january 2012
Photo courtesy of UPOU-IO
Filipino expats in HK get insight on UPOU distance learning
An MOA is signed between the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong and UPOU, designating the former as a UPOU testing center.
The UP Open University (UPOU) has expanded its area of coverage to include Filipino expatriates in Hong Kong via an orientation seminar dubbed “Learning at UPOU through Distance Education” held at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong last Nov. 25-26. Co-organized by the Philippine Consulate General and the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) - Hong Kong Chapter, the seminar, led by UPOU Chancellor Grace Alfonso, underscored how UPOU delivers its programs in a flexible manner to meet the needs of Filipino professionals. (http://www2.upou.edu.ph/component/content/article/66news2012/686-orientation-on-upou-programs-in-hong-kongg)
UPMin launches arboretum eco-park project
Photo courtesy of Rene Estremera, UPMin-OC
Rene Estremera
Chancellor Rivero and Vice President for Academic Affairs Emma Ruth Bayogan participates in the ceremonial tree-planting.
Archi students rule 9th Arch-Quiz
Photo courtesy of Rene Estremera, UPMin-OC
Rene Estremera, UPMin-OC
UP Mindanao holds forum on Bangsamoro framework accord Rene Estremera, UPMin - Office of the Chancellor
Outgoing Chancellor Gilda Rivero leads the opening of Tinukib.
UP Mindanao students grabbed the top three spots in the 9th Arch-Quiz, an interschool competition among architecture schools held last Dec. 5. The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) organized the quiz contest as part of the annual National Architecture Week celebrations. UPMindanao’s winning team consisted of Gwen Harriet Bautista, Lyndon John Cabahug, Alvin Jason Faja, and Jude Ezequiel Garcia. The runner up team was composed of Anna Tricia Acuna, Raissa Barandino, Aldeah Belotindos, and Ben Gonzales. Another team composed of John Joseph Cahatian, Faith Lejarso, Kristin Faye
U P M inda nao h as launched an arboretum and ecology park project designed to create wider public awareness o n e nv i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n a n d preservation. The project launch, highlighted by a tree planting activity, was initiated by the Beta Sigma Alumni Association of Southern Mindanao led by its president Solomon Carpio and national president Rene de Rueda, in collaboration with the UP Mindanao administration headed by Chancellor Gilda Rivero. Two units of motorized grass cutters donated through Betan Sonny Pagador were also presented during the event. Also in attendance were Betans led by UPMin Chapter Grand Princep Angelo Lukban, Sigma Beta’s Cristine Abrea, and resident Betans from UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Visayas, and UP Baguio. (http://www.upmin.edu.ph/index. php?option=com_content&view=articl e&id=969:betans-arboretum&catid=1& Itemid=19)
Olalo, and Felanie Ternio placed third. In another development, UP Mindanao hosted the Tinukib 2012: Urog sa Lumad, with the theme “Infusing Indigenous Fashion in Architectural Retail Design”, at the Abreeza Mall of Davao last Dec. 10-11. UP Mindanao Chancellor Gilda Rivero delivered the opening remarks, while Prof. Jean Marie Juanga presented the newlyorganized Department of Architecture, followed by a series of lectures on “Basic Architectural Communications, Concepts, Planning and Retail Design Techniques”. (http://www.upmin.edu.ph/index. php?option=com_content&view=artic le&id=1026:archi-students-sweep-archquiz&catid=1&Itemid=19
To generate a better understanding of the issues surrounding the ongoing peace talks between the Philippine government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), UP Mindanao sponsored last December 7a forum on the framework agreement between the two panels. Dubbed “Building Peace in Mindanao: A Forum on the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro of the GPH-MILF, and Updates on the GPH-NDF Peace Talks” the exercise was co-organized by UP Mindanao with AFRIM (Alternative Forum for Research in Mindanao). Sami Buat of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society presented a history of the Bangsamoro struggle. MILF representative Dr. Parido R. Pigkaulan spoke on the Framework Agreement on
U.P. News 7
Balitang Unyon Mga Kawani ng UP, tutol sa PBB ni Pnoy Hindi sang-ayon ang mga kawani ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP) sa sistema ng Performance Based Bonus (PBB) na isinulong ni Pangulong Aquino sa kanyang 2012 state of the nation address (SONA). Maraming empleyado ang nagmungkahi na gawin na lamang itong across-the-board o pantay-pantay para diumano maiwasan ang mga negatibong resulta nito tulad ng silipan at inggitan sa kanilang hanay. Inihayag ng mga kawani ang kanilang pananaw sa isyung ito sa nakalipas na Kapihan forum na inilunsad sa Kalayaan Hall kaugnay sa napipintong pagpapatupad ng PBB. Ang Kapihan ay isinagawa noong nakaraang Pebrero 4 sa pakikipagtulungan ng OSH na pinamumunuan ni Dir. Gerry Lanuza, katuwang si OSH administrative officer si Noel Marquina. Tinalakay naman ni Ramon Guillermo, pambansang tagapangulo ng All UP Academic Employees Union ang dalawang lumabas na matrix system ng PBB para sa kaalaman ng mga kawani. Naging mainit ang talakayan hinggil sa pagkaltas ng PEI at ang pag-alis na PIB. Sa pagtatapos ng Kapihan, sinabi ni Felix Pariñas, pambansang pangulo ng All UP Workers Employees Union, na ipinarating na niya kay UP President Alfredo Pascual ang saloobin ng mga empleyado tungkol sa PBB, partikular na ang mungkahi nilang gawin itong acrossthe-board ang naturang benepisyo. Hindi ito kinatigan ng pamunuan ng UP dahil diumano sa iba’t ibang kadahilanan, partikular na ang isang direktiba mula sa Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Kilos Protesta na isinagawa ng Alliance of Health Workers sa NKTI, nilahukan ng AUPWU Nakiisa ang Unyon sa pagkondena ng patuloy na pagssapribado ng mga pambulikong hospital partikular ng pagsasagawa ng bidding upang isapribado ang National Orthopaedic Center na ginanap nitong nakaraang Enero 25, 2013 sa NKTI Hospital. Ang nasabing PAGE
10►
the Bangsamoro. Malaysian Lt. Col. Andi Irawan of the International Monitoring Team reported on their activities in Mindanaom while updates on the peace talks were given by Ednar Dayanghirang, a member of the government panel. (http://www.upmin.edu.ph/index. php?option=com_content&view =ar ticle&id=1032:10-december2012&catid=1&Itemid=19)
US writer teaches Davao students creative writing
Photo courtesy of Rene Estremera, UPMin-OC
Rene Estremera, UPMin - Office of the Chancellor
Noted American writer Tim Tomlinson, co-founder of the New York Writers Workshop and co-author of the popular The Portable MFA in Creative Writing, visited recently Davao to conduct writing workshops at the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) and UP Mindanao from January 12 to 14. Tomlinson has been conducting workshops in fiction and poetry since 1991 in New York, as well as in Thailand, Singapore, China, and the Philippines. Through a combination of writing prompts, discussions, and critiques, the
exercise in Davao dubbed “Shapeless Experience, Formal Shapes,” guided participants in narrating personal experiences in fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry formats. The first workshop was held at ADDU on January 12, followed by a literary reading session with Tomlinson and the members of the Davao Writers Guild. The second workshop took place January 14 at UP Mindanao College of Humanities and Social Sciences AVR. The events were organized by the
Davao Writers Guild in cooperation with ADDU Department of Languages and Literature and UP Mindanao Department of Humanities. Davao Writers Guild leaders and UP Mindanao faculty members Prof. Ricardo de Ungria, Prof. Jhoanna CruzDaliling, Prof. Antonino de Veyra, Prof. John Bengan, Inst. Lysette Sandoval, and Dean Maria Araceli Dans-Lee actively participated in the workshops. Tomlinson also discussed prospects for developing an MFA program at UP Mindanao’s Department of Humanities.