Secretary Acosta (third from left) with Vice-Chancellor for Administration Leo Manuel Estana, Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao, and VC for Academic Affairs Annabelle Novero

Magandang umaga, UP Mindanao and happy 29th founding anniversary! Let me first congratulate the organizing committee for the successful event. It's good to be back. and what better time to visit the campus than during today's commemoration of its 29th year? 

It is an honor to be invited here both as an alumna — ako po ay nagtapos ng Masters in Management dito sa School of Management in UP Mindanao— at nagturo din ng local governance sa UP Mindanao School of Management, and now as a Secretary of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). 

I am also proud to share that many of the officials and staff of the MinDA are from  UP Mindanao, continuing and living up to the values of service, honor, and excellence throughout their work for Mindanao. 

MinDA also celebrated its 14th anniversary last week. And I am certain that for all of those 14 years, UP Mindanao has been MinDA’s partner in its pursuit of a peaceful and progressive Mindanao. I know that several faculty and researchers of  UP Mindanao have also been MinDA’s active partners and implementing key strategic programs such as the Minda NOW or Nurturing Our Waters program, the Mindanao development corridors, and in the formulation of the peace and development framework for Mindanao, and most recently, for the updating of the document we now call the Mindanao Agenda. 

Associate Professor and UP Artist Teody Boylie "Bong" Perez won First Prize in the "Outsiders" International Exhibition and Competition 2024. Prof. Perez's winning entry was "Life Goes On," Oil on canvas, 57 X 45 inches, created in April 2021. "This painting evokes the Filipino spirit of hope and determination to survive and remain positive amidst pandemics and calamities," stated the artist's note accompanying the painting. Prof.Perez won over a field of 20 finalists from different countries.

"What is crucial to me is gaining an understanding of the conditions that exist in my country," wrote Prof. Perez in his Artist's Statement. "I believe that to create meaningful art; one must appreciate ideas that are relevant and then strive to achieve masterful freedom in expressing them," he stated. 

The "Outsiders" exhibit and competition is organized by Crosscurrents Gallery. "The theme 'Outsiders' invites artists to explore and interpret the concept of individuals or groups existing on the fringes or margins of society," stated the organizers. Visit the exhibition page here: https://www.crosscurrentsgallery.com/outsiders-exhibition 

Doji Lopez, President Jimenez, Madett Gardiola, Chancellor Murao, Victoria Espaldon, Larry Mapolon, Gracita Jacinto-Ali

The TWG review UP initiatives in the BARMM

UPMin's Michael Gatela and Erwin Protacio participate online

The Technical Working Group for the Creation of the UP-Bangsamoro Development Institute met on February 13, 2024, to map out the way forward towards the realization of this initiative. UP President Angelo Jimenez presided over the meeting attended by EVP Jose Fernando Alcantara, UP Mindanao Chancellor and TWG Chairperson Prof. Lyre Anni Murao, TWG members Dr. Victoria Espaldon, Atty. Larry Mapolon, Dr. Gracita Jacinto-Ali, and facilitators Doji Lopez and Madett Gardiola. UPMin’s Pahinungod Director Michael Gatela, Extension Director Erwin Protacio, and Jane Capacio, representing TWG member Annette Balaoing-Pelkmans attended online. Ms. Nhikki Pauline Lumayag and Mr. John Carlo Evardo served as the TWG secretariat.