October 2018 BUzzette

The

BUzzette AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER

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

OCTOBER 2018 | Vol. X Issue 10

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ISSN 2094-3991

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PRESIDENT’S OUTBOX

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Happy World Teacher’s Day! oday, and every year, we set aside this time to give due honor to the many men and women whom we call “teachers”. I feel privileged to be part of a select group of people who is both a precursor and prime mover of all professions. But more than that, teachers serve as the actual and living proof that becoming catalysts and change agents for social transformation and development, is highly possible when your heart is in the right place, and your skills are well-honed.

A teacher’s heart is always in the right place – with the students whom we have professed to love, mold, and liberate from the entanglement of ignorance, apathy, and cynicism. Often the most misunderstood, a teacher’s eyes looks beyond the pains of her profession and searches for the good in every student. Tirelessly working with a seemingly boundless energy, a teacher’s hands is always open to serve every possible need even when her own are not met. Willing to embark on unfamiliar grounds and apprehensive assignments, a teacher’s feet always moves forward; continuously facing the unknown, bravely enduring the constraints of her profession, and forever holding classes that learning may continue. A teacher’s mind never rests – always preoccupied with thoughts and tasks to be performed beyond teaching; with the goal of being the best, and doing the best, all for the glory of her profession and students.

For all these, and more, I say a deep and heartfelt thank you! And as I express my gratitude, I offer a simple prayer of hope and thanksgiving to the God of all creation that you may all be infused with renewed energy and passion to continue holding the Future in your hands!

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Scholarship of Teaching

Local leaders, stakeholders and university officials joined BU President Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas in burying the symbolic marker during the ground-breaking ceremony for the BUCDRRMC last October 14.

National and local leaders join ground-breaking of Php750 million BU Convention and DRRM Center

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s another step in the Albay provinces’ initiative for disaster risk mitigation, leaders in the national and local levels gathered at Bicol University’s Main Campus in Legazpi City last October 14 for the blessing and ground-breaking ceremony of the Bicol University Convention and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (BUCDRRMC).

This new facility is located behind BU’s Institute of Physical Education, Sports and Recreation (IPESR), accessed through the road between the new BU Library and the university swimming pool. The project has an estimated budget of Php 750 million, and a

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land area of 7,500 square meters.

Once completed, the building will pave the way for the establishment of facility dedicated for disaster resilience and would serve as a venue for socio-economic activities like conventions and conferences. It will also act as a command center and temporary evacuation center, as well as repository of critical and official documents, during adverse events.

The said event was attended by the Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who also participated in the ceremonial burying of the marker. He was joined by Albay BUCDRRMC | P8

BU conducts internal quality audit in preparation for ISO transition

nsuring the university’s commitment in adhering to its quality standard, offices and units of Bicol University will be undergoing their four-day internal quality audit this October 05, 08, 09 and 10.

Staying true to the BU Quality Policy, the audit will make sure that the university is in line with the latest standard for quality, which is the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001-2015.

“In essence, the objective of our internal audit is to check and assist the offices in

Feature | P4 BU Centre for Teaching Excellence: Paving the Path to World-class Quality in the Teaching Practice

aligning with our quality management system (QMS), which is even stated in our Quality Policy,” explained Mr. Cyrus Barrameda, head of BU’s Internal Audit Services (BU-IAS).

According to the BU-IAS, the internal audit also looks to raise the readiness of the university for its transition from ISO:90012008 to ISO:9001-2015 certification. The audit will be done by selected teaching and nonteaching personnel who will serve as internal quality auditors (IQAs).

ISO transition| P6 The auditors will

News | P7 Reps of Belgium’s VIVES University of Applied Sciences visits BU to sign agreement on partnership

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The BUzzette

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL One Death Too Many On April 9, 2017, Mylene VerasDurante, a public school teacher and a mother of two, wrote on her Facebook post: “I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say, “Because of YOU, I didn’t give up.”

A year later, her body was found inside her school in Pio Duran, Albay in what is deemed as an apparent rape turned deadly. Police say she shielded her two students from a 17-year-old knife-wielding assailant who attacked them on October 9, 2018.

The death of Durante, a Bicol University Polangui Campus alumna, brought to the fore the dangers that teachers assigned to hardship posts bravely face on a daily basis. The 23-year-old teacher had to travel 44 kilometers, and ride a habal-habal lest she walk just to attend to her classes since the site of the elementary school is in a remote, upland barangay in Oringon, Pio Duran. Constrained geographically and economically, the Principal’s Office became her sleeping quarters for two years. On that fateful night, little did she know that her makeshift bed would also become her death bed.

Durante’s work-related death, however, is not an isolated case. In September, public school teacher, Jay Rubina, killed himself, even hinting in a teacher’s group account on Facebook that he would be the next teacher to commit suicide. In August, a newlyhired kindergarten teacher in Cavite took her own life allegedly due to work overload. Shannen Espino, 23, taught two classes from 7am–4pm with 8 subjects each—compelling her to prepare 8 different logs, 8 lesson plans, and 8 worksheets that she herself

must provide on a daily basis, on top of her assignment at the Office of the Principal. In July, a 21-year-old multigrade teacher from Leyte, Emylou Malate, hanged herself reportedly due to the gazillion paper works that she was required to submit. In March, 23-year-old TLE teacher, Romela Abrantes’ naked body was found hanging at the back of her classroom, with police speculating that she did it because she was raped.

While we, at Bicol University, do not apportion blame to a single entity as suicide cannot be attributed to a lone cause, we also cannot close our eyes and remain silent in the midst of public despair brought about by the recent spate of premature deaths among teachers.

And so, we add our voices to the growing call to initiate wide-ranging reforms in the education sector to protect and improve the quality of life of all teachers in the country. We urge the Department of Education (DepEd) to review its policy on the workload of

teachers, and reduce the clerical and paperwork placed on their shoulders.

We demand that localization among teachers be prioritized to secure their safety and lighten their burden.

We appeal to the government to implement sustainable programs that would integrate mental health promotion and services in schools.

Depression does not have a face.

If we want our teachers to efficiently perform their duties, they must be freed from the shackles that have nothing to do with teaching that bind their hands and feet. Teachers do so much more than teach academics, and so the education sector must ensure a nurturing workplace environment to safeguard their well-being.

The deaths of these young teachers demand the kind of outrage that must drive positive action. Any act of tokenism can only be considered palliative. In the context of workrelated deaths, one death is one too many.

We love to hear voices from across the University and encourage article contributions. You may send your articles to bu-cpro@bicol-u.edu.ph. Looking forward to hearing your voices!

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AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Dr. Renelyn E. Bautista Associate Editor Gladys S. Serafica Circulation Manager Mary Ann M. See Writer Julius Justino B. Embile Layout Artist Patrick M. Pablo Photographer Elizabeth Jemly M. Baliguat Editorial Consultants Dr. Helen M. Llenaresas & Dr. Reina O. Habalo Overall Consultant/Publisher Arnulfo M. Mascariñas, Ph.D.

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Chan

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The BUzzette

OPINIONS Vantage Point Rebecca Rosario O. Bercasio, PhD Director, Center for Teaching Excellence

In the current affairs of higher education, research seems to occupy the more important status compared to instruction and extension. In fact, before a teacher becomes a fullpledged professor, he must comply with the minimum requirements for accreditation which include research and publication. This undoubtedly supports the scholarship of research.

But what about the scholarship of teaching? Allow me to revisit in this article Boyer’s well-known Scholarship Reconsidered, a groundbreaker in considering teaching as a type of scholarship.

Boyer’s concept of teaching has led to a paradigm shift in viewing teaching as a “preliminary to the real scholarship” or as “a self-contained vocation isolated from the other concerns of scholarship”. His significant work has led to the Scholarship of Teaching or Scholarship of Teaching and learning (SoTL).

Boyer proposed four types of scholarships, one of which is the scholarship of teaching (while the three others are scholarship of discovery, integration, and application). Although critics cite the inadequacy of the language in providing definitive concept of the scholarship of teaching, Boyer’s concept of the scholarship of teaching is a scholarship that integrates the three other scholarships. To him, teaching does not only promote or enable the scholarship of discovery but rather is a part of it, connects with the scholarship of engagement, and facilitates the scholarship of application.

Inspired by the pioneering work of Boyer, Kreber (2001) found from among a group on international panel of experts who have done work on the scholarship on teaching a consensus regarding the important

Scholarship of Teaching components of the scholarship of teaching. These are the following: • Those who practice the scholarship of teaching carefully design ways to examine, interpret, and share learning about teaching.

They contribute to the scholarly community of their discipline.

• Faculty that practice the scholarship of teaching are curious about the ways in which students learn and the effects of certain practices on that learning.

• The scholarship of teaching characteristics that make it different from other forms of scholarship, but it also has characteristics that

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Evidently, the university gives premium to scholarship, recognizing it as one of its pillars which bespeak of its core values as an academic institution.

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encompass the dimensions of the scholarships of discovery, integration, and application.

• Engaging in classroom research is important but not sufficient for the scholarship of teaching.

Now, what about scholarship of teaching in the Bicol University?

Evidently, the university gives premium to scholarship, recognizing it as one of its pillars which bespeak of its core values as an academic institution. Now, I am thinking – was it just a coincidence that BU’s Four Pillars emanated from its College of Education – the bastion of teaching, or should I say, of the scholarship teaching? Perhaps, but I think it is by no accident that the forebears of this College though of Scholarship as one’s of its pillars. All along, in

nge Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

the decades gone by, these educators who were reputable academics had already in them what Boyer is calling as the scholarship of teaching.

In its journey towards its golden anniversary in 2019, not to mention the many years of existence of different units as core institutions constituting what BU is at present, it important to ask whether we have embraced the scholarship of teaching. What have we done as a community of academics? How is nexus between teaching and the other mandates of the university established and addressed to ensure mutual betterment in the delivery of mandates? Have we addressed the lacuna in the act of teaching as one of the scholarships in the University in the context of the 21st century education? How has research in the university informed the act of teaching either by the individual teacher, or collectively by the departments or colleges?

And, of course, as I reflect on this article that I write, what other undertakings should the Center for Teaching Excellence, an emerging center which I currently represent, take? And how about the different departments and colleges – in what ways can they contribute to truly evolve the scholarship of teaching in the University?

Questions such as these, and many more are starting points for the long, arduous, rigorous path towards the real scholarship of teaching in the University.

For now, let this one be a simple reminder to focus on what must be done, individually and collectively as a community of academics, to prove to the forebears of this University that including Scholarship among its four pillars was an apt and erudite decision.

And eventually, the scholarship teaching, as it should be, becomes just as prestigious as the scholarship of research.

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FEAT

The BU

BU Centre for Teaching Excellence Quality in the Te

By: Julius Jus

The term ‘educational institution’ is by itself very self-explanatory, with the words ‘institution’ as the base and ‘education’ as the definer. For an educational institution to be considered for world-class status, the quality of educational service that it provides must be at par with the constantly rising standard of global excellence.

These standards for excellence evolves and adapts with the times, and it is up to the institution to keep up, to reach and sustain this standard. In terms of education, institutions ensure their world-class status by creating mechanism to make sure these standards are met.

In the case of Bicol University, the Bicol region’s premier state university where goal is to achieve world-class status, the strategy in keeping up with the education standard is through the establishment of a division

dedicated to the constant enhancement in the teaching practice. This is the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE).

Through Bicol University’s Board of Regents (BOR) Resolution 047 series of 2015, BU-CTE was created with a vision of promoting innovative instructional practices and a mission of seeking advance responsive, research-based, technologically enhanced, and outcome-based teaching and learning practices.

Upon its establishment, the centre’s prime objectives are the initiation of quality professional development programs, projects and services to BU’s faculty, as well as to educators and teachers in the Bicol region, and to conduct researches which aim to inform, improve and innovate the teaching and learning practice.

To achieve these objectives, BU-CTE has been the university’s arm tasked in providing alternative academic support to students across levels and discipline, particularly for students in the undergraduate and graduate Teacher Education Programs, along research and instructional practices in collaboration with BU’s Graduate School (BUGS) and College of Education (BUCE).

The centre also spearheads collaborative works among offices and units in BU in offering blended learning programs for

both faculty membe Other goals tack partnership engag colleges and units f faculty learning com sharing of good pr be particularly esse being one of its core BU-CTE also loo of a regional cons the integration of re practice. And, thr achieve the ultima teaching through sc “Since the creati idea has always be competitively skille world-class, we (BU class graduates an that is to ensure ex and instructors,” sa O. Bercasio, current In connection achieving a world-c SUC level, the unive its capabilities in a levelling; namely i and extension, all involved in. To a under Dr. Bercasi and projects for ca

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Chang

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Uzzette

e: Paving the Path to World-class eaching Practice

stino B. Embile

ers and students. kled by BU-CTE involves gements among BU’s for the establishment of mmunities to strengthen ractices. This proved to ential in BU with BUCE e institution since 1962. oks for the establishment sortium that focuses in esearch in the academic rough these strategies, ate goal of excellence in cholarly undertakings. ion of the centre, the core een to keep our teachers ed and motivated. To be U) must produce worldnd the key to doing just xcellence in our teachers aid Dr. Rebecca Rosario t Director of BU-CTE. to BU’s push towards class status by raising its ersity focuses in boosting aspects required in SUC in instruction, research of whom BU-CTE are address this, BU-CTE, io, conducted activities apacity building, policy

creation, research and extension.

Despite budgetary constraints, the centre has initiated effective activities in 2018 in terms of capacity building. For the students, these included the training programs of ‘Trans-Teach in Gender Sensitive Environment’, ‘Seminar on Technology Enhanced Learning’, and the ‘Seminar-Workshop on Global Citizenship Education’.

For teachers, the BU-CTE initiated the conduct of ‘Teaching Induction Program for Beginning Teachers of BU’ last May 28 to 31, 2018. The centre also partnered with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in the conduct of the training series for CHED –IDIG Project 3 for Outcome-based Education (OBE).

BU-CTE also focused on hitting its targets as an RDE support service unit.

CTE exercised leadership in preparing short and long term programs, projects and innovations, while leading the acceleration of Teacher Education development through strategic developmental agenda and projects, by exceeding the targets for number of proposals prepared for faculty and students.

For 2018, the centre provided assistance to partner agencies within the geographical areas of coverage, among colleges or units

ge Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

by having 299 teachers and 370 students participate in trainings, seminars, workshops, activities, and conferences, including 97 faculty members involved in CTE research projects, and three faculty members assisted in extension projects.

CTE was also involved in two research undertakings this year on “Mainstreaming Global Citizenship in English Education across Levels in the Philippines and Greece” and “Strengthening Graduate and Undergraduate Academic Curricula toward Outcomes-based Education”.

Like building a strong foundation on solid ground, Dr. Bercasio describes the function of BU-CTE as a support to the support; as teachers drive their students to excel, the centre makes sure the teachers also excel.

Inherent to the noble function of creating leaders and professionals as agents of social transformation and development, academic institutions like BU are mandated to deliver quality education to its clientele. This means delivery of instruction is done according to the highest level of quality standard, ensuring that the needs of learners are met and the challenge of internationalization are addressed.

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The BUzzette

NEWS BU-HRMDO host ‘Workshop on Mentoring and Coaching in the Workplace’

F BU President Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas and BUCIT Dean Dr. Jonathan Arroco met up with officials of BJMP last October 26 for the ceremonial signing of MOA for the conduct of the livelihood training program for ‘persons deprived of liberty’.

BJMP and BUCIT sign MOA for livelihood training program for jail ‘persons deprived of liberty’

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oining in the advocacy of assisting jail residents in their path towards reformation, Bicol University College of Industrial Technology (BUCIT) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) seal their partnership in the conduct of the BU EXPO (Bicol University Expanding Productive Opportunities for Persons Deprived of Liberty) in a ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing this October 26 at the atrium of the Ayala Mall in Legazpi City.

The said MOA signing took place during the BJMP’s 2018 Infotainment Program and Trade Fair, which is in celebration of the 23rd National Correctional Consciousness Week.

The objective of this joint venture between BU and BJMP is to provide technical skills

to persons deprived of liberty(PDL) so that they could have proper livelihood once they integrate back to society.

In the ceremony, the document was signed

by BU President Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascarinas and was witnessed by BUCIT Dean Dr. Jonathan C. Arroco, in behelf of BU. The MOA was a way to formalize the partnership between BU and BJMP, as the university has already been involved in training activities for PDLs. In the BU EXPO in Legazpi City, products made by the PDLs, such as lamps, wallets, home decorations and other handicrafts were the result of the trainings conducted by BU for the PDLs. According to BJMP, the proceeds of the products’ sales are used by PDLs to support their families.

Students conduct celebration program for BUCE faculty for 2018 Teachers’ Day

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howing gratitude for the dedication of those in the teaching profession, the Bicol University’s College of Education (BUCE), through their College Students Council, sponsored a thanks-giving mass and held a program at the BUCE’s CTE Hall this October 05, in celebration of the 2018 Teachers’ Day. The program began with a thanks-giving mass, celebrated by University Chaplain Fr. Ronilo Javines. The program followed soon after the mass, and was attended by faculty members, students and members of the alumni.

In the first part of the program, the students performed a variety of talent presentations in a form of tribute to their teachers. Students from each department of BUCE took their turn in expressing their appreciation to their teachers through their performances and by presenting them with gifts. By noontime, the faculty had a ‘boodle fight’ for lunch.

After a short grace period, the program proceeded in the afternoon. The participants

or its aim of improving service delivery by equipping concerned university officials and staff with needed human resource knowledge, the Bicol University’s Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO) conducted a ‘Workshop on Mentoring and Coaching in the Workplace’ last October 23 and 24 at the BU Higher Education Regional Research Center (HERRC) Amphitheatre, BU East Campus, Legazpi City.

The said two-day workshop was conducted by HRMDO, made possible by the assistance provided by the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) Bicol Regional Office and Albay Provincial Field Office. The gathering was attended by BU officials and personnel, particularly those who are members of the University Faculty Merit Selection Board (UFMSB) and the University Human Resource Merit Promotion and Selection Board (UHRMPSB). The participants include deans and directors, division chiefs and heads of offices.

To strengthen the full implementation of the Strategic Performance Management System (SPMS) and to develop a visible coaching and mentoring culture in the workplace, the workshop was created to enrich the knowledge of concerned BU personnel, based on new developments in the human resource field and in accordance with the identified learning and development needs of the university.

To teach the participants of these new knowledge, Atty. Daisy P. Bragais, CSC-ROV Assistant Regional Director, and Ms. Sharon Faridah A. Flores, Director of CSC Albay Field Office, joined the gathering as the invited Learning Service Providers (LSP).

The partnership is part of the BU’s continued drive towards being a world-class university, as human resource is one of the crucial factors in achieving the said goal.

ISO transition| P1

BUCE faculty members and students attended a thanksgiving mass in celebration of this year’s Teachers Day. were joined by BUCE Dean Dr. Lorna Miña, who led the awarding for the outstanding faculty members of BUCE. Twenty-one faculty members were recognized for consistently having excellent ratings for the first and second semester of academic year 2017-2018.

Once the awarding was done, the BUCE faculty had fun with games and amusements prepared for them, including bingo and karaoke challenge among others.

review and assess the processes and documents of the auditees, identify any lapses so that it can be addressed properly, and even coach the process owner so that these lapses can be avoided. The result of the audit will be collected and discussed during the upcoming management review conference, scheduled later this October.

As the university now eyes the latest ISO:9001-2015 certification, one new aspect that will be given attention to are the office processes, through the risk-based management approach. This update on the ISO identifies the threats that impede the completion and initiation of a work process.

Almost all offices and units in BU, particularly those who had undergone the audit for the ISO:9001-2008 certification and those who perform frontline services, will be undergoing the internal audit.

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Change

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The BUzzette

NEWS AACCUP accreditors revisit BU for 4th survey on seven academic programs

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n an opening program held at the College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL) Amphitheatre, Bicol University welcomes the six accreditors from the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) who visited the university this October 22 to 25.

During the said opening program, the accreditors were greeted and introduced to the BU officials and local accreditation task force by the university’s Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Helen M. Llenaresas.

Before the program the accreditors also paid a courtesy visit to the office of the BU President Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas, who later joined the opening program and delivered a short message to those in attendance.

The accreditation team was led by Overall Coordinator Dr. Danilo C. Galicia from Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU). The group also includes Dr. Lucila O. Sunga from Tarlac State University (TSU), Dr. Noel A. Armada from the Iloilo State College of Fisheries (ISCoF), Dr. Rodrigo P. Palla (ISCoF), Dr. Flocerpeda H. Bela-Ong (ISCoF Library), and Dr. Francis N. Baleta from the Isabela State University (ISU).

During their four-day visit in the university, the accreditors will be conducting their survey in BU’s Main Campus and Tabaco Campus. In the Main Campus, they will be having their fourth survey for the Master of Arts (MA) in Education, MA in Public Administration, Master in Management, and Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Management at the BU Graduate School (BUGS).

They will also be conducting their fourth survey for the MA and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Industrial Education in BU College of Industrial Technology (BUCIT), as well as the BS in Fisheries in BU Tabaco Campus (BUTC).

It can be recalled that the AACCUP accreditation team’s last visit in the university was last July 10 to 13, wherein 38 accreditors surveyed 22 academic programs in BU’s Main, Polangui, and Tabaco Campuses.

The AACCUP is an accreditation agency in the Philippines with 111 institutional members and, in 20 years until 2012, has accredited almost 3000 academic programs of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country. In line with the university’s goal of becoming a world-class HEI, having its programs accredited by AACCUP is the next big step in achieving the said goal.

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Reps of Belgium’s VIVES University of Applied Sciences visits BU to sign agreement on partnership

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orging strong linkages in an international level, Bicol University was visited by Belgium’s VIVES University of Applied Sciences’ International Office Head Prof. Johan Cottyn and Language Teacher Prof. Deitrich De Saffel last 29 and 30 October 2018, to sign a General Bilateral Agreement (GBA) on International Cooperation with BU. Accompanied by BU’s International Relations Office Director Dr. Dimson Rivero, the two Belgian guests were greeted by the university’s top officials, including Vice-President for Administration and Finance (VPAF) Dr. Amelia Dorosan, Vice-President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Dr. Helen Llenaresas, and Vice-President for Research, Development and Extension (VPRDE) Prof. Ronel Dioneda, upon their arrival in the university’s main campus.

Dr. Cottyn and Prof. De Saffel were also given the opportunity to meet and address the personnel of BU when they joined the flag raising ceremony. They then proceeded to

Belgium’s VIVES University of Applied Sciences’ International Office Head Prof. Johan Cottyn and Language Teacher Prof. Deitrich De Saffel were given the opportunity to address BU’s personnel during their visit last October 29.

the BUGASS Conference Room to formally meet with other BU officials and discuss possible cooperative projects between BU and VIVES University of Applied Sciences.

The meeting began with VPAA Dr. Llenaresas delivering her welcoming remarks to the guests where she expressing how BU looks forward to its joint ventures with VIVES University of Applied Sciences.

To properly familiarize each other’s university, BU’s Planning and Development Office Director Prof. Erwin Torres and VIVES University for Applied Sciences’ Prof. Cottyn presented a brief profile of their respective institutions. This was then followed by the ceremonial signing of the GBA. VIVES | P8

Delegates present BU agri-research papers at conference in Malaysia

Delegates from BU met with great minds, in field f agricultural sciences, from different countries in Southeast Asia during the Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences’ (ISSAS) 2018 International Congress and General Meeting, held last October 12 to 14.

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oining with the great minds in the field of agricultural technology across Southeast Asia, six faculty members of Bicol University travelled to Malaysia to participate in the International Society of Southeastv Asian Agricultural Sciences’ (ISSAS) 2018 International Congress and General Meeting, held last October 12 to 14.

The ISSAAS is an organization created to strengthen corporation among agricultural scientists in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia and to bring together groups of professionals from many different countries with common interests in development of the regions. By holding their annual meeting and international conferences around the regions, many countries

e Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

and universities have gained valuable experience, particularly in Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

This year, their International Congress and General Meeting was held at the Riverside Majestic in Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia. With the theme: “Industry 4.0: Agriculture Technologies Advancement” , the objective of the Congress is to provide a platform for discussion on agriculture technology advancements, as well as to provide formal and informal networking opportunities among scientists, professionals, researchers, and officers working in agriculture-related agencies.

Bicol University, being one of the Philippines’ leading universities in agricultural research, was among those chosen to participate in the said gathering. The university’s contingent was composed of BU Research Development and Management Division (RDMD) Director Dr. Luis Amano, BU Business Affairs Office (BAO) Director Dr. Viola Amano ISSAAS | P8

The BUzzette

NEWS BU bags fourth in top performing schools for Chem Tech Licensure Exam, seven passers in top ten

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Bicol University’s passers in the 2018 Geodetic Engineering Licensure Exam met with BU President Arnulfo Mascariñas during their courtesy visit.

51 examinees of Geodetic Engineering Licensure Exam from BU pass, two join top ten

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nother great feat was achieved by Bicol University College of Engineering (BUCEng) this October 29 when the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) released the result of the October 2018 Geodetic Engineering Licensure Examination.

The exam outcome showed BU earning an 88.24 percent passing rate, with 45 out of 51 examinees from the university passing the test.

Among the examinees from BU, two were among the top ten highest ranked passers, namely Gene Loyd Musa Nares (86.00%) nabbing the eighth place and Carl Angelo Peralta Miraflor (85.80%) at ninth place. Overall, BU scored 91.11 percent for first-time exam takers and 66.67 percent for repeaters.

BUCDRRMC | P1 Provincial Governor Al Francis Bichara with Atty. Karol Sabio, Albay Second District Representative Joey Sarte Salceda, and former Albay First District Representative Grex Lagman.

Representatives of allied government offices were also present in the gathering, including Architect Ricardo Ibay -representing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bicol Regional Director Virgilio Eduarte, and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Regional Director Renato de Vera.

Local leaders also joined the activity.

Among them are Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, and Punong Barangays (Barangay Captains) from Legazpi City and Daraga, namely PB Loreto Barasas of Barangay Sagpon (Daraga), PB Bobby Magalona of Barangay Bagumbayan, PB Gibsen de Leoz of Barangay Sagpon (Legazpi), PB Edsyl Marbella of Barangay Kiwalo, and PB Johannalyn Bal of Barangay EM’s Barrio.

Before the ceremonial ground-breaking for the new facility, a brief blessing rite was conducted on the site of the building, headed by Rev. Fr. Eduardo Cerbito, the Local Superior of the ‘Harong Kan Sagrada Familia’ (Home of the

As announced by PRC, 451 out of 848 passed the Geodetic Engineer Licensure Examination given by the Board of Geodetic Engineering in Manila and Cebu. The members of the Board of Geodetic Engineering who gave the licensure examination are Engr.

Epifanio D. Lopez as chairman, along with Engr. Concordio D. Zuñiga and Engr. Randolf S. Vicente as board members.

It can be recalled that BUCEng’s recent batch in the PRC examinations have had a streak of excellent performances, like that of this year’s Civil Engineering and Mining Engineering Licensure Exams. This has indeed been a clear indication that the steps taken by the university towards being a worldclass university are producing great results, especially in terms of student performance.

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The guests were then welcomed by the heads of the host university, namely BU President Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Dr. Helen Llenaresas, and Vice President for Planning and Development (VPPD) Prof. Jerry Bigornia.

The proceeding of the event was hosted

by Dr. Renelyn Baustista, Director of BU’s Communications and Public Relations Office.

Representatives of BU’s student body, faculty, and administrative offices, as well as members of the media and stakeholders, were also in attendance.

The BUCDRRMC is a project conceived through the combined effort of the province’s public and private sector. Its purpose is to serve as a hub for research and coordination in the continued drive for disaster preparedness and mitigation of its effects.

VIVES | P8 The meeting ended with VPAF Dr. Dorosan’s closing remarks. Then, as a symbol of great things to come, the representatives of BU and VIVES University of Applied Sciences exhanged mementos of partnership. With the

icol University once again proved to be one of the nation’s top-notch universities by earning the fourth rank in the top performing schools in the recently released 2018 Chemical Technician Licensure Examination results.

In the result of the exam that was released by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) last October 18, 1,673 out of 1,916 examinees passed the said test.

The examination was given by the Board of Chemistry earlier this month, with exam venues in Manila, Cagayan de Oro, and Cebu.

With 85 out of 87 examinees passing the test, Bicol University garnered a 97.70 passing percentage, earning the school fourth place in the exam’s top performing school rankings.

Among the universities and colleges in the top rankings are the Technological University of the Philippines, Mindanao State University, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

The examinees from BU also passed with flying colors as seven of them are among the top ten placers for the exam. Chief among them is Julius Ceasar Catorce Deocareza in fifth place, with a score of 90 percent.

Also in the top ten are Genivive Entac Estinor (89.50 percent) and Julius Loma Macinas (89.00 percent), at the sixth and seventh rank respectively. With a score of 88.50 percent, Wilhelm Ted Olea Mandac and Diana Veluz Montecastro are among those tied at the eighth place.

Completing the university’s group in the top ten are Jershwin Hermel Bismonte Sayenga and Shelomyl Patty Atuli Tubeo, scoring 87.50 percent for the tenth place.

partnership with the Belgian university, BU’s officials gladly believes that the university has taken another significant step towards becoming an world-class university at par with its vision.

ISSAAS | P6

(representing BU Graduate School), Dr. Lourdita Llanto from BU College of Agriculture (BUCAF), Prof. Judith Chavez (BUCAF), Prof.

Maria Lara Balingasa (BUCAF), and Prof.

Julieta Mojados (BUCAF).

During the conference, a total of 250 papers were presented and these were distributed to seven thematic areas, namely (1) Plant science, (2) Integrated Pest Management, (3) Society and Economy, (4) Animal Science, (5) Agriculture Technology, (6) Aquatic Science, and (7) Food and Agriculture Products. There were also a total of 75 participants who participated in poster presentation.

After their successful paper presentations, the participants of the congress, including the BU delegates, joined in the Congress Tour before travelling back home to their respective countries.