continued on

MEETING OF THE MINDS. UNO-Rians converge in the advocacy webinar via Zoom. photo by CRISHA ARROYO.

Re;connect links growth, comm thru webinar

by KRISHA MARIE SEMELLANO

Emphasizing the essential role of communication, Yasmin Pascual-Dormido, MPA, one of the event speakers, highlighted its importance on achieving growth and development in an advocacy webinar entitled “RE;CONNECT” participated by UNO-R senior high school and college students via Zoom, Nov. 28.

“If development can be seen as a fabric woven out of the activities of millions of people, communication represents the essential thread that binds them together,” Dormido said.

She also emphasized the importance of webinars tackling communication skills, especially for student leaders.

“The current limitations posed by the pandemic must show them [student leaders] opportunities to make use of technology and their skills in communication and leadership. To reach out to their fellow young people so that they can be productive and help each other in enriching themselves intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally,” Dormido added.

With limitations brought by the online platform and the new educational set-up, University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos Supreme Student Gorvernment (UNORSSGO) President Charles Gabriel Gelotin stressed that, as the event organizers, those involved made sure to focused on the publicity and promotion of the event. “We [UNORSSGO officers] prepared several posters and publicity materials to encourage students in joining the event. Unlike in the face-to-face set-up where we could make the event compulsory to student leaders, our class schedules are very tight. We [UNORSSGO] also sent letters of invitation to the college councils asking them to send representatives in support of our event,” Gelotin said.

Meanwhile, Mass Communication Society Production Manager Christian John Fuentespina shared that the event gave emphasis in amplifying everyone’s voices as part of the masses.

“Our main objective was to bring awareness about certain causes to

continued on page 12

from page 1

Mabugat lands 2nd ...

As a graduate of Medical Technology Class 2014 from the University, his college mentors expressed their congratulations for yet another achievement.

“Patrick and the rest of the UNORian graduates who now excel in their own fields were honed by the University. Not only academically but holistically – mind, heart, and soul. Their success is our success too. Patrick brings the name of UNO-R to the limelight not only once but twice. He brings pride and honor to the University and we will always be thankful and proud,” Medical Technology Department Head Fatima Medel, RMT, MSMT, said.

Together with Mabugat, UNO-R graduates Daryl Antipuesto, Alyssa Marie Arceño, Ma. Karina De Leon, Dyan Dimalaluan, and Kim Valdez also passed the licensure exam for physicians.

Mabugat, with the other 3,500 medical students, were hailed as physicians after taking the November 2020 PLE out of 4,704 takers.

With the initial advisory of postponing the licensure examinations for this year due to COVID-19, the Professional Regulatory Commission and the Board of Medicine pushed through with the PLE in response to the urgent need of physicians amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The November 2020 PLE is the second licensure exam for physicians held this year, while the first one was held on Mar. 8 and 9 and Sept. 20 and 21, with 800 out of 1,421 exam passers.

Social Work head awarded ‘outstanding’ in PASWI con

by ALEA JEN VILLAHERMOSA

University Social Work Department Head Dr. Richelle Verdeprado, RSW, received the 2020 Outstanding Social Worker of the Philippines in the Field of Academe award by the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI), Nov. 28.

“I am honored and humbled at the same time for this recognition. I became a Registered Social Worker in the year 2011 and, ever since, I had nothing in mind but a conscious desire to uphold the nobility of our profession, and to truly create an impact in the lives of others,” Verdeprado shared.

Moreover, Verdeprado also encouraged future social work professionals to continue doing what they can to create change that they want to see.

“Colleagues and future colleagues in the profession, let us continue doing what we can as agents of social change and as advocates for human worth and dignity. In the process, make sure to enjoy and never forget to care for yourself too. As it is ‘the self’ that we maximize to achieve our intervention goals,” she said.

Verdeprado is also an alumna of the Bachelor of Science in Social Work program of UNO-R where she graduated as a Summa Cum Laude of Class 2011 and spearheaded the creation of the Master’s Program for Social Work in the University in 2017.

Committed to community development, Verdeprado is also the chairperson of Sowing Legacy Movement, Inc. , a volunteer-based organization sustained by a pool of students, young professionals, and organizations working together to bring about positive changes in the community.

“Our motto [in the organization] is ‘Moving the World’ and the type of legacy building that we are doing emanates from the perspective that if we want to bring inspiration and to help create a better world, we have to move now and do what we can,” she said. Affiliated with the Securities and Exchange Commission, PASWI is a national organization for professional social workers in the country.

UPHOLDING THE VISION. Social Work Department Head and Sowing Legacy Movement Inc. chairperson Dr. Richelle Verdeprado, RSW. photo courtesy of DR. RICHELLE VERDEPRADO.