vicente Baltazar III, keynoted the event.

City Councilor and Chairman of the Committee Organized by the City Government of on Youth Development, Yco Tan Jr., President/ Legazpi in coordination with Children of Migrants CEO of TANVERA Corp., and Jose San Jose, in Legazpi (CML), Department of Education president of Organisayon Youth Camp/p.2 Legazpi City Schools Division, the Social nin Pamilyang Migrante Graduation from p.1

Psychology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Pennsylvania University, Dr. Licuanan has been professor and chair of the Department of Psychology and academic vicepresident of Ateneo

The BU Alampay: Symbol of Bicol University education.

de Manila University. She also served as president of Miriam College.

Cherrylyn Persia Labayo, an AB Economics Magna Cum Laude graduate of CBEM received the Presidential Award for Scholarship and was proclaimed as the Most Outstanding Graduate of BU Batch of 2017.

Meanwhile, Hezel Barquez, BS Entrepreneurship Cum Laude graduate of CBEM and Christian Romano, BSEd Major in English Cum laude graduate

of CE, received the Presidential Award for Leadership and Service respectively.

STATISTICS BU has marked a 13.12% increase in graduates this academic year from 5,223 graduates in 2016 to 5,908 this 2017.

The BU Class of 2017 has produced 6 Magna Cum Laude (MCL) graduates, 608 Cum Laude (CL) graduates and 44 with Academic Distinction (AD). CBEM has produced the most number of CL graduates

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food problems, security solutions

gricultural Engineers gathered A anew in their annual meeting to address agricultural problems and seek technological solutions to help secure the country’s food needs on April 23-29, 2017 at Legazpi City Convention Center, Legazpi City.

The Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers celebrated the 28th Philippine Agricultural Engineering Week (PAEW) which was highlighted by the conduct of the 67th PSAE Annual National Convention and the 14th International Agricultural Engineering Conference and Exhibition co-located with the 3rd Southeast Asian Agricultural Engineering Student Chapter Annual Regional Convention.

Anchored on the theme “Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers: Prime Movers for the Development and Management of Appropriate Technologies for Food Security”, more than 1000 delegates from Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia convened in the weeklong celebration which included conference, exhibits, technology demonstrations, symposia, plenary and technical paper and poster presentations on the development and trends in agricultural engineering and allied fields.

Likewise, Bicol University (BU) served as one of the main sponsors of the event.

BU College of Agriculture and Forestry students, PAEW/p.2

with 194 followed by CE with 177, GC with 65, CAL with 45 and PC with 43.

It can be remembered that last year, there were 6 MCL, 550 CL and 40 AD graduates from BU. The above mentioned colleges were also the top five colleges which produced the highest number of honor graduates in 2016.

Meanwhile, this year’s graduation rate was the fifth highest for BU in the past 11 years. In 2015, there were 7, 906 graduates; 2014 – 6,683; 2013 – 6,659; 2012 – 6,157; 2011 – 5,238; 2016 – 5,223; 2009 – 4,919; 2010 – 4,864; 2007 – 4,348; and 2008 – 4, 137.

AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER

EDITORIAL BOARD Renelyn E. Bautista, Ph.D. Editor-in-Chief Mary Ann M. See Circulation Manager Earl Epson L. Recamunda Photojournalist/ Layout Artist Joshua Caleb P. Pacleta Newswriter Reina O. Habalo, Ed.D. Helen M. Llenaresas, Ed.D. Editorial Consultants Arnulfo M. Mascariñas, Ph.D. Overall Consultant/ Publisher