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Speakers, 9th International Conference on Agribiz Econ & Mgt

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

The keynote and plenary speakers in the 9th International Conference on Agribusiness Economics and Management, 13-15 November 2019

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Professor Rodolfo M. Nayga Jr.

Prof. Nayga is the Distinguished Professor and Tyson Endowed Chair in Food Policy Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas, United States. He received his PhD in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University, MS from University of Delaware, and BS in agribusiness economics from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). His research interests include the economics of food consumption, policy, and health. Prior to joining the University of Arkansas, he was a professor at Texas A&M University for twelve years and was a faculty member at Rutgers University, United States, and at Massey University, New Zealand. He has published more than 250 refereed articles in several economics, behavioral science, marketing, and public health journals. Prof. Nayga worked with other universities such as Korea University, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Zhejiang University, Waseda Institute of Advance Studies, Wageningen University, and the Institute of Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast

Mr. Grahame Dixie

Mr. Dixie is the executive director of Grow Asia, a multi-stakeholder partnership platform that catalyzes action on inclusive agricultural development in Southeast Asia. The platform convenes governments, farmers, nongovernment organizations, and other stakeholders to co-create value chain initiatives focused on smallholder farmers and environmental sustainability of agriculture. Mr. Dixie brings over thirty-five years of professional experience as a practitioner of agricultural development in over seventy-five countries, including an early career in the private sector. For the past decade, he served as the World Bank’s lead agribusiness advisor where he was involved in the design and review of the World Bank’s portfolio of projects linking smaller scale farmers to markets and agribusinesses. These programs leveraging public and private investment involved innovative financing and research on key issues. His work included advising World Bank teams globally on project design, emerging good practices, and key trends in the food and farm sector, with a focus on market-oriented farming and multi-stakeholder partnerships. More recently, he has served as an advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Dr. Kenneth Menz
Dr. Menz began his career as an agricultural scientist before spending the bulk of his working life as an agricultural economist. He specialized on the interface between agricultural science and economics from a range of perspectives (e.g., farming systems research, evaluation of agricultural research, factors affecting agricultural productivity, social science). He spent twenty years as research program manager for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), where such a multi-disciplinary orientation proved valuable. He has worked for universities (Queensland, Minnesota, RMIT), government agencies (Australian Bureau of Agricultural Economics), international agencies (IITA, Nigeria), and he spent six years undertaking graduate work in the United States. Since “retiring” from ACIAR ten years ago, he continued engagement in head office consultancies as well as via active research roles in ACIAR research projects in Vietnam and the Philippines. Dr. Menz’ notable publications are in weed control economics and impact assessment.

Mr. Howard Hall

Mr. Hall is the research program manager for agribusiness in the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). He finished a bachelor of applied science (rural technology) from the University of Queensland and a graduate diploma of business studies from the University of New England. Prior to joining ACIAR, he founded and operated a specialist agribusiness consultancy for almost thirty years, working across tropical and temperate horticulture, intensive and extensive meat and seafood industries, grains, pulses and field crops, food packaging and processing. He has also worked as a senior manager in corporate agribusiness in the agricultural inputs sector and in both food manufacturing and food and grocery distribution. Mr. Hall has worked across North and Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific.

Dr. Rica Joy Flor
Dr. Flor is a postdoctoral fellow of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Wageningen University, the Netherlands (Wageningen University Postdoc Talent Program). She received her bachelor of arts in anthropology (cum laude) and master of arts in anthropology from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She got her PhD in social science (innovation studies) from Wageningen University where she was on a Global Rice Science Scholarship from IRRI. Dr. Flor has relevant experiences in applied social science research on technology adoption and innovation, impact assessment of technology change in agricultural innovation systems, and facilitating multi-stakeholder processes in agricultural research for development (AR4D) in Southeast Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. See the video here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DRZY7uonW8rx3zDFszMKoTfyBdr765al/view?ts=5e181bc9

Synthesis of the talks by School of Management Dean Pedro Alviola IV:

"The keynote and plenary speakers in their talks don't give definitive answers to some of our present problems because research is a process of discovery and learning. For that, I find the talks envigorating and inspiring.

For Dr. Nayga who gave a talk on lab-produced meat, he motivated that major issues in the industry such as new and emerging diseases in commercially-imported livestock such as health risks or cardiovascular diseases, and that the agriculture sector especially the livestock sector is a major generator of greenhouse gasses in the world, there is impetus for developing sustainable technologies such as for example this lab-produced meat or in vitro meat that should be acceptable to consumers. They are predicated on the premise that consumers are willing to pay for these products. From the work of Dr. Nayga, there are insights that have been generated in terms of making sure that the information regarding these new technologies can be used by policy-makers and consumers in terms of the food labeling, food policies, and so on. It is important to communicate this information to consumers because consumers are key to making sure that these products will be produced in the market.

Mr. Grahame Dixie, in his talk, emphasized the inclusivity of value chains, because this can result in positive welfare and improved outcomes such as improvement in productivity, increased social benefits, with the goal of reducing poverty, increasing incomes, give better opportunities, and contribute to sustaining the environment.

Dr. Menz talked about the importance of social capital where members of the community can access skills, expertise, knowledge, and information so that both the individual and the commnity can take advantage of its benefits. He emphasized that the provision of social capital can lead to better outcomes and can increase access to nutritionally better and safe foods.

For Dr. Flor, her talk starts with a question. Why, despite the availability of integrated pest management packages, the farmer still heavily relies on pesticides? And she enumerated three reasons why. One, some people don't want to do that. Leave the insects alone. At the same time there are other policy imperatives such as food security which in the traditional sense increases the use of perticides for them to increase yield. Finally, there is a dearth of available technologies for possible alternatives towards methodologies or approaches that we use pesticides to control pests and diseases. Finally, she says there is a need to reconfigure the way we present incentives especially for alternative technologies to society and, much more importantly, there is a need to look at how acceptable these technologies are to farmers especially because farmers view these financial and technological constraints differently from the rest of us.

Mr. Hall, in his talk, asks why, in spite of the significant contribution of smallholder farmers in the agrifood system are they still disconnected from the commercial agrifood chain? He enumerated some of the weaknesses such as issues in land ownership, limited credit access, risk aversion to technologies, disconnected farm-to-market roads, low business skills, little political and social voice, and outdated and unsustainable production processes. But despite this, farmers have been identified as agents of social change. They have real access to land, they are local experts, have good work ethic, they are innovators, are efficient, and most importantly, they generate ideas. The question Mr. Hall says is there is a need to reconfigure all of these private and public partnerships, that everyone needs to be on board and for everyone to re-assess from time to time what the modality should be so everyone is going to be there. So, again, the talks do not give definitive answers, perhaps they give more questions, but, more importantly, they give a road map on how to address these challenges."

Highlights in November, 2019

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

7-8 November 2019 - Pag-aboll 2019: Facets of Mindanao, Apo View Hotel

13-15 - 9^th International Conference on Agribusiness Economics and Management (ICAEM), Waterfront Insular Hotel

22-23 - UP 44^th Regional Alumni Institute, Grand Regal Hotel

DONATIONS FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF AND RECOVERY

Persons from the Philippines and abroad who wish to donate for the earthquake relief and rehabilitation effort may do so through the UP Strategic Research and Management Foundation Inc. with address at School of Management Building, UP Mindanao, Mintal, Davao City, and tel. no. (+63 82)295-2188.
Donations may be deposited in the name of the UP Strategic Research and Management Foundation Inc. to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)-CM Recto Davao City branch, account no. 1522601256 with Swift code RBCPHMM. Please email a copy or image of your deposit slips to <. Further inquiries may be directed to UP Mindanao Pahinungod through 09196398805 (Smart), 09451076756 or 09674194345 (Globe/TM), by private message to https://www.facebook.com/upmindanao.pahinungod

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO MS FOOD SCIENCE PROGRAM

Application to the Master of Science in Food Science program is now open, for admission to the 2nd semester of academic year 2019-2020. Deadline for application is 18 December 2019. Applicant must have a bachelor's degree in food science or related course. Documentiton requirements are a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, transcript of records, and two sealed recommendation letters from employers or former professors. For further inquiries, email <;.

Davao Writers Workshop

Fifteen beginning writers from different parts of Mindanao completed their fellowship in the 2019 Davao Writers Workshop held at the Casa Leticia Hotel, Davao City. The Davao Writers Guild conducted the tenth installation of the workshop in partnership with the University of the Philippines Mindanao. Selected from more than a hundred applicants, the writing fellows attended a series of discussions on how to improve their stories, poems, essays, and a play with a panel of writers and literature instructors. This year’s fellows are Renner Sasil from Iligan City; Khamille Ann Linsag from Mati City; Sean Jhon Anecio from Dapitan City; Chris John Reeve de la Torre from Dapa, Surigao del Norte; Hanna Joy Luyao from Cagayan de Oro City; David Madriaga from Isulan, Sultan Kudarat; Mary Divine Escleto from General Santos City; Marielle Angela Pagoto from Tagum of City; Sunshine Angcos, Marylie Noran from Digos City; Jasmin Arcega, Samaira Guro, Tara Yakob Montiflor, Raphael Luis Salise, and Liane Carlo Suelan from Davao City. The succeeding sessions, which were open to the public, began with craft lectures by Jay Jomar Quintos, Errol Merquita, Nathan Go on writing screenplays, Binisayang balak, and epiphany in fiction respectively. The panelists who led the sessions were Lualhati Abreu, John Bengan, Nathaniel Go, Michael Aaron Gomez, Errol Merquita, Reil Obinque, Jay Jomar Quintos, Macario Tiu, Lakan Umali, Ria Valdez, and Farah Virador.

Conferences

The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao will hold two conferences in November in Davao City, Pag-aboll 2019: Facets of Mindanao on 7–8 November 2019 at the Apo View Hotel and the 9 th International Conference on Agribusiness Economics and Management (ICAEM) on 13–15 November 2019 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel. Pag-aboll 2019, organized by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), aims to contribute to the shaping and reshaping of Mindanao discourse by bringing scholars and learners from the diverse fields of architecture, humanities, human kinetics, and social sciences together to share histories, perspectives, narratives, and creations of Mindanao. “In Pag-aboll, one discipline can learn from another, especially in issues, concerns, and also in methods of conducting research,” said CHSS dean Jean Marie Juanga. “Pag-aboll” is the Mandaya word for “weaving.” The conference keynote speakers are Mindanao studies scholar and author Lualhati Abreu of UP Mindanao, poet-author and professor emeritus Marjorie Pernia of De La Salle University, risk communication specialist Rotacio Gravoso of Visayas State University, heritage architect Gerard Lico of UP Diliman, and sports director Jose Alther Rivera of the University of Southeastern Philippines. The conference will feature 25 papers to be presented by various scholars on Mindanao studies.

ICAEM 2019, co-organized by the School of Management (SOM) and the Center for the Advancement of Research, development, and engagement in Mindanao (CARIM), will have the theme “Inclusivity, Innovation, and Sustainability in Agricultural Value Chains” and will convene international scholars and practitioners in the areas of agriculture, agribusiness, management, and economics to share researches that deal with issues affecting various nodes in the agri-food chains. The conference is supported with funding from the UP Office of International Linkages and sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). “ICAEM is about strengthening our research program on the economics of agricultural value chains. Because of that research we are able to develop ideas that can be used that will feed into further research or policy and for other researchers to develop the research program network,” said conference convenor and UP Mindanao chancellor Larry Digal. The keynote speaker of the conference is Rodolfo Nayga Jr., distinguished professor of policy economics and agribusiness from the University of Arkansas, United States. The conference will also feature plenary talks from our international speakers: Grow Asia executive director Grahame Dixie from Singapore, International Rice Research Institute researcher Rica Joy Flor who is doing research in Cambodia, ACIAR program manager for agriculture Howard Hall from Australia, and agricultural economist and RMIT industry fellow Kenneth Menz from Australia. The conference will feature 84 paper and poster presentations and estimated to be attended by over 120 participants. Conference sponsor ACIAR will also launch its storybook G’day, Mate: ACIAR Filipino Alumni Stories during the first day of the conference. By hosting these two conferences, UP Mindanao is fulfilling its mandate to serve as a research university, particularly in the research areas of Mindanao studies and sustainable agri- and biosystems, by promoting research among higher education institutions in Mindanao and the rest of the country and contributing to the dissemination and application of knowledge. Both conferences are endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education. For more information on Pag-aboll 2019, visit http://bit.ly/2MG3cQU; and for ICAEM 2019, visit http://bit.ly/2MFbA34

The Welcome dinner of the International Conference on Agribusiness Economics and Management (ICAEM 2019) and book-launch of the storybook, "G'day, Mate: ACIAR Filipino Alumni Stories" was pn 13 November 2019, Davao City. Sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). UP Mindanao chancellor and conference director Larry Digal gave the welcome remarks and ACIAR Canberra outreach director Ms. Shannon Miskelly gave a brief talk on ACIAR scholarships and ACIAR's work in the Philippines. The cover of the storybook was presented, accompanied by a slideshow of the featured alumni: Dr. Larry Digal, Ms. Marilou Montiflor, Dr. Glory Dee Romo, Ms. Anne Shangrila Fuentes, Dr. Rotacio Gravoso, Ms. Lilia Vega, Dr. Nelda Gonzaga, Ms. Evy Carusos, Dr. Ana Notarte, and Dr. Delia Catacutan, who gave a response on behalf of the alumni. ACIAR Country Manager Ms. Mai Alagcan gave the closing message. Dr. Larry Digal gave the special citation to conference sponsors who were present: ACIAR, Dole Philippines Inc. (Stanfilco Division), Jabez La Primera Power Corp., and financial namagement partner Strategic Research and Management Foundation Inc. UP Mindanao Koro Kantahanay and UP Mindanao Dance Ensemble provided entertainment and the Dance Ensemble led the community dancing.

Earthquake response

The University of the Philippines (UP) combined its expertise in science and public service with a unified response within a week after the Mindanao earthquakes of October 2019. In the aftermath of the earthquakes, the DSWD website reported that Regions XI and XII had 24,000 displaced persons in evacuation centers and another 7,465 outside evacuation centers with a total of 188,533 affected persons.

UP executive vice president Teodoro Herbosa immediately created the Mindanao Earthquake Response Team and UP Mindanao chancellor Larry Digal created the counterpart Task Force. UP Mindanao Task Force initiated a donation drive and sent volunteers to help repack relief goods in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
On 8 November, a UP team of geologists and the UP Mindanao Task Force arrived in Sitio Flortam, Barangay Batasan in hard-hit Makilala municipality. The geologists, led by Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay and Dr. Genaro Cuaresma, had their first close look at cracks in the road and the landscape and the UP Mindanao team delivered donations to the local residents. At the Office of the Provincial Governor in Kidapawan City, the team met Acting Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza and Acting Vice Governor Shirlyn Macasarte-Villanueva, who had previously written UP president Danilo Concepcion, to request structural and geological assessments, and psychosocial support for trauma victims. Over the next two days the UP group inspected barangays Kisante, Batasan, Buenavida, Sto. Niño, Buhay and Malasila, and took a helicopter fly-by over Bgy. Bato, all in Makilala. Before departing, they shared assessments with the Incident Management Team and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PhiVolcs) team and vice-governor Villanueva. “Four barangays in Makilala suffered 100% damage,” said Dr. Cuaresma. “Resettlement is the only prospect for those families whose homesites are now uninhabitable,” he said.

CALL FROM UPGRADE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS INCUBATION OF UP MINDANAO:

Have an idea/technology that will solve socio-economic problems? Be one of UPGrADE’s incubatees and upgrade your innovations with us. Incubation is Free.
Register your solutions by submitting your concept note. Click: http://bit.ly/2rTYuaq
✅Who are we looking for?
UP Mindanao’s TBI – UPGrADE will incubate today's most creative thinkers
• UP Mindanao constituents
• Start-ups
• Enabling institutions
• Young innovators
✅What ideas/technologies do we support?
UPGrADE offers a number of incubation programs on
• Sustainable Food Systems
• Food Products
• Bio Economy
• Smart Industries
• Green Economy
• Support Community Solutions
✅What support can we give?
UPGrADE will help you grow through:
• Capacity Building Activities
• Participation in startup community events
• Linking with research funding and MFIs
• Providing support on intellectual property rights
• Support networking
• Business model and plan making
• Organizational development
• Mentorship
• Workspace

4TH DR. NELSON NATURAL CUP

The 4th Dr. Nelson Natural Cup was concluded on 17 November 2019 with awarding ceremonies held at the Davao City-UP Sports Complex Football Field. The 2019 champion was the Philippine College of Technology. The 1st Runner-up was Calinan FC, 2nd runner-up was UP Men's Football Varsity, and the 3rd runner-up was Oi! Rogers FC.
Representatives of the co-organizers, the UP Mindanao Siki ni Obli, awarded certificates to the winning teams and the outstanding players and coaches. The organizers extended their congratulations to all the participating teams and expressed their wish for all the participants to keep the football spirit alive, and to uphold camaraderie and sportsmanship in every game.

MENTAL HEALTH FORUM

"Break The Silence, End The Stigma: Let's Talk About Mental Health," a lecture-forum, was held on 11 November 2019, 8:30AM-12NN, at Davao City-UP Sports Complex Training Gym, UP Mindanao, Mintal, Davao City. Welcome Remarks were given by Prof. Larry Digal, chancellor of UP Mindanao. The speakers were Ms. Precious Manliguez, Executive Manager of Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA)-Davao Chapter and Dr. Bihildis Magbunga, Psychiatrist and Chair, Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine-Southern Philippines Medical Center, who spoke on the state of mental health and the common forms for mental health ailments. The keynote was given by Hon. Mary Joselle Villafuerte, MD, Davao City Councilor and Chair of the City Council Committee on Health, who introduced new city ordinances making mental health facilities and services available to citizens. Closing Remarks were given by
Prof. Maria Teresa Escano, Director, Office of Student Affairs.

PHILIPPINE COLLEGE RADIO CONGRESS

The BA Communication and Media Arts (BACMA) students and BACMA faculty Ms. Merle Dawn Comidoy-Acol represented the university in the 4th Philippine College Radio Congress (PCRC) from November 26-28, 2019 at the University of the Philippines Diliman. The event was organized by the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication and participated by around 30 schools all over the Philippines. This year’s theme was Back to Basics which was aimed at reintroducing basic yet essential topics for the operation of college radios in the country such as media ethics, station management, media buying and placement, acoustics and recording, voice acting, podcasting, etc. The sessions and hands-on training were facilitated by media experts including veteran radio news anchor Rey Langit, veteran radio drama actor and director Leonel Benjamin, acoustic engineer Mike Pedero, multi-awarded journalist Roby Alampay, and many more. Next year, the BACMA program is planning to launch the first-ever college radio of UP Mindanao which will be made available online through podcast. The UP Mindanao delegation was the third biggest delegation of this year’s PCRC with a total of nine participants namely: Merle Dawn Comidoy-Acol (faculty) and students Dianne Nicole Capuno, Michelle Angielou Deslate, Ma. Teresa Flores, Clarice Marcellones, Tracy Shikainah Omalza, Jairus Perez, Trisha Teruel, and Bonizza Sarco.

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As the sixth constituent university of the University of the Philippines, UP Mindanao continues the tradition of excellence in providing higher quality education, research and development, and public service for the people of Mindanao. UP Mindanao aims not only to contribute to the body of knowledge but also to the sustainable development and transformation of Southern Philippines and the rest of the country. Armed with this mission, the university uses its intellectual resources to understand Mindanao’s past while laying the groundwork for its future.

Highlights of October, 2019

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

Events scheduled in October 2019 are, as follows:

5-6 October - UP College Admission Test

28-30 - Dula University sports festival, DC-UP Sports Complex Gym

28 - Signing of memorandum of agreement for the Mindanao Genomics Consortium, Room 227, College of Science and Mathematics, UP Mindanao

28 - Gender Sensitivity Training, Lorenzo Hall, 8AM-5PM

Highlights in October, to date, are:

4 October 2019 - UP Mindanao received top awards during the 9th Health Research and Development Expo competitions organized by the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium-XI held on 3-4 October 2019 in Davao City. For the Qualitative Research – Professional/Graduate category, Assistant Professor Kenette Jean Millondaga of the Department of Social Sciences won 1st place for her paper "Women and 'madness' in peasant communities in North Cotabato, Mindanao." For the Quantitative/Mixed Method – Undergraduate Category, received the first and third prizes: Marlon Enano (BS Biology 2019) and Zairel Crish Sarillana (BS Food Technology 2019), respectively. Enano’s paper entitled "Bioassay guided isolation of anti-lung cancer compounds from the leaves of DDHP-2095" is part of the UP Mindanao’s Discovery and Development of Health Products (DDHP) research project headed by Associate Professor Joel Hassan Tolentino (Department of Food Science and Chemistry) and Associate Professor Aleyla de Cadiz (Department of Biological Science and Environmental Studies). Sarillana’s paper entitled "Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) pod husk extract and evaluation of their anti-amicrobial activities" explores new areas in the continuing research of her adviser, Associate Professor Noreen Grace Fundador (Department of Food Science and Chemistry), on the use of waste from local bioresources to assist in the formation of nanoparticles with anti-microbial properties.

5-6 October 2019 - UP Mindanao served as UP College Admission Test Center for Davao City for some 1,182 applicants. Test Permits were issued by the Office of Admissions in UP Mindanao on 4 October 2019.

28 October 2019 - Secretary Fortunato de la Peña of the Department of Science and Technology and Chancellor Larry Digal of UP Mindanao formally opened the Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao Satellite Facility (PGC-MSF) at the College of Science and Mathematics, UP Mindanao. Davao City Mayor’s representative Lorraida Fabro, DOST-XI director Anthony Sales, PGC executive director Cynthia Saloma, and PGC-MSF director and UP Mindanao professor Lyre Anni Murao stood as witnesses. The Mindanao Genomics Consortium was formed on the same day with the signing of a memorandum of understanding by 14 research institutions from the academic, government, and industry sectors.

Earlier, on 14 October, the PGC-MSF held its "2nd Region-Wide Caravan: Forum on Bringing Cutting-Edge Research to Mindanao" with the participation of state colleges and universities, higher education institutions, senior high schools, national government agencies, and industry from the Mindanao region.

Equipment for the UP Mindanao Fermentation and Purification Laboratory arrived on 8 October 2019. This P12 million worth of equipment was donated by Monde Nissin Corporation, the industry partner of the project, “Fermentation and Purification Research to Produce Food-Grade, Pharmaceutical-Grade and Polymer-Grade Lactic Acid.” The equipment is now installed in the lab and the team is presently undergoing training on the use of the equipment. The project operation is supported by the DOST’s Collaborative Research And Development to Leverage the Economy (CRADLE) Program.

All 20 BS Food Technology graduates registered a 100% passing rate for UP Mindanao in the October 2019 Licensure Examination for Chemical Technicians. The national passing rate is 81%, with 2,298 passers out of 2,834 takers in the country. This is the biggest batch of takers and passers from the among the UP Mindanao BSFT graduates.

The School of Management (SOM) conducted a Workshop on Teaching Effectiveness Strategies last October 7, 2019 at Malagos Garden Resort. During the workshop, issues and recommendations to improve teaching effectiveness were identified by the faculty members. SOM organized a Brown Bag Seminar last October 22, 2019 at the University of the Philippines Mindanao. The event was conducted in preparation for the 9th International Conference on Agribusiness Economics and Management (ICAEM 2019). Paper presenters from SOM presented their papers in front of colleagues and received feedback on how to improve their oral presentation for the conference proper in November.

The Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies (DBSES) organized a Vulnerability Assessment of Coastal Areas in Davao Gulf to Climate Related Hazards on 3-4 October 2019 for some 50 planning officers of 4 provinces in Region XI.

The Department of Food Science and Chemistry (DFSC) held their ASEAN Universities Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) Self-assessment and Faculty meeting on 7 October 2019.

The Department of Humanities organized the Lectures on Critical and Discourse Analysis on 8 October 2019 for students and visiting academics. Professors Aileen Salonga and Alwin Aguirre (in photo, 3rd and 4th from left) of UP Diliman College of Arts and Letters were the resource speakers, seen here with faculty members (L-R) Lakan Umali, Jay Jomar Quintos, Samuelle Sanchez, and Farah Virador.

DBSES organized a Module Writeshop on 18-19 October for teachers of science, math, and physics of indigenous peoples’ community schools from 3 provinces.

The DFSC held an Orientation for their Masters of Science in Food Science on 26 October 2019 at the College of Science and Mathematics.

The Office of Gender and Anti-Sexual Harassment (OGASH) organized the Gender Sensitivity Training on 28 October 2019 for faculty members. The training discussed the Basic Concepts of Sex and Gender, Women and Gender in History, Laws on Gender, and the UP Anti-Sexual Harassment Law.

Student public service

• Koro Kantahanay, the resident choir of UP Mindanao, was one of 52 choirs―and the only one from Mindanao―invited to perform at the Philippine Madrigal Singers or the Madz’s “MusiKapayapaan: Madz et al. Choral Festival 2019” held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on 1–6 October 2019.

•The BA Communication and Media Arts (BACMA) program and the Communicators’ Guild student organization held the #SpeakUP Media Arts Boot Camp on 10-11 October 2019 at the campus for some 60 students from Mintal Comprehensive National High School, Holy Child College of Davao–Mintal Campus, Holy Cross of Mintal, and Los Amigos National High School.

Sports

The Ladies Football Varsity and Siki ni Obli student organization organized the 17th Oscar Mora Cup and the 4th Doc Nat Cup football tournaments, named after two sports patrons of UP Mindanao, to be played on weekends from 19 October to 16 November 2019 at the Davao City-UP Sports Complex. The Oscar Mora Cup is a women's futsal competition while the Doc Nat Cup features boys under-13 and men's open categories.

Students were awarded scholarships by the Vicente B. Bello Scholarship Program on 25 October 2019, witnessed by chancellor Larry Digal, scholarship administrator Prof. Ma. Gloria Talavera (at back, 2nd from right), and scholarships officer Analiza Fulvadora.

Student Regent John Isaac B. Punzalan and Staff Regent Mylah R. Pedrano both visited UP Mindanao on 9 October 2019 to hold consultations and dialogues with their respective constituents.

UP Mindanao hosted a meeting with Department of Tourism-XI Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan on 18 October 2019 to discuss the prospect of hosting the proposed DOT-XI cultural center on campus land to complement other upcoming campus projects.

Three strong earthquakes hit Mindanao on 16, 29, and 31 October 2019. UP Mindanao constituents were evacuated, work and classes were suspended, and buildings were inspected and found structurally sound with a few minor cracks. The 16 October event cancelled a lecture on volunteerism by Dr. Grace Aguiling-Dalisay of Ugnayan ng Pahinungod.

Dúlâ, the university sports festival, opened on October 2019 with flag-raising, athletics, and the power-dance competition. College of Science and Mathematics was over-all champion, with SOM/Administration as 1st runners-up and College of Humanities and Social Sciences as 2nd runner-up.

Infrastructure

Below is a list of current infrastructure projects. All of these projects are being monitored by the technical team of the Campus Planning and Development Office

A. Completed Infra Projects of DPWH XI & DPWH XI-2DEO but without any documents yet for turnover to UP Mindanao -

1. P100 Million Multipurpose Human Kinetics Bldg (Training Gym)

2. P50 Million Multipurpose Bldg (Football Stadium Phase 1)

3. P50 Million Sports Complex Bldg (Football Stadium Phase 2)

4. P150 Million Road Network and Other Facilities

5. P34 Million Completion of UP Mindanao - Manambulan Road

B. Completed Infra Projects of UP Mindanao -

1. P10 Million CARIM Bldg Phase 1

2. P35 Million CHSS Cultural Complex Phase 1

3. P3.2 Million Coconut Tissue Culture Laboratory Phase 2

4. P2.2 Million Coconut Tissue Culture Laboratory Phase 3

5. P50 Million Civil Works & Other Facilities of the Football Field & Track Oval

6. P27 Million Installation of Synthetic Turf System on Football field

7. P26 Million Installation of Synthetic Track System on Track Oval

8. P17 Million Installation of Outdoor (Football) Lights

C. On-going Infra Projects of DPWH XI - 2DEO & PSC -

1. P50 Million Water Supply System

2. P50 Million Faculty & Staff Housing

3. P100 Million Campus Improvement and Site Development

4. P50 Million Aquatics Center Phase 3

5. P172 Million Aquatics Center Phase 2

D. On-going Infra Projects of UP Mindanao -

1. P73 Million Aquatics Center Phase 1

2. P29 Million CARIM Bldg Phase 2

Highlights in September, 2019

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

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CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

02 September - Presentation of UP Mindanao Strategic Plan to UP Mindanao employees

03 - Administrative Processes Forum

03-28 - Exhibit of Prof. Perez's painting in Beijing Biennalle

04 - "PEP talk on Medical Genetics"

05 - First General Assembly of Mindanao Genomics Consortium

09 - Extension Seminar and Planning

09 - "Pagpamatbat" Paligsahan sa Talumpati at Balagtasan

17 - Launching of Technology Business Incubation UPGraDE

18 - Ribbon-cutting ceremony for UP Mindanao Technology Business Incubation-UP Growing and Developing Enterprises (TBI-UPGraDE)

21 - UP Day of Remembrance

Assistant professor of humanities and artist Teody Boylie “Bong” Perez was one of two Filipinos who were invited to exhibit a painting at the 8th Beijing International Art Biennale at the National Art Museum of China, People’s Republic of China, from 30 August to 20 September 2019. The painting entitled “Contrast of Life, 2018,” oil on canvas piece, was one of 446 paintings and sculptures by foreign artists selected from 125 countries and 194 works by Chinese artists exhibited at the Biennale with the theme “A colorful world and a shared future.”

On 2 September, Chancellor Larry Digal presented his Strategic Plan to internal stakeholders. The plan was presented to the faculty in the morning and to the non-teaching staff in the afternoon. Vice-chancellor for academic affairs Nilo Oponda presented the academic strategic plan, research and engagement director Emma Ruth Bayogan presented her plan, and vice-chancellor for administration Aurelia Luz Gomez, likewise, presented her plan.

On 4 September, the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao Satellite Facility organized the Pep Talk on Medical Genetics for students of the College of Science. Dr. Bryan Edgar K. Guevara of Southern Philippines Medical Center gave a talk titled "Hello, Love, Goodbye: Life of a Filipino dermatologist/researcher abroad" and Dr. Chao Kai Hsu of National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan spoke on "How do genetic studies help patients with genodermatoses." The team arrived with students from Cheng Kung University and were met by Officer-in-charge Nilo Oponda and VP for Development Elvira Zamora, who was in the campus for a meeting.

On 5 September, the Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao Satellite Facility convened the nascent Mindanao Genomics Consortium in UP Mindanao. Some 45 officials from 33 academic, industry, civic society, and government organizations attended, including heads of three Mindanao higher educational institutions and Davao City councilor Pilar Braga. UP Mindanao chancellor Larry Digal welcomed the representatives while Department of Science and Technology-XI assistant regional director Elsie Solidum gave the overview. PGC-MSF director Lyre Anni Murao discussed the functions of the facility. The consortium, conceived to be a special group of the Department of Science and Technology, aims to gather science and technology stakeholders in Mindanao to facilitate genomics research work and research collaborations. At the end of the day the assembly unanimously expressed their willingness to be part of the consortium.

On 9 September, the Center for the Advancement of Research, development, and engagement In Mindanao (CARIM) organized the University Extension Planning. CARIM director and professor Emma Ruth Bayogan gave the rationale to the 30-plus researchers and staff who attended. UP Diliman Office of Extension Coordination director and associate professor Lenore P. de la Cruz gave a presentation on extension implementation in UP Diliman for reference of the participants. Discussions and presentations of extension plans were produced in the breakout sessions which were reviewed by the assembly and the resource person. A synthesis and a presentation of the way forward in extension culminated the day-long session.

On 9 September, the Rotaract Club student organization in partnership with the Rotary Club of Matina Davao staged their annual Pagpamatbat debate and oratory (balagtasan at talumpati) competition with 16 participating high schools in UP Mindanao. The theme was 'Bata, bata, saan ka tatanda: Sa tahanan o sa kulungan?’/ 'Child, where will you grow old: At home or in prison?' In the debate, Holy Cross College of Calinan was champion, Calinan National High School won second prize, and Bernardo L. Carpio National High School won third prize. Department of Humanities faculty members Prof. Jay Jomar Quintos, Ms. Merle Dawn Comidoy, and Prof. Karen Joyce Cayamanda served as judges. In the oratory category Davao City National High School emerged as champion, Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School won second prize, and Holy Cross College of Calinan won third prize. Humanities faculty members Prof. Karen Joyce Cayamanda and Mr. Julius Neil Piala with former Rotaract president Ms. Iva Barbara Caballero served as the panel of judges.

On 8 September, Consul-General Li Lin of the Peoples Republic of China Consulate in Davao City and his wife Madame Aiping Chiu met with the UP delegation composed of UP Mindanao chancellor Larry Digal, vice chancellor Nilo Oponda, UP Mindanao Foundation chairman Sebastian Angliongto, president Atty. Marie Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes, trustees Atty. Marie Glenn Sorila and Ms. Zony Reyes, and Dr. Badion Reyes.

On 10-11 September the team went to Metro Manila and met Commission on Higher Education chairperson J. Prospero de Vera, Department of Budget and Management acting secretary Wendel Avisado, and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles. On 14 September, a UP Mindanao delegation of 27 staffmembers led by human resource chief and assistant professor Jackie Lou Tagubase participated in the "Zumba for a Cause" in SM City Davao in celebration of the 119th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary.

On 16 September, UPMFI president Atty. Marie Dinah Tolentino-Fuentes anf UP Mindanao public relations officer Rene Estremera were guests in the Kapihan sa SM press conference in SM City Davao to promote the coming Regional Aluni Institute in 22-23 November 2019. News reports were seen in Mindanao Times and The Edge newspapers and websites of the Philippine Information Agency and the Malaysian Sun.

On 18 September, associate professor Annabelle U. Novero was awarded the 2019 Crop Science Society of the Philippines Achievement Award in Research. The award was presented by CSSP president Dr. Edna A. Anit and Dr. Marissa V. Romero, chair of the awards and recognition committee on the occasion of the 25th Federation of Crop Science Societies in the Philippines/1st Federation of Plant Science Associations of the Philippines Scientific Conference in Davao City.

On 18 September, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to open the UP Mindanao technology business incubation unit named "UP Growing And Developing Enterprises" or UPGrADE. "UPGrADE aims to promote entrepreneurship through innovation as a viable career path for Filipinos," said assistant professor and UPGrADE manager Miguel Carlo Guillermo. The Department of Science and Technology, which is funding the operations of UPGrADE under the DOST-Higher Education Institution Readiness for Innovation and Techno-preneurship (HEIRIT) program, was represented in the opening by DOST-XI regional director Anthony Sales, DOST-PCIEERD deputy director Raul Sabularse, and DOST Research Information and Technology Transfer Division chief Russell Pili. Chancellor Digal, in his remarks, thanked DOST for granting UP Mindanao the new opportunity to create enterprises from the products of research in addition to the support for the ongoing lactic acid purification project and the proposed science and technology park.

On the week of 21 September, UP Mindanao observed the UP Day of Remembrance to honor the resistance against the martial law in the Philippines in the 1970s. "Imong Papa Move On: Forum on Martial Law" was held on 19 September with speakers JV Cabajes and novelist and former political detainee Ms. Lualhati Abreu. At 6:00 PM, a candle-lighting ceremony and lightning rally was held in conjunction with the annual student Torch Night. On 20 September, a protest march was held around the campus culminating in a rally at the Atrium steps.

On 22 September, BS Computer Science teams finished in first and third place in the Startup Weekend Davao Women competition for information technology solutions to problems in the cacao industry. Team 10Kers, the first-placer, conceptualized a mobile phone application for monitoring cacao farms that uses a combination of hardware and software development with the application of Internet of Things (IoT). The third-placers, Team CacaoJuan, created an offline data monitoring system for cacao growers. The competition was a culmination of three days of idea creation and development over 20-22 September 2019 in Kadena Hub, Davao City, co-organized by University of the Philippines Mindanao UPGRADE and other technology business incubation units and industry partners Techstar Startup Weekend and Ambidextr.

On 23-24 September, the Executive Committee went on a tour of Compostela Valley province to meet partners and prospective collaborators. The Laak Multi-Purpose Cooperative was the first stop wherein Chancellor Larry Digal proposed a collaboration for a cacao project. In the afternoon, the team met Provincial Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy who received a briefing on the university's land reservation and other prospective engagements in the province. On 24 September the team visited part of the Laak land reservation and viewed the cacao and banana plants. The team made a stop-over at Sinobong public high school that was established with the help of UP Mindanao volunteers. In Barangay Talle, the team held consultations with residents who farm inside the reservation. Finally, the team visited Compostela Valley State College and held discussions with college president Dr. Christie Jean Ganiera and her key staff for possible collaborations. The team also discovered alumni who worked in the provincial capitol and in the state college.

On 25-29 September, UP Mindanao hosted the Coaching Education Certification Course of the Philippine Sports Commission 2019. Sixty-five coaches from Davao region participated. UP Mindanao vice chancellor for academic affairs Dr. Nilo Oponda, in his welcome remarks, presented the proposed UP Mindanao sports development program. The lectures were on: sports psychology by Prof. Karen Trinidad; sports ethics by Dr. Robert Paul Jurado; sports physiology by Prof. Josephine Joy Reyes; talent identification by Prof. Henry Daut.

UP Mindanao's Office of Student Affairs organized an Earthquake and Fire Stafety Orientation and Drill on 30 September 2019, in line with the Davao City local government unit's thrust to develop a disaster-resilient community. Barangay Matina DRRM Consultant Primo V. Cruz discussed earthquake safety and Senior Fire Officer Rodel Estilloso talked on fire safety in the plenary sessions. At 2:20 PM an earthquake drill was carried out that saw UP Mindanao constituents practice the duck-cover-and-hold routine and orderly evacuation to open ground.

Public Lecture by Dr. Joel L. Cuello, 15 August

Written by Rene Estremera. Posted in Forums

Prof. Joel L. Cuello, a professor of agricultural bio-systems engineering at the University of Arizona, United States, will give a talk entitled “Strengthening the Innovation Ecosystem of the Philippines toward Inclusive National Development” on 15 August 2019, 8AM-12noon at the CHSS AVR. The lecture is funded under the World Experts Lecture Series by the UP Office of International Linkages. Admission to the lecture is free of charge. Due to limited seats, interested persons may confirm their attendance on or before 12 August 2019 using this online form: https://bit.ly/2YDREjM For more information, interested contact the UP Mindanao Center for the Advancement of Research, development, and engagement in Mindanao (CARIM) at (082) 293-1839 or email at .

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