December 2017

DECEMBER 2017 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12

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

AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER

BU Christmas Party Highlights P.3 ISSN 2094-3991

The PRESIDENT’S OUTBOX

My Dear Bicol University Family:

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here are three Christmas symbols that I believe every one of us identifies with – the Christmas tree, the Belen, and the simple “parol” or Christmas lantern. Every house, no matter how small, must have a Christmas tree – brightly decorated with shiny, colored balls and other trinkets that sparkle and shine; the evergreen tree replica, a remembrance of hope and renewal. On the other hand, the “Belen” or the Nativity scene, depicts the greatest story ever told – the birth of the King of Kings, the greatest gift of God to the world. Perhaps, it is closest to our hearts because it depicts the picture of a lowly family in all its basic simplicity. The “parol” or Christmas lantern that hangs on almost every window, door, or hallway of a Filipino family’s house, is a reminder of the night, when the light of a single star that shone brighter than the rest, guided the Wise Men to the true King.

As we welcome Christmas in our homes and in our Bicol University family, let us look for the goodness in each of us, that will rekindle our hope and give us the time to renew ourselves and persevere in our unified direction. Let the Christmas trees in our homes remind us of the beauty of hope and the necessity of renewal. But let us never forget that the real reason behind every holiday trimming is Christ, the true king, and the greatest gift God has ever given us. Look long and hard at the “Belen,” the nativity scene that points us back to our faith and guides us to the real path of love. As we gaze at the lovely scene of Christ’s birth, let us be moved to love what we believe as the “unlovable” and bear each other’s burdens in the confines of the University community and beyond. Let us be the hands that heal, the eyes that love with compassion and humility – accepting each other’s flaws and limitations, and the lips that proclaim each other’s strengths and accomplishments instead of lips that spread unfounded stories, rumors, and lies.

This Christmas and throughout the coming years, let peace be upon us; good health abides us, the love of family and friends, keep us, and Christ’s love always be with us.

A Merry and Blessed Christmas to one and all!

Bicol University was commended by the City Government of Legazpi through its City Planning Development Office for the institution’s sustained and innovative efforts on mainstreaming migration and development in Legazpi City.

Legazpi City commends BU for innovative efforts on mainstreaming migration

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he City Government of Legazpi headed by Mayor Noel E. Rosal through its City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) awarded a Plaque of Commendation under the Institutional Category to Bicol University in recognition for the sustained and innovative efforts of Bicol University on mainstreaming Migration and Development in Legazpi City on December 8, 2017 during the Solidarity and Fellowship Night in celebration of the 2017 OFW Family Week and Month of Overseas Filipinos.

The commendation came as a result of Collaboration, organized the first migrants’ the two years sustained engagement of Bicol and children of migrants’ organizations in University through its contributions to the Legazpi City; (e) acting as mentors of selected mainstreaming efforts of LGU-Legazpi on its LGU through the City Government Peer to priority project of Migration and Development Peer (P2P) Mentoring, (f) spearheading the (M&D). Among the various achievements database creation for OFs in Legazpi City, of Bicol University were the (a) research on and (g) drafting a Manual of Operations for “Profiles of Overseas Filipinos (OFs) and their Migration and Development organizing.

Families in Legazpi City towards a Model The research, completed in December Framework for Migration and Development 2015 and turned over to SAC and LGUOrganizing; (b) introduced the Triangulated Legazpi the following year has been presented Collaboration process for strengthening to the United Nations Development Program productive partnerships; (c) creating a Model (UNDP) Program Officer Cecile Relliant during Framework for Migration and Development her visit in 2016 at Hotel SAC-SEDP/p.2 Organizing; (d) using Triangulated Venezia, Legazpi City.

Bicol U, Climate Change Office signs MOA on CORE initiative

he Bicol University (BU) entered into a TClimate Memorandum of Agreement with the Change Office, the executive arm of the Climate Change Commission last December 8, 2017 at La Piazza Hotel and Convention Center, Legazpi City.

The MOA focused on enhancing and building climate change and disaster risk resilience of communities and ecosystems through the Communities for Resilience (CORE) initiative. The CORE aims to transfer knowledge on the CORE CORE/p.2

Noel Gaerlan, Climate Change Office Undersecretary, Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas, BU President, and Fernando Gonzalez, Albay 3rd District Representative sign the Memorandum of Agreement on the Communities for Resilience (CORE) initiative last December 8, 2017 at La Piazza Hotel and Convention Center, Legazpi City.

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SAC-SEDP p.1 Dr. Renelyn E. Bautista, authorized Bicol University representative for Migration and Development (M&D) and member of the M&D Research Team, was also accorded the Plaque of Recognition for Individual category along with Prof. Ruby Briones. Other line agencies and partners were also among the list of awardees.

Bicol University is a member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Legazpi City Committee on Migration and Development (M&D) and has been actively involved in various M&D initiatives in partnership with the Social Action Center-Diocese of Legazpi (SAC-Legazpi) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Legazpi.

Present to hand in the awards were Mayor Noel E. Rosal, Councilors Atty. Melissa Abadesa Armedillo, Vincent Baltazar, and Engr. Joseph B. Esplana.

The audience was entertained by the various performances from UST-Legazpi, St. Raphael Academy, Legazpi City High School, Pag-asa National High School, Divine Word College of Legazpi, and other DepEd schools.

CORE from p.1 components to target the local government units, concerned National and Regional government agencies, and partner academic institutions.

One of the expected outputs of CORE is the enhanced awareness and competencies of local project stakeholders on the concepts of climate change and disaster risk management and importance of mainstreaming climate/disaster risk information in local governance.

Under the MOA, BU shall have the following responsibilities: (a) send qualified personnel and officials, who shall allocate time to actively participate and complete the Training of Trainers program for the CORE; (b) efficiently carry out and implement the training program to the selected LGUs as approved by CCO; (c) assign one personnel to act as coordinator and liaison to CCO; and (d) coordinate with the CCO on the conduct of activities, training, administrative and logistical arrangements and assistance, financial or otherwise, necessary to complete the activities covered under this MOA. Moreover, BU is expected to conduct training for selected LGUs based on the following training module: Decision Maker’s/LGU Planner’s Module on Basics of Ecotown, Natural Resources Assessment, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, Financial Literacy on Climate Change, Environment and Natural Resource Accounting, Geographic Information System Mapping and Project Development.

Meanwhile, the University may publish results or any related information arising out of the agreement for scientific, academic, and other non-profit purposes to promote knowledge sharing, however, upon approval in writing of the CCO.

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Legazpi City Government: BU is 100% smoke free school T

he Bicol University as an academic institution received a red award as a 100% smoke-free school during the awarding held on December 6, 2017 at the Kanzo Hall and Restaurant, Penaranda St., Legazpi City. The award was given by the City Government of Legazpi through its City Health Office headed by Dr. Fulbert Alec R. Gillego.

BU advocates for a cleaner and healthier campus, thus, it ensures the campaign for a 100% smoke-free through policies and information dissemination among its stakeholders. Students conduct activities and join the Local Government Units in its initiatives on this effort.

It can be noted that last year, the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) and College of Education Integrated Laboratory School (CEILS) received the Red Orchid Award from the Legazpi City Smoke – Free Committee and were certified as two of the “100% Smoke-Free Establishments”.

Together with BU are government agencies, hotels and hospitals who obtained the red award category. Other categories are white, pink, red and hall of famer. BU has to receive the red award for three (3) consecutive years to be a Hall of Famer. RF Zoilo/BU EMD

BRFICC to develop, implement R&D for BU the MSMEs and BMBEs in Bicol

Through the Bicol Regional Food Innovation and Commercialization Center’s integrated research and development program, the Center will attempt to enhance the Bicol MSMEs and BMBE’s food products, improve the packaging using industrial designs, and value-adding activities.

enhance the innovative capacities of the TandoMicro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Barangay Micro Business Enterprises

labratory, technology information system, technology training, technical consultancy and advisory, and packaging and labeling.

Meanwhile, Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas delivered a message while Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara also delivered his speech.

(BMBEs) in the region, the launching of the Bicol Regional Food Innovation and Commercialization Center (BRFICC) Cum Stakeholders Meeting was held on December 19, 2017 at the BRFICC, BU East Campus.

The Center will help entrepreneurs to improve the quality of their existing products and/or develop new ones. It will serve as incubation area to create and test new products, from concept to marketing.

It can also link the MSMEs and BMBEs with the array of services and resources for them to be more efficient, more competitive, and consequently more profitable.

Through the center’s integrated research and (R-L) Bicol University President Arnulfo Mascariñas, DOST V development program, it will attempt to enhance Regional Director Tomas Briñas, and BUCIT Dean Jonathan the value of these food products by innovating on Arroco observe how the product (sweet potato) inside the their present form, improving the packaging using vacuum fryer is being processed. The vacuum fryer reduces industrial designs and value-adding activities. fat absorption by as much as 42% by using low temperature The BRFICC have the following components resulting in high quality fried fruit and vegetable products. such as technology hub, food research and testing A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Change Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

Let peace be upon us this Christmas and Christ’s love be with us!

2017 University Christmas Party

AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER

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EXECUTIVE UPDATES (Editor’s Note: This column is reserved for information dissemination on policies, directions, targets and other relevant data for general awareness of the BU community following the principle of transparency and accountability in good governance.)

Bicol University President Arnulfo Mascariñas and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal led the inauguration of the BU Bridge which connects the BU IPESR and BU-Albay Sports Complex to the new infrastructures of the University - the Women’s Dormitory, Men’s Dormitory and Students Union Center. The Angle Parking was also inaugurated on the same day, December 12, 2017. Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Eduardo Cerbito, Harong kan Sagrada Familia Rector blessed the two new infrastructures.

BU to offer BS Meteorology in 2018

strengthen the capability building of Tto filloweather forecasting and research and the need for an immense atmospheric

science education in the country, Bicol University will offer the BS in Meteorology in 2018 The program was initiated in 2011 by establishing a group dubbed as “Consortium for Meteorology Education and Training” that will pioneer the implementation of BS Meteorology course in the country. BU joiined the consortium along with three other state universities: Mariano Marcos State University, Central Luzon State University, and Visayas State University.

Along with the K to 12 program, the revised BS Meteorology curriculum which will be offered in the College of Science Physics Department,

will be anchored to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics strand of senior high school.

Meanwhile, a closing program of Meteorology Training for the BU professors who will teach the BS Meteorology was held on December 19, 2017 at BUCS. Dr. Lemuel Aragones, Director of University of the Philippines Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology and Dr. Jerry Bagtasa, IESM Deputy Director for Research trained the BU faculty members. Cyrelle Nuñez/Unibe

BicolUniversity TheBicolUniversity @BicolUofficial

he Bicol University Tabaco Campus Tseminar Education Club spearheaded a as one of the activities during the 2017 Education Week last December 6, 2017 held at Dean Geronimo Lavilla Hall which was attended by the Education Students.

Two speakers were invited to discuss on the topics, “Modern Teacher: Advocate of Peace and Unity” and “Localized Instructional Materials using Indigenous Technology (LIMIT).”

Jeremy A. Cruz, one of the speakers who is the current Principal III of Pag-asa National High School discussed “Modern Teacher: Advocate of Peace and Unity.”

The participants were amazed and inspired when Mr. Cruz tackled how teachers must deal with students to advocate peace and unity. He also showed how he practiced to attain peace and unity in his school in a way that he is an advocate of peace and unity especially for the Special Education (SPED) and various projects in the community.

Meanwhile, in the afternoon, another seminar was held at the same venue on how to create an Instructional Materials (IMs), especially with limited supplies.

Mrs. Teresita Biron, an assistant principal II for Cluster 1 of DepEd Legazpi City taught the students how to overcome difficulties in creating IM’s when the future educators are assigned to rural places wherein materials are not available. She said that teachers must be creative and innovative in teaching and creating their IM’s. Domingo Bognalbal/BUTC

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EDITORIAL BOARD Renelyn E. Bautista, Ph.D. Editor-in-Chief Mary Ann M. See Circulation Manager Joshua Caleb P. Pacleta Writer/Layout Artist/ Photojournalist Patrick M. Pablo Photojournalist Cyrelle Nuñez/Unibe Anthony Dacuya Domingo Bognalbal/BUTC Rowena F. Zoilo/BU EMD Contributors

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‘Modern Teacher’ stressed in BUTC’s seminar-workshop

The BU faculty who will teach the subject for the BS Meteorology in the College of Science finished the Meterology Training last December 19. Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas, BU President, along with the BU Vice-Presidents and the officials of UP Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology grace the ceremony.

Reina O. Habalo, Ed.D. Helen M. Llenaresas, Ed.D. Editorial Consultants Arnulfo M. Mascariñas, Ph.D. Overall Consultant/Publisher