4 U.P. News
march 2013
UPOU marks 18th year
Sago takes center stage in UP Min 18th year rites By Rene Estremera
The UP Open University (UPOU) turned 18 last Feb. 20 with day-long activities highlighted by a launch of former UPOU chancellor Felix Librero’s book, “Writing Your Thesis: (A Practical Guide for Students),” and recognition of the facility’s institutional partners, among other activities. “The establishment of the UP Open University is probably one of the best policy decisions made by the Board of Regents in UP history,” said UP president Alfredo Pascual in a speech read for him by UP vice president for development Elvira Zamora. Pascual said the UPOU continued to be “aware of the changing times and the needed paradigm shift in viewing higher education.” UPOU chancellor Grace Javier Alfonso said open and distance e-learning has public service at its core, aiming to “spread the benefits of higher education to more people.” She also noted that UPOU has been making significant headway in the creation of open educational resources through the UPOU Networks, a web-based platform for sharing education resources in rich media. In addition, UPOU was also looking at the delivery of educational materials through massive open online courses, where discussions with potential partners are underway, Alfonso said. She cited recent student initiatives such as the creation of a student paper and the establishment of a student council, as well as plans to construct a UPOU Community Hub at the headquarters in Laguna. T he str ucture would house alibrary, learning center, Information office, multimedia museum, business concessionaires, and spaces for public gatherings. Future renovations on learning centers across the country are expected to be guided by the design ideas of this hub. As envisioned, the hub would be a “green” or environmentally-sustainable structure. In fact, energy-saving measures have been in place at the UPOU headquarters, including timed use of air
UPV heightens Internet connectivity By Francis Dimzon
Due to increasing and pressing demand, the University of the Philippines (UPV) has acquired additional Internet connection for its Miagao campus. Since last February 22, local internet service provider SITELCO has been providing an additional 12 Mbps bandwidth to enhance the UPV’s existing PREGINET connection. The recent improvement in Internet access is expected to be further enhanced once the system-funded upgrade of existing PREGINET connection from 4 Mbps to 10 Mbps takes effect, giving the Miagao campus 22 Mbps aggregate Internet bandwidth. Meanwhile, Internet connection at the Iloilo City campus has been upgraded from 6 Mbps to 10 Mbps and will soon have an additional 2 Mbps connection from PREGINET.
*Prof. Francis Dimzon is Assistant to the Chancellor for Data and Information Systems Program and a faculty member of the Division of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
Photo courtesy of UPMin Office of the Chancellor
By Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo
BS Food Technology students prepare pizza with Prof. Dulce Flores and Engr. Santillan of Caraga State Univ. looking on
GCEB rehab gets funds from Sen. Legarda’s PDAF By Anna Razel L. Ramirez
University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) and the Office of Sen. Loren Legarda through the Iloilo City government have forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) providing for the grant of P500,000 from the senator’s Priority Development Fund of (PDAF) to finance the repair and rehabilitation of the school’s Graduate and Continuing Education Building (GCEB). The MOA was signed last on March 26 at the UPV Iloilo City campus by UPV Chancellor Rommel A. Espinosa and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog representing Sen. Legarda. The accord stipulated that UPV would take full responsibility in the “proper disposition and disbursement of funds for the implementation of its program in conditioning, four-day workweek scheme, and installation of solar-powered LED lamp posts. The anniversary celebration also featured the conferment of citations to 23 faculty members, administrative staff, and research, extension, and professional personnel for their dedicated and outstanding service to the UPOU. The UPOU partners were identified as the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT), UPOU Foundation Inc., the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Australian Agency for International Development. Four memoranda of agreement were also signed during the day. UPOU’s partnership with Smart Communications, Inc. was meant for the development of
accordance with the laws and COA rules and regulations.” The city government, for its part, would transfer the full amount of P500,000 and closely monitor and inspect the progress of project implementation, as well as verify the utilization of the funds. UPV vice chancellor for administration Nestor G. Yunque and Melchor Tan of the Office of the Iloilo City Mayor witnessed the MOA signing. The P500,000 was the first tranche of a total grant of P1 million from Legarda’s PDAF for the rehabilitation of GCEB. The structure was built during the time of chancellor Ida M. Siason. Its construction was funded by the countrywide development fund of then Sen. Nikki Coseteng. courses on Android mobile applications and “technopreneurship.” Its accords with the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the International Rice Research Institute-UP Los Baños chapter covered the conduct of a seminar on e-commerce for government transactions. The two other agreements were with the Gawad Kalinga Los Baños Ville and the Foundation for Advancing Wellness, Instruction and Talents, Inc., both non-stock, non-profit organizations involved in community development through various projects. The UPOU was established as the University’s fifth constituent unit on February 23, 1995 to provide wider access to quality higher learning through distance education.
Sago-based foodstuffs took center stage last Feb. 15 with the launch of the UP Mindanao’s Sago Foods Pilot facility during the school’s 18th anniversary celebration and a milestone in its Biotechnology program. Prof. Dulce Flores led the opening ceremony with UPMin Chancellor Gilda Rivero. Guests toured the flour milling machine and storage area, observed the baking process, and tasted the pizza and ice cream cones made from sago flour. They noted that food items made from sago were crunchy and tasty. The launch was held in conjunction with the “2nd National Sago Symposium: Inventory of Wild Sago Stands in the Philippines and Campaign for their Conservation and Utilization”. In her welcome remarks, Flores narrated how the sago research program started in UP Mindanao, and connected this to the Biotech Program Phase 2 aimed at creating a ruralbased large scale sago-starch industry. She said research will focus on the utilization of sago starch for the production of ethanol, lactic acid and biodegradable plastics; assessment of existing sago stands, suitable sites for commercial plantations; and mass propagation of clones and pilot-scale production. Flores gave a lecture titled “Greening Asia: Let’s Conserve Sago” wherein she walked her audience which included indigenous tribes, through an inventory of sago palms in Southeast Asia, and the yield of starch and glucose per year. Flores cited the contribution of sago palms in environmental protection through its carbon dioxide sequestration, protection of swamps and dry lands, and prevention of floods and forest fires. She also said sago flour could help the country attain provide food security. Flores also discussed the traditional ways of processing the sago flour, and the advantages of mechanized extraction, among them zero waste and waterless processing. She advocated the use of “green chemistry” in the production of high-value products notably ethanol and lactic acid using a biotechnological process. Prof. Sylvia Concepcion presented her market research, enumerating the competitive imported products. She said the challenge for the Philippines is to develop the sago flour industry through better harvesting, transport, de-pithing, and processing it into flour, as well as to develop modern machinery and technology for each stage of the production process.
UP Diliman fetes...
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hope you will enjoy the excitement of UP life and find meaningful ways of sharing yourselves to the country and the world, especially to our underprivileged mga kababayan,” Dr. Pascual said. This year’s Oblation Scholars are: Rudolph Angelo David Encarnacion, Ron Gabriel Oconer Navarro, Mark Agustine Payeo Cruz Awingan, Valerie Abby Mission Lagura, John Paul Magoncia Jacosalem, Edward Joseph Canots Ofilada, Marco Gabriel del Valle, Miriam Celine Jimenez Miciano, Lyonel To Tangangco, Christian Ong Go, Lorenzo Gabriel del Rosario Quiogue, Pia Cassandra Cabataba Patron, Jose Sandino Abelardo Bandonil, Ann Mikaela Lynne Ong Co, Shanaia Esthelle Joy Pagba Daguit, Marie Gabrielle Madrinan de Luna, Ronilo Jubacon del Rosario, Jem Marie Patalingjug Golbin, Lowelyn Ann Micaros Itang, Adrian Jude Wong Jumangit, Regiel Christian Quiao
Mag-usara, Peter Nicholas Saquido Onglao, Alyssa Beatrice Carreon Poblete, Roider Soriano Pugal, James Christian Ofaga Relampagos, Godfrey Angelo Rodriguez Robeniol, Gian Paolo bagarino Sepulveda, Aeron Lester Navarro Syliongtay, Olin Joseph Soriano Tamayo, Kristine Larissa Bernardo Yu, Mikaela Rei Aquino Africa, Chari Kaye Abuyan Caja, Anjanette Ricafrente Canales, Christian Zeta Carino, Marc Patrick Cruz Celon, Renz Elli Jasa Chavez, Deany Hendrick Ravina Cheng, Kimerly Louise Yu Co, Ana Samantha Dominique Barretto Concepcion, Ernest Pahuyo Delmo, Buen Jefferson Dahlen Gayo, Brendon Matthew Di Go, Christian Jerrera Jetajobe, Angelo Riel Camacho Limbo, Jeremy Jay Beltran Magdaong, David Marco Marasigan Magpantay, Bianca Mae Chavez Malaluan, Abigail Laureen Chua Sy, Clare Feliz Syjuco Tan, Justin Edric Go Yturzaeta.
Among the 50 Oblation Scholars, the top three passers of the UPCAT are: Kristine Larissa Bernardo Yu, Clare Feliz Syjuco Tan, and Lorenzo Gabriel del Rosario Quiogue
Myanmar info planners... ◄PAGE 3
In UP, the CMC faculty members cited situations and current trends that made the Philippine press viable business ventures. They also discussed the implications of social media and the accessibility of the internet, which have greatly affected the journalism sector. The group’s itinerary included the Ateneo de Manila University, the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, and the Senate. The delegation is also scheduled to visit Hong Kong and Japan.