January 2019

The

BUzzette AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER

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

JANUARY 2019 | Vol. XI Issue 1

issuu.com/thebuzzette_bicoluniversity

ISSN 2094-3991

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PRESIDENT’S OUTBOX

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e welcome 2019 full of things that have never been. It’s another new chapter in the book of our lives that needs to be written.

With the many blessings of the past year, we welcome 2019 with gratitude in our hearts and optimism in our souls as we anticipate more good things and good stories to come!

Challenges and detours will always be part of our journey, but with renewed commitment and courage, you and I, together, can face all these with fortitude in spirit and perseverance in our steps. Let us anticipate with boldness and clarity of vision the road we are taking and the directions we shall be moving as we celebrate our 50th year as a strong academic institution in the Region.

Come and continue walking and dreaming with me as we sustain the gains of the 50 years and build more milestones for the years ahead, because the best, is definitely, yet to come!

Welcome back and the happiest of 2019 to come for Bicol University!

News | P3 CHED-ROV orients BU officials and personnel on Institutional Sustainability Assessment

BU President Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas delivers his acceptance speech upon being conferred the Most Outstanding CEO- Global Education Award by the Asian Council of Leaders, Administrators, Deans and Educators in Business (ACLADEB) during their ASEAN+ Convention 2019 last January 24 at Puerto Princesa City in Palawan province.

BU Pres recognized as ‘Most Outstanding CEO’ by ACLADEB

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nce again proving himself as a true leader and educator, Bicol University President Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas was awarded the “Most Outstanding CEO- Global Education Award” by the Asian Council of Leaders, Administrators, Deans and Educators in Business (ACLADEB) during their ASEAN+ Convention 2019 last January 24 at Puerto Princesa City in Palawan province.

Themed: “Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0): Its Impact to Business, Education and Industries in the ASEAN Region, in the Age of Emerging Technology,

Disruption and Change”, the said gathering is the fifth convention of the same name. It is an annual event organized by ACLADEB, which gathers and recognized school administrators, officials, deans, business educators, industry partners, and business chambers from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Being the premier state university in the Bicol region, BU (specifically, the BU College of Business, Economics, and Management) is one of the ACLADEB ACLADEB | P8

Deans and Directors gather to discuss plans for BU 50th Founding Anniversary

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n preparation for the upcoming celebration of another major milestone in the history of the university, Bicol University’s academic Deans and Directors were gathered this January 31 by BU President Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas to refine the plans for BU’s 50 Founding Anniversary Celebration.

Among those present in the said meeting were BUCBEM Dean Dr. Eddie See, BUCSSP Dean Atty. Alex Nepomuceno, BUGC Dean Dr. Rosemarie Jadie, BUPC Dean Prof. Ma. Merlie Arbo, BUCN Dean Prof. Maria Bernardita

Feature | P4-5

The Great Overhaul

Palacio, Prof. Aurora Monjardin (in behalf of BUCAL Dean Dr. Leticia Lopez), BUCE Dean Dr. Lorna Miña, BUIA Director Arch. Reynaldo Nacional Jr., BUCS Dean Prof. Jocelyn Serrano, BUGS Dean Dr. Antonio Payonga, BUTC Dean Prof. Maria Asuncion Oronan, IPESR Director Prof. Carina Sales, BUCM Dean Dr. Ruben Caragay, BUCAF Dean Dr. Gerardo Ocfemia, BUCENG Dean Engr. Amelia A. Gonzales, and Prof. Joseph Bustamante (in behalf of BUCIT Dean Dr. Jonathan Arroco).

For their crucial role in the BU50th | P8

News | P7 University of Arizona visits Bicol University

2 DSWD, BUEMD, LGU Guinobatan and Ligao awards funds to 76 skills training participants

The BUzzette

NEWS BUCE helps out displaced families of Tiwi with PFA in relief operation

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ilestone moments in Bicol University Extension Management Division (BUEMD) took place last January 25 as the said office, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the local government units (LGUs) of Ligao and Guinobatan conducted the awarding of the Seed Capital Fund (SCF) to the 76 project participants of the ‘Skills Training on Swine Raising cum Hog Production’.

In the morning of January 25, BUEMD officials and staff pay courtesy call at the office of Guinobatan Mayor Ann Yap Ongjoco.

Along with representatives from DSWD, BUEMD and LGU-Guinobatan awarded the SCF, amounting to Php 270 thousand, to 27 project participants in the ‘Skills Training on Swine Raising cum Hog Production’, conducted in Malabnig, Guinobatan, Albay -the skills training supports the microenterprise development initiative of the DSWD-BU Skills Training Program.

The project beneficiaries represented eight barangays in Guinobatan, namely Malabnig, San Rafael, Bubulusan, Mabulod, Lumicao, Sitio Mabatano, Bubulusan, Sitio Mabugos, and Minto. During a simple turnover ceremony, the BU extension project implementers and project facilitators conducted a refresher lecture-discussion with the beneficiaries. Regular monitoring shall be done by the project proponents.

In the afternoon of the same day, BUEMD and DSWD then went to Ligao City and joined Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua in the awarding of the SCF for the 49 project participants in the ‘Skills Training on Swine Raising cum Hog Production’ conducted in Paulog, Ligao City.

Just like in Guinobatan, there was a simple turn-over ceremony which included a refresher lecture-discussion with the beneficiaries, as well as regular monitoring by the project proponents.

The President of the Association received the SCF amounting to Php 490 thousand for their ‘Swine cum Hog Production Project’ beneficiaries in Ligao City. (Ms. Prima Lou Imperial –BUEMD)

Bicol University College of Education (BUCE) Faculty Association (BUCEFA) conducts relief efforts for displaced families due to typhoon Usman, in Tiwi, Albay last January 24.

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hirty-three faculty members of Bicol University, together with three staff members from the BU Extension Office, participated in the PFA (psychological first aid) and relief operations organized by the college through the Bicol University College of Education (BUCE) Faculty Association (BUCEFA). The said activity, held this January 24, was conducted for the benefit of the displaced families in the evacuation camp of Cararayan-Naga Elementary School in the municipality of Tiwi, Albay.

The contingent left the BUCE campus at 7:00 am and arrived at Cararayan-Naga Elementary School, the evacuation site, a few minutes before 9:00 am. After some preliminary protocols, the faculty volunteers were assigned to four rooms designated for four groups of evacuees who were residents of Brgy. Maynonong in Tiwi. The groups consisted of senior citizens, pregnant and lactating mothers, elementary pupils, including day care and kindergarten pupils.

Originally, there were also groups for the junior and senior high school students, and the recipients of the Pantawid Pamilya Program (4Ps), but the said students were attending classes while the latter were claiming their benefits at the municipal center.

The groupings were created for the psychological first aid (PFA)

sessions, where the typhoon victims were asked about their issues, concerns and needs. As part of the ethical considerations involved in the activity, no pictures were taken of the participants. Instead, the volunteers were required to submit a written documentation of the proceedings of the PFA a week after.

These volunteers, who were given a PFA orientation on January 18 by Dr. Hennie Lomibao and Prof. Maria Elena Ahorro, faculty members and resident counselors of BUCE, conducted the inquiry either by interviewing individual evacuees or organizing them in smaller focus groups.

After the PFA session which ran for more or less an hour, the evacuees were requested to gather in front of the school’s stage for the short program and the donation-giving. Games were held for the children and adults.

The children’s knowledge on calamity preparedness was quizzed in an interactive contest where they had to choose from three options held by three BUCE volunteers. They had to run to the faculty-volunteer holding the letter of their choice.

At the end of the program, the Dean of BUCE, Dr. Lorna Miña, gave her short message followed by the representative from the local government unit of Tiwi who was in charge of the evacuation center. As an intermission number, both the BUCE volunteers and the evacuees joined the dance activity led by Dr. Marcia Corazon Rico, BUCE’s Associate Dean. It culminated with a prayer by Dr. Angela Lorenza, the Literature and Language Department Chairperson.

The PFA with relief operation benefitted around two hundred individuals from 49 families that are currently housed in the said evacuation center. As of that day, the evacuees in Cararayan-Naga Elementary School are composed of 95 males and 113 females, with 84 learners, 18 senior citizens and two persons with disabilities. (Julius Embile –BUCPRO/ Prof. Ma. Cienna Jaucian –BUCE)

AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Dr. Renelyn E. Bautista Associate Editor Gladys S. Serafica Circulation Manager Mary Ann M. See Layout Artist Patrick M. Pablo Writer Julius Justino B. Embile Contibutors Ms. Prima Lou Imperial – BUEMD, Prof. Ma. Cienna Jaucian – BUCE) Photographer Elizabeth Jemly M. Baliguat Editorial Consultants Dr. Helen M. Llenaresas & Dr. Reina O. Habalo Overall Consultant/Publisher Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Chan

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The BUzzette

NEWS

Stakeholders in medical profession discuss med trends in BUCM’s convention

G As a step in ensuring the institutional sustainability of Bicol University in the key areas of quality teaching and learning, an orientation for the Institutional Sustainability Assessment (ISA) was organized by the BU Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), through the Internal Quality Assurance Office (IQAO), this 30 January 2019 at the BU College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL) Amphitheatre.

CHED-ROV orients BU officials and personnel on Institutional Sustainability Assessment

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s a step in ensuring the institutional sustainability of Bicol University in the key areas of quality teaching and learning, an orientation for the Institutional Sustainability Assessment (ISA) was organized by the BU Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), through the Internal Quality Assurance Office (IQAO), this 30 January 2019 at the BU College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL) Amphitheatre in the university’s main campus in Legazpi City.

The said event was attended by BU Deans, Directors and concerned personnel for them to be oriented on the ISA by the quality assurance team the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office V (CHED-ROV), namely Dr. Ma. Teresa de Alban, Atty. Christian Equizabal Rivero, and Ms. Jean Cardiño.

The ISA is a quality assurance process that assesses the institutional sustainability of a Higher Education Institution (HEI) along five key result areas: governance and management, quality of teaching and learning, quality of

professional exposure (including research, creative work and innovation), support for students, and relations with the community.

The ISA looks into the internal quality assurance systems of an HEI and determines whether these systems lead to the attainment of the desired quality of outcomes.

As part of its mandate to promote quality tertiary education in the Philippines, CHED implements the ISA with a developmental approach in order to support the development of HEIs like BU into mature institutions by engaging them in the purpose of promoting a culture of quality.

Dr. Helen M. Llenaresas, BU Vice President for Academic Affairs, welcomed the participants in the gathering and expressed the call for commitment for the ISA. Stating the purpose and significance of the orientation, BU President Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas also graced the event with his presence and received the call for a culture of quality towards becoming a world-class university.

CHED-ROV| P8

40 new professors sworn in duty during mass oath-taking ceremony

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arking a significant milestone in their career in Bicol University, forty (40) newly promoted professors from various BU colleges were sworn to their respective duties in a mass oath-taking ceremony this January 07.

The said ceremony was held after the flag ceremony and was organized by BU’s Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO). The oath of office was administered by BU President Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas.

In addition, three newly hired instructors were also sworn in during the said ceremony, namely Mr. Arnold Platon (BU Polangui Campus), Ms. Ava Nicole Azotea and Mr. Mark Dave Azores (both from BU College of Industrial Technology).

The personnel who took their oath were

Marking a significant milestone in their career in Bicol University, forty (40) newly promoted professors from various BU colleges were sworn to their respective duties in a mass oath-taking ceremony this January 07.

instructors who were promoted to professor level. Dr. Mascariñas also announced that more promotions and reclassification for BU personnel are to be expected this 2019.

nge Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

athering the medical professionals, students and stakeholders across the Bicol region, the student body of the Bicol University College of Medicine (BUCM), through the Anatomy Teaching and Learning Academic Society (ATLAS), conducted their Bicol Health Convention (BHC) 2019 this January 26 at Hotel St. Ellis in Legazpi City.

Themed: “Sulog (Bicol term for ‘water waves’): Exploring Trends and Updates in the Philippines Healthcare System”, the participants of the said convention were treated into interactive lectures from prominent authorities in the medical field, namely Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Dr. Nestor Santiago, mental health specialist Dr. Gia Sison, infectious disease expert Dr. Kate Leyritana, and the country’s leading forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun.

At the start of the convention, the participants were welcomed by BUCM Dean Dr. Ruben Caragay who delivered the opening message in behalf of BU President Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas. Dr. Caragay expressed his profound pride with BUCM’s students in the way they organized the annual convention.

The first keynote speaker was DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Nestor Santiago, who talked about the about the DOH’s “F1+” Universal Healthcare Plan. As per the assistant secretary, the government looks to make the Filipinos the healthiest people in Southeast Asia by 2022 by creating better health outcomes through more responsive healthcare systems and more equitable healthcare financing.

Next to lecture the participants at the convention is Dr. Gia Sison –an renowned occupational medicine specialist, breast cancer survivor and advocate, and social media personality. During her talk, Doc Gia (as she is called by her Twitter followers) explains challenges in a medical professional and students’ mental and emotional state like ‘burn-out’ and the achievement of worklife balance.

After the lunch break, the first of the afternoon lecture was that of Dr. Kate Leyritana. Dr. Leyritana –a well-known leader in infectious diseases, particularly for her contribution in the field of HIV/AIDS. Dr. Leyritana discussed the Philippines’ current status in terms of HIV/AIDS and the steps taken to control it.

Last to conduct her lecture is the first Filipino Woman Forensic Pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun. Dr. Fortun has gained national recognition for her involvement in investigations of high profile cases, like the Ozone Disco Fire and the Dacir-Corbito case.

After each lecture, the resource persons entertained reactions and questions from the audinece. Through the open forums, the convention participants not only enriched their knowledge in current medical trends, but also in the resource persons advocacies, like better healthcare, HIV/AIDS and mental health awareness.

FEAT

The BU

THE GREAT OVERHAUL

Technology Convention and Exhibit:

By: Julius Justino B.Embile

With research and extension playing a major role in the push for Bicol University’s transformation towards becoming a w BU’s Office of the Vice President for Research, Development and Extension (OVPRDE) meets the challenge by initiating o strategic structural reform in recent years.

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Prof. Ronel Dioneda

BU Vice President for Research, Development and Extension

ccording to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in order for a higher education institution (HEI) to be SUC Level 5 –the status that classifies the HEI to be at par with top universities across the globethe HEI must prove their quality on four key areas: Instructions, Research, Extension (community relations), and Administration. Each of these key area presents unique targets designed to critically identify the HEI worthy of the recognition.

In BU, one of the office that is most directly burdened in meeting this challenge is the Office of the Vice President for Research, Development and Extension (OVPRDE), as its mandate is to be the university’s authority in research and extension –two of the key areas in the SUC levelling.

“First of all, what we did that is very crucial is the operationalization of the new structure of Bicol University in terms of research and extension, as embodied in the BU Code of 2016,” stated BU Vice President for Research, Development and Extension (VPRDE) Prof. Ronel Dioneda.

In his explanation on the OVPRDE’s efforts in the university’s drive towards becoming a world class university, Prof. Dioneda started with the significance

of the creation of the O based research and ex 2018, when Prof. Dione the vice-president gav coordinative mechanis OVPRDE and how it rel According to Prof. coordination is critical a of the reforms for management, implem aspects. These policies operational capacity of colleges, and enhance and extension, in resp attaining the State Uni Level 5 status and ultim university.

Addressing the Huma

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he first step has

for frontline servi Hiring the right people is a key move in the e the university’s RDE. A research output to ma by international standa more of its faculty mem Prof. Dioneda ad challenging to convinc in research because i research requires not o

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Chang

TURE

Uzzette

Techno Transfer Event

Regional Consortium in Extension

Strategic Planning & Team Building Seminar- Worshop

world-class university, one of its most Office of the Vice Presidnet for Research, Development and Extension Staff

OVPRDE and the disciplinextension networks. In June eda took the helm as VPRDE, ve prudent attention to the sms among offices under the lates with the colleges. . Dioneda, the RDE offices’ as it serves as the foundation research and extension mentation and all other were formulated to improve f OVPRDE, in relation to the the output of the research ponse to the BU’s dream of iversity and Colleges (SUC) mately become a world-class

an Factor been to hire capable staff

ices of the RDE divisions. e, as per the Vice President, effective drive in upgrading And, in order to increase the atch that which is required ards, the university needed mbers engaged in research. dmitted that it had been ce people to being involved it is not for everyone, as only intellect but also energy,

resources, fitness, time, and a lot of passion. The lack in any of these requirements will often result to poor research output.

To solve this dilemma, Prof. Dioneda proposed career growth incentive for faculty members who are involved in research. He explained that research and extension are also an academic function that is now of equal footing with instruction. To advance the careers of faculty members career advances, involvement in RDE is required.

But, despite this, the OVPRDE does not impose restrictions upon professors and instructors as it recognizes their jobs to be fully focused on instructions. The trick then is to train and mentor the faculty members, particularly the young or new ones, in research.

Another strategy is to bring together people from various expertise to come together in projects. This creates more holistic result, as well as giving the researchers a more accomplished feeling of being a part of collaboration of minds.

College and University Level Reviews

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econd, the OVPRDE looked into the policy infrastructure in the operationalization to synergize with the current structure, as there have been new centres created under the office. To address this, the vice president initiated the creation of a protocol for the management and technical review of research and extension proposals from the colleges.

Before, there were delays because the proposals

ge Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

would tend to pile-up and be pipelined for days of review by experts. Through the new protocol, the proposals would be reviewed at the college level before being admitted by the university’s research division for university level review.

“There had been pending proposals, but we have succeeded in having them approved,” said Prof. Dioneda. One of these proposals is the institutionalization of the new review committees, like the Ethics Review Committee (university level) that would check the ethical adherence of research proposals on sensitive topics like those on the vulnerable sectors and animal research, and the Technical Review Committee (college level) that would check the proposal in its specific field of study.

Prof. Dioneda explained that one of the challenges of researches is the attainment of Ethics Clearance. Despite having a well-created research output, there had been researches that failed publication and patent as they did not pass ethical reviews.

The OVPRDE also aims to improve the college level technical review through the College Review end Evaluation Committee (CREC).

The Faculty-Student Collaboration

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nother policy proposed by OVPRDE is the policy of mentoring and integration

6 Feature | P4-P5

of the faculty in the discipline-based RDE centres. It comparatively creates a mentoring mechanism for the faculty, for them to create higher quality researches, on aspects like patent applications, novelty of research, and research writing to increase chances of publication in highend publication portals.

Quality of publication, as per recognized standards like SUC levelling and ISO, are also to be constantly safeguarded. Prof. Dioneda stressed the need to protect researches from “predatory journal” –publications that use and waste researches without having the source properly credited.

There is also a policy passed to create collaboration between graduate students and faculty members in the conduct of thesis and dissertations. The Graduate School, being mandated to be the “apex of knowledge” serving as the training ground for future researchers, are to be assisted in the actualization of the said mandate by having Graduate School faculty members engage in research efforts.

As for the proposal system for the aforementioned policy, whether it be by the university or externally funded, the proposal would still have to comply with the necessary university approval. Once the proposal is approved, the implementation of the student’s thesis or dissertation may be hooked-up to the faculty member’s approved research proposal.

If the research output is published and obtains intellectual property, both the faculty member and student will be recognized as co-authors as the output answers the challenge of being institutionally warranted. As most of the Graduate School programs require thesis, having the students participate in research creation greatly helps in increasing the number of researches by increasing the number of people involved.

The Research and Extension Interdependence

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t is also worth noting that there had been a noticeable blur in the functions of the research and extension divisions.

According to Prof. Dioneda, this was done to bridge the two division as there had been a need to update the agenda for BU’s research and development (R&D).

Before, the university’s research and extension divisions have operated separately. Back then, those from the

The BUzzette

extension services tend to be questioned on the research basis of their extension engagements as most of these engagements are not based from R&D researches.

In response, the OVPRDE included this blur in the boundary between the two outfits for them to work in synch with each other. This resulted into a new operational system that has been dubbed “Research and Innovation”.

To do this, the OVPRDE first looked into the manual of operations to check the continuum and identify the overlap of functions between the two divisions. It has been identified that both the research and extension divisions cannot fully function without each other, as research outputs serves as the basis or foundation of extension engagements and the extension division (as the office that directly engages with the community and concerned sectors) has first-hand information on the needs that requires research.

With the new system that eliminates the barrier between research and extension, the two divisions’ correlated functions create an interdependent productive cycle.

considers the many agenda of the national and regional government units, it makes it easier to formulate actions that aligns with those of other government offices that opens up opportunities for fruitful partnerships. This creates a tactical advantage for BU to address another factor in raising the university’s status –the establishment of linkages.

The move of working with government agencies and other external partners also greatly help the university in terms of resources, as research and extension engagements gains access to external funds. In 2018, around Php 73 million in external funding was channelled to BU through Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) for RDE partnerships, greatly reinforcing the university’s humble Php 11 million RDE fund.

As per BU’s RDE vice president, this is proof that BU has been making waves in the stance of anchoring BU relevance.

Having an aligned agenda with the national and regional objectives have kept BU in the loop among leading institutions in the Philippines.

Relevance is Key

Vision for the Future

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he challenge of maintaining relevance in an ever-changing world is also another matter that the university’s RDE arm is looking to address. Prof. Dioneda emphasized the need to update the research and development agenda of BU (that recently expired) to be attuned to the prevailing viable agenda of the global, national and regional agencies for current developmental needs.

In every level, there had been various updates in developmental priorities with a very wide range, from the Duterte Administration’s “Ambisyon Nation 2040” to BU President Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas’ 10-Point Agenda.

Each regional government also has their own targets from their own translation of the national agenda, like the Department of Agriculture (DA) on food security, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on environmental stability, and many others.

For OVPRDE, the solution is to establish a unified agenda for all divisions and offices under the RDE, after considering all the agenda that may affect their work. This creates a clear direction for the university’s RDE and eliminate the hit-and-miss system.

As the new unified RDE agenda

his campus will become a magnet

for innovation and industry partnerships. BU will be a leader, if not the main provider, of technological innovation of Bicolano and national industries,” responded the VPRDE when ask how he envisions the future of the university after their planned reforms.

He said these changes in BU’s RDE operations is only the beginning and more still needs to be done. Another objective that the OVPRDE will be taking care of in the future is the development of the university’s production facilities and the promotion of intellectual property protection, especially in terms of technological incubation for business adoption.

Prof. Dioneda explained that it is a must to improve the country’s ‘Innovation Index’ by promoting RDE investment, because the Philippines’ present RDE investment is below UN standards. Thus, the direction of OVPRDE is towards technocommercialization.

“Our stance and actions taken are very simple, yet very well-calculated. We respond to the needs of our partner clients and collaborators, and yet we make the most of the opportunity in delivering goods for the university along the way,” said Prof.

Dioneda.

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Change

7

The BUzzette

NEWS BUCE welcomes SEA Teacher Delegates

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he Bicol University College of Education (BUCE) formally welcomed the three exchange student-teachers, under the SEATeacher Project of the South East Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), during a welcome and orientation program this January 14 at the BUCE’s CTE Training Hall in Legazpi City.

BUCE organized the said program for I Gusti Ayu Ananda Pandansari, 21 years old and a fourth year student specializing in English Education from University of Mataram in Indonesia, and for Natwaraphorn Thammakas, 20 years old and Chalit Meekom, 21 years old, both specializing in English, Counselling Psychology and Guidance from the Lampang Rajabhat University in Thailand.

During the program, they were introduced by the international linkages coordinator of the college, Dr. Hennie Lomibao.

Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas, SUC President IV of BU, and Dr. Helen Llenaresas, the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), were present to share their messages to the foreign students and the audience composed of BUCE faculty from the elementary, high school and college levels, and selected practice teaching students.

Also, during the program, Dr. Marcia Corazon Rico, Associate Dean, introduced the key officials and students of the College of Education. This was followed by the orientation given by Dr. Lorna Miña, Dean of BUCE and the heads of the BUCE Integrated Laboratory School (BUCEILS)-Elementary and High School Departments, Prof. Rita Lina and Prof. Merriam Maldo, respectively. Dr. Sherry Orozco, the Experiential Learning Coordinator, gave some final reminders to the delegates before the end of the program.

Now on its seventh batch, the said project, also known as the “Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia” started mobilizing practice teaching students across memberuniversities in Southeast Asia in 2016. With its first time to participate, BUCE also sent two of its own student teachers to University of Mataram-Indonesia in the persons of Jesse Nacional, a mathematics major and Maria Shelley Sabularse, an English major, while Carla Amarille, also an English major and Kaila Mae Llorando, a biology major were sent to Suratthani Rajabhat University in Thailand for the one-month international teaching immersion.

In attendance during the program were the five student teachers from the Palawan State University who were also received by BUCE a week earlier. They are delegates of the Erasmus Mundus Student Exchange Program of the Network of Normal Schools (3NS) of which BUCE is a member. (Prof. Ma. Cienna Jaucian – BUCE)

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University of Arizona visits Bicol University

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einforcing Bicol University’s international linkages, BU International Relations Office (BUIRO) hosted the visit of seven representatives of the University of Arizona (UA) USA this 14 January 2019. The UA visitors met with the officials of BU and had ocular visits at the main and Daraga campuses for the possibility of creating fruitful partnerships with the university.

The visitors from the Universityv of Arizona were composed of Asian Pacific American Student Affairs Director Kenneth Importante, Global Experiential Learning Director Danthai Xayaphanh, Guerrero Student Center Director Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Soltero, Common Ground Alliance Assistant Director Sarah Gonzalez, Native American Student Affairs Director Rachelle Simpson, University of Arizona Consultant Jane Pizzalato, and Immigrant Student Center (John Jay College, New York) Manager Cynthia Carvajal.

During their visit in Albay, they were accompanied by IRO Director Dr. Dimson M. Rivero

Bicol University, namely the BU College of Science (BUCS), BU College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL), and BU College of Business, Economics and Management (BUCBEM), and were hosted by the BU International Relations Office (IRO).

and his staff members. Upon the guests’ arrival in Legazpi City Airport, they were greeted by Dr. Rivero and his retinue and headed straight to BU Main Campus for their collaborative meeting on sending students or faculty members for cultural immersion and academic exchange.

To further give the guests an idea of Bicol University’s capacity, the visitors were toured in three colleges, namely the College of Science (BUCS), College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL), and the College of Business, Economics and Management (BUCBEM).

First to be visited was BUCS, where they were escorted by Computer Science and Information Technology (CSIT) Department Head Prof. Rodel Naz. The guests were shown BUCS’ facilities, including their laboratories.

The group then went to BUCAL, where they were welcomed by the Dean Arizona | P8

BUTC CSC president joins international conference in Malaysia

Bicol University Tabaco Campus (BUTC) College Student Council (CSC) President Angela A. Britanico (4th year, BS Food Technology) participates in the Second Global Goals Model United Nations, this January 11 to 14 at Sunway Putra Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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icol University Tabaco Campus (BUTC) College Student Council (CSC) President Angela A. Britanico travels to Malaysia and met up with fellow Asian delegates in the Second Global Goals Model United Nations held this January 11 to 14 at Sunway Putra Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

e Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

The said conference was geared to provide a platform for young future diplomats to encourage themselves in understanding global issues and its policies and share perspectives between participants from different background and ethnicity.

This gathering was also highlighted by various talks and sharing from some distinct personalities who have great advocacies for the youth to understand their roles and responsibilities. It also includes forum focused on certain issues related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Britanico is a fourth year student taking up Bachelor of Science in Food Technology. She was then assigned to champion the SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and her country allocation was Bahrain.

(Anthony Dacuya –BUTC; photo credits: Global Goals Model United Nations)

The BUzzette

NEWS

BU Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO) announces the winners of the “BUGASS goes to Winter Wonderland” Holiday Decorations Contest earlier this morning (January 03). Winning first place is the combined efforts of BU Supply Office and BU-PDMO; followed by BU-OP in second place; and BUGS and BU-OVPAF which tied at third place.

PDMO and Supply Office win HRMDO’s ‘Winter Wonderland’ Holiday Décor Contest

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s the last activity of the holiday celebrations, Bicol University Human Resource Management and Development Office (BUHRMDO) announced the winners of the 2018 Winter Wonderland-themed Christmas Decorations Contest, participated by various collages and offices in BU’s main campus.

During the announcement of winners, held after the flag ceremony this January 03, the combined effort of the University’s Supply Office and the Physical Development and Maintenance Office (PDMO) was declared the

ACLADEB | P1 member-institutions in the country.

For this year, Dr. Mascariñas was invited in the convention as one of the few equally distinguished nominees for the “Most Outstanding CEO Asia Award 2019”. The BU President was nominated after being ranked and selected by the ACLADEB Committee on Awards and later endorsed by the ACLADEB Executive Committee.

During the day of the convention, held at the City State Asturias Hotel in Puerto Princesa City, it was announced that Dr. Mascariñas has won the said award. The ACLADEB Board of Trustees conferred the said award to the University President, accompanied by BUCBEM Dean Dr. Eddie See and other BU officials, during the gathering’s Cultural and Awards Night.

According to ACLADEB, Dr. Mascariñas was deemed worthy of the recognition because of his immense contribution to the field of executive leadership, organizational development and international relations. His work has set remarkable benchmarks for multifarious human activities, and also brought hope to so many who aspire to do the same while inspiring others to yield more.

As per the council, his deeds have mirrored the values that the ACLADEB has set to

first place winner and were given a plaque and cash prize.

Earning the second place victory is BU’s Office of the University President (BUOP), followed by the Graduate School (BUGS) and the Office of the Vice-President for Administration and Finance (OVPAF) who were tied at third place.

During the awarding of the winner for the contest BU-HRMO also gave gift packs as tokens to all the collages and offices who participated in the competition, as they also exerted considerable effort, exhibited artistic

talent and resourcefulness in their bid for victory in the contest. In total, there were eleven (11) participating units in the contest.

Themed “BUGASS goes to Winter Wonderland”, the contest tested the competitors’ creativity as the decorations are to be composed mainly of affordable or indigenous materials as the organizers strictly required at least 80 percent of the materials used to be recyclable.

After weeks of preparation, the judges for the contest inspected the output of each competing unit last December 28.

According to BU-HRMDO Head Dr. Jennifer T. Barrameda, deciding the winners for the contest was very challenging as each participating office has made commendable efforts. But more importantly, the HRMDO chief expressed her joy in the unity and camaraderie shown by BU personnel in their efforts, which is in line with the celebration of the Christmas season.

BU50th | P1 planning for the said celebration, the group was also joined by BU Alumni Relations Office Director Dr. Rosana Madrona, BU Communications and Public Relations Office Director Dr. Renelyn Bautista, BU Office of the University President –Chief of Staff Dr. Reina Habalo, and BU General Alumni Association Incorporated President Mr. Edgar Barrameda.

Among the agenda discussed during the said meeting, the body focused on the creation of the guidelines for the planned ‘Search for Fifty Outstanding BU Alumni’, particularly in the system of nomination and criteria for selection.

accomplish.

CHED-ROV| P3 As the said orientation involves the aspect of quality assurance, the event was also spearheaded by BU’s IQAO, led by Director Engr. Medel E. Aligan.

Atty. Christian Equizabal Rivero of CHEDROV discussed the CHED Memorandum No. 46 series 2012: ‘An Overview and Requirements for Horizontal Typology’, which is one of the legal mandate that created the ISA. Dr. Ma. Teresa G. de Alban, Chief Program Specialist of CHED-ROV, shared her knowledge on the ISA framework. She also taught the participants how to accomplish the ISA Self-Evaluation Documents (SED) that will be required for CHED’s ISA visit. The last key presenter was CHED-ROV’s Education Specialist II Ms. Jean E. Cardiño, who talked about the ISA process and the role of CHED-ROV. An open forum was concluded so that the participants can clarify the matters that were presented.

According to CHED, institutional sustainability is being assessed because it is the moral and legal responsibility of every HEI to provide quality programs to its students, as well as to be efficient and effective through quality systems. For BU, it was a challenge in quality that it openly accepted in its drive towards becoming a world-class university.

Arizona | P7 Dr. Leticia M. Lopez. They were also introduced to some of the college’s faculty members and were shown some of BUCAL’s facilities like the library and the DWBU broadcast station.

The UA Team visited BUCBEM where they were joined by the Dean Dr. Eddie S. See. After a brief tour in BUCBEM, Dr. See gathered the college’s department heads and faculty members for a meeting with the University of Arizona representatives. The dean spoke with pride about the many recent milestones of BUCBEM, including the current status of the college in the national rankings due to their high number of licensure examination passers.

After lunch, the group were then taken to the Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga for them to experience the beauty of Albay’s nature, culture and history. The guest then returned to BU Main Campus for their courtesy visit with the university’s top officials, with BU President Arnulfo Mascariñas, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Dr. Helen Llenaresas, and Vice President for Administration and Finance (VPAF) Dr. Amelia Dorosan.

Among the many higher education institutions (HEIs) in Southeast Asia, Bicol University was one of the few considered by the University of Arizona for possible partnership. The University of Arizona have already created connections with HEIs in countries like Vietnam and Malaysia, and now they are looking to do the same in the Philippines.