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A Free Clinic for UP Athletes

2019-10-06T00:24:00.000-07:00

The University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman has a dedicated team of professionals that provides the UP Fighting Maroons—the collegiate varsity teams of UP Diliman—the health care they need, before and during University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) tournaments. Directly under the UP College of Human Kinetics (CHK), the UP Sports Physical Therapy Clinic (UP SPTC) is the only accredited facility that primarily provides free medical consultation, physical therapy services, first aid and paramedical assistance, and rehabilitation programs to all UP enlisted athletes. The clinic also offers local and international certification courses, trainings and seminars for physical therapy student interns and professionals in the field of sports and orthopedics. These services are also available to the University’s students, faculty, administrative personnel, and the general public. Therapy in the field According to UP SPTC Director Maria Angela L. Borras, the clinic was originally a joint project of the CHK and the then UP School of Allied Medical Professions (now College of Allied Medical Professions in UP Manila). But it was only about a decade ago when the varsity physiotherapist then for the Maroons, Anthony Caguioa, reopened the facility and accepted student interns from UP Manila to be trained in sports, says Borras. When Borras took over the job in 2011, the UP SPTC was formally set up as an organization headed by the CHK dean. “Clinical supervisors, who are licensed PTs, were welcomed as consultants. The CHK provided an in-house physiatrist for medical consultation, and with a good number of PTs available, the clinic started to operate regularly during weekdays, from 8 am to 5 pm,” she says. “In 2012, the clinic developed a system that partnered student interns with licensed therapists, which allowed training and game coverage for all UP Fighting Maroons varsity teams, specifically for UAAP games. Therapy sessions have been done in the field to provide return-to-sports intervention and careful monitoring of the reintegration of recovering athletes to the team and sports,” continues Borras. According to Borras, the milestones of the clinic include “providing post-graduate seminars and certification courses for licensed PTs and other sports professionals (2014); hosting an international certification course for Kinesiology Taping and Instrument Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization techniques (2015); Commission on Higher Education accreditation as an internship facility (2016); graduates from UP SPTC serving as physiotherapists for both professional and non-professional athletic teams; licensed PTs who underwent post graduate training specialization working for teams here and outside the country; hosting international certification courses which cut the expenses for our local practitioners; staff serving for the Rio Summer Olympics (2016), FIFA Medical Emergency course, Anti-Doping course for healthcare professionals by Stanford University, and this year’s Russia World Cup; and, staff pursuing their master’s degree.” Personnel, equipment, and other services The UP SPTC aims to “give excellent physical therapy services for injury prevention, rehabilitation and performance enhancement of the UP Diliman Varsity Teams;” and “be a role model for all sports physical therapy clinics in the country,” among its other goals mentioned earlier. And to fulfill these aims, the clinic operates under the leadership of CHK Dean Ronualdo Dizer and in coordination with Prof. Oscar Santelices, chair of the Varsity Athletics Admission System (VAAS). Dr. Alberto Magpily serves as the resident physiatrist. According to Borras, the resident physiatrist and visiting orthopedic doctors from the UP Philippine General Hospital are in charge of “medical consultations and referrals for ancillary procedures and physical therapy intervention or other services, as needed.” The varsity physiotherapist, tasked with ensuring that the teams are “provided with necessary care, training, game, and clinic based rehabilitation” is Ma. Crisanta Prieto. Borras, as the director of the facility, adds that she handles “external matters involving the clinic, such as partnerships with other universities, seminars and workshops, and other non-patient related events.” Borras explains that they, together with other physical therapists, serve as consultants, and as clinical and field supervisors who guide and assess students’ performance during their affiliation period. Borras says that the clinic, located at the Ylanan Gymnasium of the CHK, makes use of equipment such as “therapeutic modalities like ultrasound and TENS, a traction machine, a LASER machine, and exercise machines for strengthening and endurance.” She adds that “the clinic also offers specialized services like instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, stationary and gliding cups, kinesiology taping, and wellness programs for weight loss or competition preparation for recreational athletes.” The clinic’s UP spirit With only one physiotherapist in charge of all the members of the varsity teams of UP Diliman, of each and every athlete of the UP Fighting Maroons, and clinic personnel having no security of tenure as consultants under non-UP contracts that are renewed every six months, the UP SPTC harnesses the UP spirit of honor and excellence, and dedication and grit, to provide its services, fulfill its goals, and thrive. “Everyone else looking after the interns—10 to 12 students—and all the varsity teams, are compensated on consultancy basis. They enjoy no benefits and no papers despite their service to the University,” Borras reveals. “Our varsity physiotherapist is under a non-UP contract which is renewed every six months. Since the consultants and the varsity physiotherapist are not compensated and given benefits accordingly, dedication to the institution leads them to working multiple jobs to keep up with individual needs. Whenever a consultant is offered a more sustainable opportunity, the clinic has no power to make a counter-offer and ends up losing staff almost every academic year,” she adds. “The majority of the clientele of the clinic are the athletes, and since they are provided for free, the services, seminars and workshops, have been utilized to raise funds to compensate the consultants. Student-interns are also providing minimal affiliation fees and non-athletes are charged minimally as well. But these funds are not fixed and are limited to the number of enrollees for every year and on a periodic basis, and to the number of non-athletes referred to the center. In the end, the system, facility, and the services are always in limbo until job security for the personnel is provided,” explains Borras. Live healthy In closing, Borras invites everyone to live a healthy life. “‘Exercise is medicine’ has never been more relevant than at present when common mortality causes are modifiable conditions and non-communicable diseases. As an advocate of movement and believer of adding more years to life, the clinic welcomes everyone to take charge of their health through seeking the services of professionals” she says. “One does not need to get injured, be diagnosed with a disease, or be pressured by society before commencing to live a healthy lifestyle. Alongside the advocacy for movement, the Clinic aims to train more proficient and passionate individuals who will share their knowledge and skills with athletes and non-athletes, and UP and non-UP members alike,” concludes Borras. The clinic can be contacted via sportsptclinic@gmail.com for health and wellness concerns or sports-related services.

Wheelchairs for Empowerment

2019-10-06T00:22:00.000-07:00

The sight of a wheelchair has traditionally evoked pity for the person sitting in it, often presumed to be powerless and incapable. But that perception is changing—as well as the reality behind it. Today, wheelchairs are seen as tools for empowerment, which could change people’s lives for the better. United Nations statistics suggest that 10 to 15 percent of any given population may be persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in need of some form of assistive technology, such as a wheelchair, visual aid, hearing aid, or other devices to help them with their daily needs, activities, and mobility. Given our population of just over 100 million, there could be about 15 million Filipinos living with a disability today. Given these figures, the supply of wheelchairs for Filipino PWDs could be far shorter than the demand, so the University of the Philippines has stepped in to fill the gap and raise the quality of life of PWDs. The UP College of Allied Medical Professions (UP CAMP) in UP Manila initiated a Wheelchair Service Program for indigents in 2012 as part of its Community-Based Rehabilitation Program (CBRP) and the Clinic for Therapy Services (CTS). Dr. Ferdiliza Dandah S. Garcia, a speech pathologist and a medical doctor currently teaching in UP CAMP, oversees the implementation of the WSP. More than a device Garcia says that the wheelchair should no longer be seen as just a device given out of charity or something to transport a PWD with for him or her to get adequate exposure to sunlight. “Wheelchairs are tools for empowerment. Being among the leading therapy schools in the country, we want to be at the forefront of advancing knowledge and skills that could enable our fellow persons with disabilities,” she says. According to Garcia, wheelchairs enable PWDs to do what they can and want to do. Through the WSP, various organizations such as the Philippine Society of Wheelchair Professionals, Physicians for Peace, KAISAKA Foundation, the provincial government of Bataan, Department of Health (DOH), and others, help them attend to the needs of PWDs. They are also able to impart to their clients and the public the necessary information and training for appropriate wheelchair service provision and access to services. Beyond securing wheelchairs, the WSP also provides services to their users. This new paradigm, Garcia adds, requires the service provider to determine with the PWD and his or her family the appropriate specifications of the wheelchair to make the device suitable to their needs. The wheelchair can then be semi-customized to suit the PWD’s condition, environment or terrain, and activities, whether it is to be used in a school or work environment, or for sports or other activities. In this way, an enabling environment is created for the PWD. The WSP came out of a meeting among wheelchair service stakeholders years ago. Back then, it was estimated that wheelchairs were needed by only one in 100 Filipinos, with only 10 to 15 percent of that subgroup having access to a standard wheelchair. The group’s application for a grant was approved in 2015 and through it, they were able to acquire some equipment for teaching and training faculty and students in UP Manila on how to do wheelchair service provision at the intermediate level. From then on, they were able to assess and fit wheelchairs for low-income clients in UP CAMP’s CBRP and CTS. Not only for PWDs Garcia says she hopes the program can help the University acquire a steady supply of affordable wheelchairs, and to find other partners who can develop these. Most wheelchairs in use are imported and expensive. The need for wheelchairs, she stresses, is “not limited to the PWD. They also include the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, those needing dialysis, those with a temporary disability, such as a fracture. They all need some form of mobility.” Although the WSP already uses available tools and equipment for semi-customizing wheelchairs, Garcia says the country still needs to establish a viable domestic industry for appropriate wheelchairs because importing is expensive. “There are prototypes for new wheelchairs, especially in other countries. There are designs for low-resource and high-resource types. The wheelchair is just one part of a bigger set of assistive technologies. It can be an industry here in the future. The WHO and UN are pushing for assistive technologies. Later on, there will be funding for other assistive devices such as communication aids, hearing aids, and visual aids. Hopefully, other UP colleges can do collaborative work to develop these,” she add. The WSP now serves as a model for other organizations. Through their partnerships with non-government organizations and local governments, about 90 wheelchairs have been given to children with disabilities. In the college-based CTS and community-based CBRP, more than 50 wheelchairs have been provided since 2014, and about 18 formal training activities were conducted in UP Manila. Some WHO modules were integrated into their Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy classes. Garcia says that UP CAMP is training students in basic wheelchair service provision and hopes to train other health professionals, especially from UP. The WSP also aims to promote access to research and documentation, and to put up a model wheelchair service delivery center in the Philippines.

Are Laguna’s hot springs losing steam?

2019-10-06T00:20:00.000-07:00

Researchers, mostly from the University of the Philippines, have pointed out that over-extraction of groundwater by hot spring resorts in Calamba and Los Baños in Laguna Province can cause a variety of problems, such as a drop in groundwater level and competition for water supply in the near future. Will Laguna’s hot springs also “lose steam” or cool down due to over-consumption? Among the tourist attractions that Laguna is known for are its hot spring resorts and water spas sprawling in areas endowed with plenty of groundwater made warm by geothermal activities in the foothills of Mt. Makiling and Mt. Banahaw. The researchers were concerned that “the increasing number of hot spring resorts in the area and the increasing number of visitors entail greater demand for groundwater to be used in the pools,” especially during the summer months from March to May, and in December, peak periods for these business establishments. The research team comprised Karen Ann B. Jago-on of the School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) in UP Diliman (UPD); Fernando P. Siringan of the Marine Science Institute (MSI) in UPD; Rosana Balangue-Tarriela of the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS) in UPD; Makoto Taniguchi of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature in Kyoto, Japan; Yvette Kirsten Reyes of SURP; Ronald Lloren of MSI; Maria Angelica Peña of NIGS; and Elenito Bagalihog of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) of the Philippines. In an article published in the Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, Volume 11, June 2017, these researchers warned of over-consumption of groundwater in selected areas in Laguna for domestic, agricultural, commercial and industrial uses; and, of possible negative effects of unregulated water use on affected populations, such as conflict or competition over the use of available water. Through their study, they are calling for improvements in the implementation of existing water use regulations and the strengthening of partnerships for the sustainable management of groundwater resources. The researchers are also asking for the crafting and implementation of specific water use regulations for hot springs. The article was one of the team’s research outputs under a bigger research project on human environmental security funded by the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN). Their study, “Hot spring resort development in Laguna Province, Philippines: Challenges in water use regulation,” projected the impact of the activities of hot spring resorts in Calamba, where 466 of these were registered, and in Los Baños, where 42 were registered as business establishments with their respective local government units. Only a handful of them, however, were registered with the NWRB. The NWRB is the lead government agency that “coordinates and regulates all water-related activities in the country that have an impact on the physical environment and the economy.” Estimates on water consumption were made based on data from government agencies and at least 65 resorts surveyed. The researchers further warned that any increase in the population and in commercial and industrial activities in these areas also leads to increase in water use and demand. According to the study, most of the resorts, typically having one adult pool (usually 6.8 meters × 11.12 m in size and about 1 m to 2 m deep) and one children’s pool (about 3.12 m × 3.82 m in size and 0.6 m to 0.9 m deep), were built only in the past 13 years and operate without water use permits. These “use 1 or 2 motor pumps, and it usually takes about 7 hours to fill the pool with water. The depth of the wells ranges from 3 m to 100 m. The average depth of the wells is about 29 m.” Since the “swimming pools are drained of water every booking of new guests, which on average is about 3 times a week during peak periods of tourist arrivals, the estimated average volume of monthly water consumption per pool is around 1,500 m3 during peak periods and about 700 m3 during lean periods or during the rainy months,” the study reveals. The researchers reported a “huge demand of groundwater from these water resorts” based on the estimated total monthly water consumption of registered resorts during peak season in Calamba (around 665,260 m3, or up to 77% of the domestic consumption serviced by the Calamba Water District) and in Los Baños (about 59,959 m3). Furthermore, new data on the pools’ water temperatures, gathered from previous and recent research initiatives, point to a general “decrease in temperature through time”, such as an observed cooling down by 5 to 8 degrees. There have also been some reported changes in the volume of water, such as a “decrease in water yield and flow rate from pumps; increase in the time to fill the pools; and decline in water level making it necessary to dig deeper wells,” due to “unrestrained exploitation of groundwater.” If water extraction from Laguna’s hot springs is left unregulated, as the study warns, water resorts might also “lose steam” (a metaphor for possible consequences, not due to geothermal activities), or could literally cool down (as new data suggests), due to decreasing groundwater supply and over-exploitation of the resource now and in the future. That’s worrisome—but if you take that hot dip now, will you be contributing to the problem down the road?

From genotype shift to HIV epidemic

2019-10-06T00:18:00.000-07:00

Reports indicate that HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infections in the Philippines have reached epidemic proportions. The HIV/AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) revealed that 1,021 new HIV-infected individuals were reported in January 2018, of which 17% of the newly diagnosed already showed signs of advanced HIV infection. With patients’ ages ranging from 3 to 61 years old, more than half of the newly tested were 25 to 34 years old, and 29 percent were 15 to 24 years old. According to the same report, “About one-third (327 individuals) was from the National Capital Region. 87% (885 individuals) of newly diagnosed infections was among males who have sex with males. Other modes of transmission were needle sharing among injecting drug users (18 individuals) and mother-to-child transmission (two individuals).” Dealing with the HIV epidemic Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salvaña, director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), University of the Philippines Manila, said that although the prevalence of HIV infections has gone down by 25 percent in most parts of the world, HIV in the Philippines has gone up by more than 25 percent in the last ten years. “It is now the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the world,” Salvaña said during the scientific conference hosted by the NIH at the Bayanihan Center, Pasig City on March 14. He explained that the majority of infections from 2006 to present was locally transmitted, and that the epidemic is attributed to a shift in HIV genotype, “from subtype B to what looks like a more aggressive subtype CRFo1_AE (AE, for short), which is not a new subtype, but is more common in Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia.” This genotype shift was discovered through research at the NIH. “It’s now a local epidemic, and the trajectory is quite alarming. In 2000, we only had one new case every three days. In 2007, only one case a day. In 2009, we had two new cases a day. Now, we have 31 cases a day,” Salvaña said. There have been 10,111 reported cases from January to November 2017, or more than 50,000 since 1984 when the first case of HIV in the Philippines was reported. According to Salvaña, there has been “a 30-fold increase in the past decade. Nearly 85 percent of those cases were newly diagnosed in the last five years. If we compare the new cases from 2001-2015, the number of cases worldwide has gone down by 32 percent, but in the Philippines, it has gone up by 4,800 percent, to the point that we now have the fastest growing HIV epidemic in Asia and the world, in terms of percentage.” The subtype AE is more aggressive and more transmissible, as illustrated by Salvaña. “This is partially responsible for the explosion of cases in the Philippines. Before the year 2000, about 71 percent were subtype B (the subtype that is more common in the US and Europe), and now it’s 75 percent subtype AE and about 22 percent subtype B. The most common subtype in the world is C, which represents about 50 percent of cases in the world, and most of that is in Africa. Whereas subtype B, the most studied subtype, only represents about 12 percent of the world’s HIV population,” he said. Salvaña further said that an explosive epidemic in the Philippines because of a genotype shift could have global implications. He added that subtype AE infections were also emerging in other countries, including the US, Canada, and Australia, and that the problem might become more complicated due to drug resistance. NIH’s role vs. HIV Dr. Salvaña said the NIH provides important scientific evidence for policy and helps us understand, “and potentially defeat the HIV epidemic.” He added that “NIH is currently doing research on the molecular epidemiology and emergence of drug-resistant HIV. We have collaborated with the Department of Health (DOH) in determining rates of drug resistance to antiretrovirals.” “Research geared towards supporting policy has always been the guiding principle for our HIV work in NIH. We looked at prevalence of HIV in special populations and described the changing molecular epidemiology of HIV in the Philippines, leading us to discover that the shift in HIV genotype is a major factor in the current epidemic. In addition, we were the first to do a systematic study on the emergence of drug resistance on treatment, and we are currently doing work on transmission of HIV drug resistance which is essential to long-term planning for HIV control and elimination efforts,” Salvaña reiterated. The research efforts of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology focus on the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of the top causes of sickness and death in the country. The NIH offers a variety of cutting-edge services, among them HIV drug resistance testing, genotyping, and research on other disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Get tested, get proper treatment “This is no longer something to be scared of,” Salvaña said, as he encouraged people to get tested for HIV. He said earlier diagnosis means better response to medication, and longer life. Antiretroviral Therapy increases the survival rate in HIV patients. “With treatment, you can live a long and full life. After an unprecedented global effort in research and aid, effective medication was discovered. Turning point came with the discovery of protease inhibitors, and the use of HAART, or High Active Antiretroviral Therapy). Our HAART is a combination of three drugs. The people who use it don’t die of HIV. Most of the data generated on the effect of Antiretroviral Therapy is abroad, but we do have local data here at the NIH. If you are diagnosed with full-blown AIDS, you are six times more likely to die. So you really want to get diagnosed early,” Salvaña said. “Being on treatment reduces risk of transmission by 96 %. New data suggests that if your viral load is suppressed, which we expect after six months of taking your treatment, your risk of transmitting HIV is zero. Undetectable equals untransmissible. Treatment restores your health for you to be able to do the things you used to do. You do not put your loved ones at further risk,” concluded Dr. Salvaña.

IT vs. TB

2019-10-06T00:17:00.000-07:00

Tuberculosis has been an age-old scourge for Filipinos, killing 14,000 in 2015 (according to data from the Department of Health, while the World Health Organization’s estimate is 22,000 in 2016) and putting the Philippines fourth on the WHO list of countries with high TB incidence. Fighting it hasn’t been easy. “Superbugs” or bacteria that have become resistant to existing first-line drugs have emerged due to inappropriate use of medicines, incorrect prescription, or failure to complete the treatment program. Some anti-TB medicines also cause serious side effects. Filipino scientists have thus been looking for newer and more effective compounds against multi-drug resistant tuberculosis or MDR-TB and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis or XDR-TB, among other superbugs. Drug development is a long and expensive process. But in UP, computer-aided drug discovery and development (CADDD) is now helping to reduce the time and cost of drug discovery. In 2012, a UP research team embarked on a project pioneering the use of computers in discovering new compounds for the treatment of TB. The project was supported until August 2017 by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) of the UP System under the Emerging Inter-Disciplinary Research (EIDR) program. Out of around 5 million compounds screened virtually in the computer laboratory set up in UP Manila, the researchers were able to test around a hundred compounds, and then filter down the number of top hits to around ten active compounds, from which three were considered very promising. The project has officially ended, but according to project leader Junie B. Billones, PhD, a professor in Chemistry at the Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics of the College of Arts and Sciences (DPSM-CAS), the work goes on. The computational lab for drug discovery, including the software and computers they used, are still there for UP students and researchers to use. This breakthrough project proved that Filipinos can perform cutting-edge drug discovery and that UP researchers can match what those in universities abroad, with more advanced facilities and equipment, are doing. Dr. Billones, who was formerly Assistant Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, says that their group focused on tuberculosis research because TB, a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is still a major health issue as the sixth leading cause of death in the Philippines. “As researchers in a developing country like the Philippines, we should have a contribution on drug discovery to address those areas we feel are quite neglected in terms of drug discovery and development,” Billones adds. This approach is not really new in developed countries because this has been the technique used by large pharmaceutical companies abroad. But as researchers in an academic institution or any research institution in the Philippines, CADDD research is still new in our country.” The project is unique because it utilizes, for the first time in the Philippines, computer software in the discovery of new compounds. “Typically, new compounds are discovered by chance, by trial and error method,” he explains. “We usually discover new compounds from extracts of plants or organisms, like marine life, sponges. We collect the organisms from the field and then we extract them. We characterize the isolated compounds and then we test the compounds for antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, and effects on other diseases. We use them for assays for different diseases. We are lucky if we find new compounds that can be used for the treatment of a particular disease. It’s really a hit and miss experiment for the longest time; that’s how we discover drugs in the Philippines, really very basic, like finding a needle in the haystack. You really don’t know what is in there and for what purpose.” This time, however, UP’s researchers tapped the information from database collections of compounds. Says Billones: “We can now pre-select sets of compounds with very promising activity against a certain target. We are reducing the number of compounds to a very manageable number; so our tests in the lab, the bioassay we do in the lab, are for those that give very highly encouraging results, in terms of binding energy, for example, our criterion for activity. We don’t have to spend for a lot of chemicals or specimens for testing millions of compounds since it is impractical and expensive to do so.” Ten computer units were acquired and installed with software which can perform the functions of “all computational tools in drug discovery, from target modelling to ligand modelling, to modelling interaction between the two, and modification of the top hits, to prediction of ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) properties that can also be predicted using computational and statistical tools” for the purposes of the project. Billones says that CADDD is very cost-effective and quite fast compared to typical laboratory experiments. The software’s two-year license fee costs around P1 million, against more expensive equipment in a typical laboratory setup that could cost as high as P50 million. The UP Manila’s TB Drug Discovery Team includes Maria Constancia O. Carillo, PhD, Voltaire G. Organo, PhD, and other research associates who are also from the DPSM-CAS, UP Manila, and Gisela P. Concepcion, PhD, from the Marine Science Institute, College of Science, UP Diliman. They were also able to publish several articles related to the project in various international scientific journals. Billones says the project also proves that the Philippines has the expertise to perform this kind of research. “Now, there is an increasing number of paper presentations in conferences, from other research groups in CADDD. There’s an increasing number of scientists in the Philippines going into this kind of work. That’s very encouraging. Drug discovery and development should always be accompanied by modern technologies, CADDD tools in discovering and designing drugs. That’s how pharmaceutical companies abroad are doing it. I’m very thankful to the UP System, especially the OVPAA. I hope other scientists will be able to work with us, to share other structures from compounds, from plants, from bacteria, from any organism in the Philippines. Maybe they can do some testing first, through our facility. They can work with us and we can identify the appropriate bioassay for a particular compound. This speeds up the process of discovery.”

Resilience begins at home

2019-10-06T00:15:00.000-07:00

Mandated to advance national development and also to help save people’s lives, the University of the Philippines established the UP Resilience Institute (RI) in July 2016, followed by its adoption of the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center in March 2017 as its core component.
By harnessing the expertise of academics and professionals in the fields of science and technology as well as the arts and humanities, these UP hubs are at the forefront of scientific research and extension work on natural hazards, climate change actions, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and the promotion of disaster resilience in the Philippines and the Pacific Rim.
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone nations in the world, and minding its many tantrums is the unenviable but vital job of UP’s top disaster scientist, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay. A faculty member of the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS), Lagmay also concurrently heads the RI and the NOAH Center.
Dr. Lagmay obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UP and holds a PhD degree in Earth Sciences from the University of Cambridge. He is also an Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST).
Our own backyard
One of the first projects of the RI and the NOAH Center aims to make all UP campuses and communities around the country resilient to climate change and geared for long-term development.
Lagmay explains that UP “must first do it in our own backyard, if we are to get all municipalities to prepare and plan ahead. We can’t preach what we don’t practice. The first step is to do the resilient campuses project so that it can be a model for campuses in the Philippines.” He says that the project uses climate change projections prescribed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a scientific and intergovernmental body under the United Nations.
“We have to translate the projections of climate change into hazard maps that can be used by the UP campuses to plan ahead and to develop. Before we do it for the entire Philippines, we must do it in our backyard first. I’m not saying the campuses are not planned. I’m saying that campuses need to be more resilient and adaptive to the climate change impacts, building resilience, which is relatively a new concept,” Lagmay says.
Probabilistic hazard maps
According to Lagmay, the RI and NOAH have many projects lined up, aside from the resilient UP campuses project. Among these are the completion of climate flood maps for the entire Philippines for the years 2049-2079, and the landslide maps for 2049-2079, based on the representative concentration pathways 4.5 and 8.5 as prescribed by the IPCC.
“We also are producing storm surge hazard maps with climate change projections. Basically, these are multi-scenario, multi-hazard maps. Collectively, they’re called probabilistic hazard maps that get us to understand better the risks involved in planning against hazard impacts. We also have a project on detecting CO2 using low-cost UV cameras, and another on solid waste management,” Lagmay adds.
“We are also proposing to study the interaction of the seas, land, and atmosphere. Because here in the Philippines and in other tropical areas, as well as areas near the equator, it’s very hard to predict weather, and largely that may be due to unknown factors related to the interaction of the sea, ocean, land and atmosphere. That needs to be understood,” he emphasizes.
Dr. Lagmay says that Senator Loren Lagarda wanted the UP Resilience Institute “to lead all the state universities and colleges in helping the Climate Change Commission get the local government units to complete their local climate change action plans.”
He looks forward to completing the abovementioned tasks. “It’s a huge task. But with all the previous projects that we have been engaged in over the past several years—like the 30 mainstreaming climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in 34 municipalities of Leyte and Samar, and the rebuild projects in Iloilo and Cagayan—we have learned a lot. And with the proper budget, we can cascade this knowledge through the different UP campuses to the state universities and colleges, so each state university and college can be an information and training hub for their locality.”
This setup will also leverage “the technical expertise of the different faculty members of all of these universities across different sectors: health, infrastructure, energy, environment, biodiversity, tourism, and many other sectors,” Lagmay explains.
Open and shared data
“Disaster risk is an unresolved problem of development. If the communities plan well, if they are smart in developing, putting the structures, the evacuation centers, critical facilities out of harm’s way, or if it’s in harm’s way, knowing what to do to address the problem, you are actually reducing disaster risk. So by reducing disaster risk you are becoming more adaptive and resilient through development planning,” he adds.
This will enable the development of communities nationwide, spurring economic growth and meeting the goals of sustainable development.
But this kind of whole-of-government approach will require open and shared data. “To be able to do all of those things, you need to open up data. You need everybody to have access. And all over the world, that’s where disaster prevention and mitigation are leading. We share to generate more knowledge that’s more powerful to address our problems. If you don’t share the data, if data is kept under control in certain offices, you may compromise opportunity, and that opportunity could be a chance to save lives.”
According to Lagmay, NOAH data can be downloaded via the Internet “preferably by bulk download,” without any preconditions. “If it’s publicly funded, the people should be able to access and take advantage of that information. In time, with the work of NOAH and the UP Resilience Institute, with better education, we can learn to be able to share valuable data that saves people’s lives. That is one of the main goals of UP RI and NOAH,” he said.
He also urges the use of transdiciplinary tools to promote disaster and risk awareness. “Use music, use poetry, use the arts to raise awareness about disasters. Science must be embraced by the people. Because if it gets embraced, its value grows. There’s direct application. Benefits are seen. And for the field of disaster risk reduction, it will mean saving lives and getting communities to develop better, unhampered by natural hazard impacts,” Lagmay concludes.

Villar receives honorary degree, addresses UPLB Class of 2018

2019-10-06T00:03:00.000-07:00

Senator Cynthia A. Villar received the title of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) and served as the guest of honor and speaker at the 46th commencement exercises of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) on June 23, 2018 at the D.L. Umali Freedom Park in UPLB, Los Baños, Laguna.
Villar’s conferment of honorary degree was witnessed by: her husband, former Senator Manuel Villar, children Camille, Manuel Paolo, and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar; and, members of the UP Board of Regents, namely, Commission on Higher Education OIC J. Prospero E. de Vera, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, UP Faculty Regent Patricia B. Arinto, UP Staff Regent Analiza S. Fulvodora, UP Alumni Regent Ramon M. Maronilla, UP Student Regent Ma. Shari Niña G. Oliquino, UP Regent Frederick Mikhail I. Farolan, UP Regent Angelo A. Jimenez, UP Regent Francis C. Laurel; and other UP System officials and UPLB officials.
Villar’s message for UPLB’s new graduates focused on the youth’s role in ensuring food security and improving agricultural productivity. According to her, Filipinos must enhance their skills and capabilities through education and utilize modern technology for sustainable food production, efficient distribution, and global competitiveness as well. In the Senate, she serves as chair of the Committees on Agrarian Reform, Agriculture and Food, and Environment and Natural Resources.
BS Agriculture (summa cum laude) graduate Paul Joshua C. Marquez spoke on behalf of UPLB’s 2,450 graduates, of whom 258 graduated with honors. He affirmed that he would pursue a career path primarily in the service of Filipino farmers.

SC Justice Leonen addresses UP Manila Class of 2018

2019-10-06T00:02:00.000-07:00

The University of the Philippines Manila, the nation’s Health Sciences Center, held its 109th Commencement Exercises at the Philippine International Convention Center on June 22, 2018. A total of 1,095 members of UP Manila Class of 2018 were conferred their titles and degrees.
With the theme, “Iskolar ng Bayan Manindigan para sa KKK: Katotohanan, Katarungan, at Karapatan”, Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen delivered the commencement address at UP Manila’s graduation rites this year.
In his message, Leonen urged the audience to ”. . . find the patience to read, to think, to share, to organize and then to act. . .” as he explained that genuine democracies were founded on truth, “real conversations”, social justice, “collective consciousness, and collective action”. “Do not be silent in the face of injustice,” he advised the graduates.
“As you leave the great gates of this University, may you also be haunted by these words, and I share them with you: Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa? Iskolar ng Bayan, paglingkuran ang sambayanan!” concluded Leonen.
Martin M. Mamangon, graduating with a BS Public Health, spoke on behalf of the graduating class after the ceremonial distribution of diplomas, awarding of honor graduates, and hooding of doctoral candidates.
After the induction of graduates into the UP Alumni Association and the UP Manila Alumni Association, members of the graduating class held a lightning protest in front of the stage to denounce “tyrannical and anti-people” policies of the Duterte administration, such as the TRAIN law, martial law in Mindanao, extrajudicial killings, and rising impunity, among others.
UP Manila has nine degree granting units, namely: College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Dentistry (CD), College of Medicine (CM), College of Nursing (CN), College of Pharmacy (CP), College of Public Health (CPH), National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions (NTTC-HP), and the School of Health Sciences (SHS).

UP hosts reception for CoE donors

2019-10-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, together with officials of the UP Diliman College of Engineering (CoE) and the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UPERDFI), hosted a reception for the donors or benefactors of the CoE at the UP Board Room in Quezon Hall, UP Diliman campus in Quezon City on June 5, 2018.
The donors received Sundial Plaques and UP alumni pins as tokens of appreciation for their untiring commitment and support to the University. The donors were: the DM Consunji Group, for the DMCI Homes Computational Laboratory for Structural Engineering, at the Institute of Civil Engineering; the OceanaGold Philippines, Inc., for the upgrade and modernization of the Mining and Metallurgical Laboratories at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering; and, the WITCO Construction and Development Corporation, owned and managed by Mr. Mark Villanueva, for establishing the Prof. Emeritus Dr. Meliton U. Ordillas, Jr. Professorial Chair in Metallurgical Engineering.
In her opening remarks, CoE Dean Rizalinda L. De Leon said that the CoE has about 6,000 students, 800 of whom graduate every year. She added that the professorial chairs and support provided by their donors help improve the quality of UP education since these provide incentives for faculty to do more research and publish more papers, help modernize facilities and laboratories, and also inspire the students to excel.
Concepcion, speaking on behalf of UP, expressed gratitude for the continuing support of fellow alumni and UP’s partnerships with industries. Citing the CoE as the biggest college in UP Diliman, with the largest number of students and faculty, Concepcion affirmed that these donations, in the form of labs, facilities and professorial chairs, are beneficial to many generations of UP students and teachers. He also said that UP alumni can also consider other forms of support for poor but deserving students.
Concepcion added that UP faculty need to be provided with competitive compensation comparable to those of their counterparts in other colleges and universities. He said that he is hoping UP can continue having better facilities through the alumni’s support and that they can further support the faculty for their post-graduate studies and advanced researches. He also added that these incentives help produce better graduates. “Nagrereport ako para hindi kayo magsawa, at patunayan sa inyo na nagagamit at hindi nasasayang ang mga ibinibigay ninyo,” he said.
Representatives of the donor groups also delivered inspirational messages: Mr. Mark Villanueva, for the Dr. Meliton U. Ordillas, Jr. Professorial Chair; Ms. Dinky Consunji-Laperal, for the DMCI Homes Computational Laboratory for Structural Engineering; and, Mr. Hilbert Cardenas of OceanaGold, for the upgrade and modernization of the Mining and Metallurgical Laboratories at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.
Dr. Meliton Ordillas, Jr., in honor of whom the professorial chair was named, expressed his appreciation of the donation. He shared his story of how he started out in 1960 as a faculty member of Mechanical Engineering, with a humble salary of Php 2,490 per annum. He took up Metallurgical Engineering and continued teaching in UP. He added that in 1965, through a grant, the College was able to send him and others in the faculty to study abroad; and by the 1970s, when the CoE was upgrading its faculty, all of the grantees came back to UP. “I hope that other alumni will follow Mark’s example (of donating a professorial chair),” Ordillas concluded.

“Kanino Kinikilig ang Korte Suprema?”

2019-10-05T23:55:00.000-07:00

The Third World Studies Center (TWSC), College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines Diliman held a public forum, “Kanino Kinikilig ang Korte Suprema?”, on May 10, 2018 at the National Engineering Center Auditorium in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Forum speakers discussed relevant dynamics between the country’s solicitor general and the Supreme Court, the Quo Warranto petition against Chief Justice (CJ) Maria Lourdes Sereno, and recent political developments under the Duterte administration.
Associate Professor Victoria Avena of the UP College of Law and former Associate Justice Vicente Mendoza served as resource speakers. TWSC Director Ricardo T. Jose served as moderator.
In her presentation, Avena discussed the primary grounds given by Philippine Solicitor General (Sol. Gen.) Jose Calida for the Quo Warranto petition to oust CJ Serreno vis a vis the Constitutional qualifications and processes pertaining to the CJ’s appointment and impeachment proceedings. Mendoza, for his part, contrasted the role and dynamics of the office of the Sol. Gen. and the Supreme Court of the country with that of their counterparts in the United States to provide the audience with insights on their respective relationships and on the possible outcomes of the then-pending decision on the Quo Warranto petition.
When asked about the dangers posed by recent political developments, Mendoza said that although he held his own opinions on the Quo Warranto issue, he reiterated that his role for this forum was to teach law, and it was now up to the students and the public to form their own informed opinions. Avena, warning on the threat of absolutism and of institutions possibly undermining democracy and the rule of law in the country, added that it would also depend on how the members of the Supreme Court would decide.
This forum was the third in the 2018 TWSC Public Forum Series that explores the theme “Sa Bungad ng Diktadura?”. The first, “Matotokhang ba ang 1987 Constitution?”, focused on Charter Change and was held on February 23. The second, “Puro bato na ba ang mga unipormado?”, revolved around the role of the country’s police and military institutions during times of Constitutional debacle and was held on April 10. Both forums were held at the Benitez Theater, College of Education in UP Diliman. Photos and videos of, and papers on the three forums were published by the TWSC in their blog.

New batch of UPD-NSTP graduates inducted into NSRC

2019-10-05T23:53:00.000-07:00

More than sixty students of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) who completed the course requirements under the National Service Training Program (NSTP) – UP College of Fine Arts (CFA) for academic year 2017-18 received their certificates of recognition on May 30, 2018, at the new building of the UP CFA in Diliman, Quezon City. The UPD-NSTP graduates were also inducted as new members of the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC) of the Philippines.
This batch was comprised of three classes by Professors Jose Melchor Silvestre, Johnny Reynoso, and Theresa Mabyn Rosales, respectively. The graduating classes each showed a short video highlighting the activities they conducted under the program. Certificates of thanksgiving and recognition were also presented to representatives of UPD-NSTP’s partner organizations: The Guiding Road Charitable Organization, Inc.; the Reception and Study Center for Children; and, the UP CFA.
UP Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa, CFA Dean Leonardo C. Rosete, and NSTP Director Arlyn P. Macapinlac delivered inspirational messages at the event.
Rosete said the CFA’s extension programs and services link UP students and faculty with underserved communities, and complement the NSTP’s mandate. In line with event’s theme, “Serbisyong Sining Para sa Bayan”, he encouraged the NSTP graduates to help strengthen the competencies of more people, in terms of art production, through their creative outputs and activities such as workshops, and to contribute to the enrichment of Philippine culture.
In his message to the students, Herbosa, a specialist in Trauma Surgery and Emergency Medicine, and a former undersecretary of the Department of Health, related his professional and personal advocacies for universal health care, and raising public awareness and capabilities for emergency response. He urged the audience to continue learning and honing their skills even after college, to value what they gained from UP and NSTP, and to use the sciences and the arts to be able to effectively address the people’s needs, especially during times of crisis, disaster or emergency. He added that as members of the NSRC, they can also get involved with various interdisciplinary initiatives under UP, such as those of the UP Resilience Institute.
Macapinlac congratulated the students for their accomplishments under the mandated 6-unit program. She said they established linkages with institutions, communities and individuals; and through those partnerships, they were able to conduct activities, gather donations, and render voluntary services to sectors who were in most need, such as neglected and indigent children, and the evacuees from Mayon Volcano’s eruption and from the battle of Marawi in Mindanao. She said there were many ways to be a volunteer, to offer their talents and capabilities for the benefit of needy sectors and for the development of our communities and society. She also called on the new members of the NSRC to continue to support and actively participate in the many initiatives of UP, NSTP and NSRC.
Days earlier, commencement ceremonies were also held at the College of Education and the College of Engineering for the graduates of other NSTP classes.
Under the National Service Training Program Act of 2001 (Republic Act 9163) the NSTP aims to enhance civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training in any of its three program components: Military Training Services (MTS); Civic Welfare Training Services (CWTS); and, Literacy Training Services (LTS). Members of the NSRC may be mobilized by the government for literacy, disaster preparedness, and civic welfare activities.

UPD, UPLB ROTC cadets hold graduation rites in Diliman

2019-10-05T23:50:00.000-07:00

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) units of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and UP Los Baños (UPLB) jointly held their commencement exercises, turnover of command, and testimonial parade at the University Ampitheater in UPD, Quezon City on May 5, 2018. National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) chief Alex Paul Monteagudo served as their guest of honor and speaker.
The event marks the graduation of UP students enrolled in the basic and advance ROTC courses, the turning over of authority from the outgoing to the incoming cadet Corps Commander, and the giving of awards to outstanding cadets at the end of every academic year.
Incumbent UPD Corps Commander CCol Rosette Bancaso 1Cl turned over the command to CMaj Bing Bong Salinas 2Cl. UPLB Corps Commander CCol Diana Mae Halim 1Cl turned over the command to CCpt Vanessa Meclat 2Cl.
The Duty Award, the Efficiency Award, and the Honor Award were also presented by the two ROTC units to their deserving cadets.

Job fair highlights passion at work

2019-10-05T23:49:00.000-07:00

The University Job Fair 2018, dubbed as the biggest career fair in the University of the Philippines Diliman, was held at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni on April 10 to 13.
With the theme “Passion at Work”, the event featured a variety of booths, talks, and presentations by professionals from UP’s partner corporations for students and attendees to learn more about potential internship and job opportunities.
No less than UP President Danilo L. Concepcion himself delivered an inspiring talk to the participants to encourage them to appreciate the importance of starting to find the career path on which they can commit to work honorably, excellently, and passionately, as they contribute positively to the nation and society through their work.
At a recruitment hub for participating corporations to be able to hire UP’s graduating students, attendees submitted their printed resumes or provided them on-site through online registration. Some government agencies also provided auxiliary services.
The University Job Fair 2018 was made possible through partnerships with: Bank of China, Chevron, Collabera Technologies, GMA New Media Inc., Migo, Schneider Electric, Balsam International – Philippine ROHQ, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Careers at Ayala Group, Department of Energy, Kickstart Ventures Inc., Princeton Review, Vista Land, Adobo Connection, Asia United Bank, Asian Institute of Management, China Bank, Concepcion Business Shared, EastWest Bank, Ecomparemo.com, Globe Telecom, Greenfield Development Corporation, Group M, HC Consumer Finance, MedGrocer, MSCI Hong Kong Limited, Shopee, Solar Philippines, Unilab, ABS-CBN, Acadsoc Limited, Assumption College, CDO Foodsphere, Concentrix, DMCI Project Developers Inc., ePerformax Contact Centers, Fourth Valley Concierge, Global Estate Resorts, Hallo Hallo, Healthy Options, ISEARCH International, JG Summit Petrochemicals, John Clements Consultants, Jollibee, Land Bank of the Philippines, Lazada, Malayan Insurance Company, Monark Equipment, Nestle Philippines, ORIX Metro Leasing and Finance, Philippine National Bank, Phoenix Petroleum, PLDT, Posco Daewoo, Property Company of Friends, PTT Philippines, S&P Global, SCG Marketing, Seaoil, Simplex Internet Philppines, Stellar Philippines, Tanda Workforce Solutions, Universal Robina Corporation, APPCO Group Asia, Brills Marketing Corporation, Bureau of Treasury, C&E Publishing, Cebu Pacific, Clientvista, EduInternational, FactSet, Greenfield Marketers One, Honestbee, Ideaspace, Keyence Philippines, MAD Travel, Maria Montessori School of QC, MetroMart, Optum, Perfetti Van Melle, PhilAm Life, Philippine Business Bank, PointWest Technologies, Qwikwire, Salarium, SCI Ventures, Scotts Philippines, ServeHappy Jobs, Star Paper Corporation, Teach for the Philippines, Timezone Philippines, UNIQLO Philippines, Vibelle Distribution Inc., UP Bike Share, Inquirer, WhenInManila, UP Broadcasting Association, Monster RX93.1, 99.5 Play FM, and DZUP 1602.

NIH marks 20th anniversary with scientific conference

2019-10-05T23:46:00.000-07:00

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) – University of the Philippines Manila, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, organized a scientific conference focusing on the importance of work, health, and well-being of the Filipino people. Attended by about 400 participants from colleges and universities, government and non-government organizations, and corporations, the conference was held on March 14 at the Bayanihan Center, UNILAB, Pasig City.
Plenary sessions highlighted the role of government and non-government organizations in promoting a healthy workforce, and featured discussions and presentations on occupational health and safety, gender and health research, active aging, treatment of infectious diseases, and other topics.
In his message, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion praised the personnel and the accomplishments of the NIH. He said, “The research, technology innovations, and advocacy work that NIH’s dedicated faculty members and researchers have done have led to great improvements on the health of Filipinos, from the level of the communities to the highest levels of national policy. Laws were enacted by Congress to implement the research outputs of the NIH, such as the Newborn Screening Act and the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act.”
Concepcion said the NIH has lived up to its mandate and enjoys the full support of the University. “I see the NIH as an essential partner in our administration’s strategic plan, as a national institution that bridges knowledge creation to improve health, R&D, and public service through advocacy, community work, extension services, and influencing policy making, all towards the goal of improving our people’s general welfare,” he said.
Concepcion also challenged the NIH to “come up with a breakthrough in the field of medicine that will merit a nomination to the Nobel Prize.”
Secretary Francisco T. Duque III of the Department of Health (DOH); Senator Risa Hontiveros; Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla of UP Manila; Executive Director Jaime C. Montoya of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD); Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); and Khalid Hassan, Country Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO), also delivered congratulatory messages for the NIH anniversary-conference.
Dr. Joseph Lachica of the Office of Sen. Hontiveros, DOLE Undersecretary Jacinto Paras, DOH Sec. Duque, and Katherine Brimon of the ILO’s Safe Youth at Work Project each presented their organization’s role in promoting a healthy workforce in the Philippines.
The afternoon sessions featured plenary discussions by experts on the following topics: chronobiology, health, and productivity of shiftworkers by Prof. Gayline F. Manalang Jr., College of Public Health, UP Manila; devastating work-related injuries by Dr. Emmanuel M. Estrella, Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, NIH, UP Manila; occupational diseases by Dr. Vivienne F. Fadrilan-Camacho, College of Public Health, UP Manila; occupational health safety programs by Dr. Maria Beatriz G. Villanueva, Health Control Division, DOLE; gender equality by Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio, UP Center for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman; gender, health, and research by Dr. Anthony GH. Cordero, Community Health and Development Program, UP Manila; gender differences in tuberculosis by Dr. Marissa M. Alejandria, Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, NIH, UP Manila; HIV in the workplace by Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salvaña, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, NIH, UP Manila; eye health in the workplace by Dr. Leo DP. Cubillan, Philippine Eye Research Institute, NIH, UP Manila; wellness in the workplace by Dr. Aster Lynn D. Sur, Institute of Human Genetics, NIH, UP Manila; and, active aging and the workforce by Dr. Shelley Ann F. de la Vega, Institute on Aging, NIH, UP Manila.
The NIH was created by the UP Board of Regents on January 26, 1996. With the signing into law of the “Health Research and Development Act of 1998”, it was established by the Philippine Government as a national health research center on February 13, 1998.

UP hosts conference on Philippine strategic outlook

2019-10-05T23:44:00.000-07:00

The Strategic Studies Program (SSP) of the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) and the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea (UP IMLOS) hosted the “3rd Katipunan Conference: The Philippine Strategic Outlook 2018 – 2019” on February 27 to 28, 2018 at the UP Law Center in UP Diliman, Quezon City. This two-day conference featured panel discussions on current and emerging issues affecting Filipinos.
Resource speakers tackled a wide range of topics, such as: shifting power dynamics in Asia, ICT and strategic advantage, climate change, maritime and regional security, economic and political stability, and forecasts from various stakeholders’ perspectives.
Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., National Security adviser and director general of the National Security Council, delivered the keynote address at the conference. Panelists were: Dr. Aileen S.P. Baviera (Asian Center, UP Diliman); Dr. Emmanuel C. Lallana (IdeaCorp.); Dr. Herbert V. Docena (Department of Sociology, UP Diliman); Jaime B. Naval (SSP); Dr. Jay L. Batongbacal (UP IMLOS); Julio S. Amador III (ASEAN Studies Center, New Era University); Ma. Anna Rowena Luz G. Layador-Roaquin (Department of Political Science, UP Diliman); Dr. Gilberto M. Llanto (Philippine Institute for Development Studies); Ramon C. Casiple (Institute for Political and Electoral Reform); Dr. Antoinette R. Raquiza (Asian Center, UP Diliman); Rear Admiral Rommel Jude G. Ong (Naval Inspector General, Armed Forces of the Philippines); George T. Siy (Convergence Realty & Development Corp.); Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil-Mercado (Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Office of the President); Dr. Henry Chan Hing Lee (East Asia Institute, National University of Singapore); and Dr. Aries A. Arugay (SSP, UP CIDS).
Launched in 2015, the Katipunan Conference serves as a venue where scholars, practitioners, stakeholders, and decision makers from government, non-government, business, and the academic sectors can exchange views on strategic issues affecting the country. Conference presentations and outputs are posted or published by the UP CIDS.

Members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission warn against Charter Change

2019-10-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

“Matotokhang ba ang 1987 Constitution?”, the first of three forums under the 2018 Third World Studies Center Public Forum Series was held at the Benitez Theater of the College of Education, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City on February 23, 2018.
Members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission, namely Florangel Rosario Braid, Wilfrido Villacorta, Ponciano Bennagen, and Edmundo Garcia, discussed the process and context in which the 1987 Constitution was drafted, completed and ratified at the beginning of the Corazon Aquino administration. Forum panelists also explained why they were against the Rodrigo Duterte administration’s moves to modify the nation’s Charter.
The forum was moderated by Professor Randy David.
To introduce the forum series launched in time for the commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of EDSA People Power, David said the forum “Matotokhang ba ang 1987 Constitution?” aimed to encourage discussions on the 1987 Constitution, the supreme law of the Philippines ratified soon after the downfall of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship. He asked if the 1987 Constitution, through Charter Change, would also be discarded, just as the victims of killings under the Duterte administration have been.
Braid explained that when the Constitutional Commission started drafting the present Charter in 1986, they were able to integrate provisions on social justice which reflected the Filipino people’s aspirations and sought to prevent the injustices they experienced during the martial rule of Marcos. While recognizing the flaws in the 1987 Constitution, Braid said she opposed Charter Change because now was not the right time for it and the people were not prepared for federalism. She also warned of the possibility of Congress deleting or diluting many provisions pertaining to human rights and social justice.
Villacorta said that the outcome of Charter Change could not be predicted, but he favored revisions in a Constitution suited for the 21st century, which would make the fundamental law of the land responsive to widespread poverty, corruption, political dynasties, and other social realities.
Bennagen recounted the consultative processes undertaken by the Aquino administration and the 1986 Constitutional Commission immediately after the EDSA revolt. He added that the fate of the 1987 Constitution depended on the shifting balance of forces between the Duterte administration’s pro-federalism apparatuses vis-a-vis those whom he considered to embody the spirit of People Power today.
Garcia explained that the 1987 Constitution could provide solutions to this nation’s problems. He said he opposed Charter Change or the drafting of a new constitution because the administration’s context and process, headed by people and politicians with vested interests, could not be trusted. He also called on the public to continue the heroic struggle, “with both wisdom and courage, by pushing back against the politics of hate and fear, by rediscovering a brave brand of politics, by speaking truth to power, by waging a just peace and not waging the wrong war.”
The second and third forums in this series will feature possible scenarios to be faced by the country’s judiciary and law enforcement agencies during the course of Charter Change and the shift toward a federal system of government.

UP hosts forum on Philippines’ role in ASEAN

2019-10-05T23:40:00.000-07:00

The University of the Philippines Asian Center and CIFAL Philippines, in partnership with the King Prajadhipok’s Institute of Thailand, held a forum, “Roles and Positions of the Philippines in the ASEAN and the Global Community”, on February 8, 2018 at the UP Asian Center Seminar Room, GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City.
Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), served as keynote speaker. Buensuceso discussed ASEAN’s processes and mechanisms, and the Philippines’ and the ASEAN members’ national and regional positions in international multilateral forums. As a leader of the country’s delegations in many conferences and negotiations, she advocates the rights of Filipino migrant workers and the country’s positions on maritime security and cooperation, women empowerment, climate change, biodiversity, and other important issues.
The forum also featured discussions and presentations by: Ms. Myrene Sabina C. Bedaño, Chief of the Regional Relations and Arrangements Division of the Bureau of International Trade Relations under the Department of Trade and Industry; Dean Joefe B. Santarita of the UP Asian Center; Dr. Suthipand Chirathivat, Representative of the King Prajadhipok’s Institute and Executive Director of the ASEAN Studies Center at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok; and, Director Edna E.A. Co, of UP CIFAL Philippines and a professor at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG). Bedaño presented information on Philippine economic activities and relations with major trade partners. Santarita’s discussion focused on Philippine migration policies, experiences, and roles in the ASEAN. Chirathivat and Co provided additional insights and a recap of the forum’s highlights. Co added that the mechanisms and processes for reaching agreements, in spite of the diversity among ASEAN nations’ interests and culture, can promote cooperation for members of the association to serve as generators or centers of growth in both regional and the global economic arenas.

UP receives two new professorial chairs in Engineering

2019-10-05T23:37:00.000-07:00

The donors of two professorial chairs in Engineering received a warm welcome at the University of the Philippines Board of Regents Room in Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City on January 18, 2018. They also received Sundial Plaques as tokens of appreciation for their commitment and generous support to the University.
Representatives of the benefactor families, Dr. Antonio Tanchuling, Jr. for the Antonio and Lourdes Tanchuling Mining Engineering Centennial Professorial Chair; and Mrs. Rosario Halili-Quintos for the Juan, Jr. and Rosario Halili-Quintos Professorial Chair in Engineering; and Secretary Fortunato de la Peña of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), delivered inspiring messages as they expressed their reasons for supporting UP.
UP President Danilo L. Concepcion thanked the alumni for their endowments. He also recognized the officials of the UP College of Engineering (UP CoE) and the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UPERDFI) for getting more support for UP’s education, research and development initiatives.
UP Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa; Executive Director Alfonso Aliga, Jr. of UPERDFI; Chairman Pedro H. Maniego, Jr. of UPERDFI; Dr. Aura C. Matias, treasurer of UPERDFI and former dean of the UP CoE; and Dr. Menandro S. Berana, associate dean for Instruction and Research of the UP CoE also expressed gratitude to the donors.
Berana said the number of CoE faculty with Masters and PhD degrees are increasing, and that 126 professorial chairs were awarded to faculty who applied last year. He assured everybody that the College would continue to produce research beneficial to Filipinos and that the faculty would continue to inculcate a culture of research among their students to produce new generations of researchers and scientists.
De la Peña said the DOST aims to strengthen the transfer and utilization of technologies developed through research and development, through the joint efforts of UP, UPERDFI, alumni, and the private sector. He also announced the contribution to a new incentive for students and faculty who are able to obtain an intellectual property approval or patent, the incentive initially pegged at P50,000 each year, for the next 10 years.
Tanchuling said his family decided to sponsor a professorial chair in honor of their parents, Antonio (BS Mining Engineering, 1952) and Lourdes (BS Pharmacy, 1952), who believed that education was a tool to combat poverty and to promote genuine concern for others, especially for the rank and file, the laborers and their families. They wanted their parents’ vision which included giving back to the community, sustainable mining, preservation of the environment, optimal use of natural resources, and love for country passed on to students, through the faculty, who contribute to the making of a just and better world.
Halili-Quintos said her family, through their company, Rosehall Management Consultants, aimed to help the College produce innovative research that would improve the people’s quality of life.
Concepcion said professorial chairs encourage UP faculty to further excel in teaching, research work, and public service.
Last year, UP received the following professorial chairs in Engineering: the Vicente T. Paterno Mechanical Engineering Centennial Professorial Chair; the RASA Surveying and Realty Corporation Professorial Chair in Geodetic Engineering; the Hermenegildo B. Reyes Mechanical Engineering Centennial Professorial Chair; and, the Meneleo G. Carlos, Sr. Electrical Engineering Centennial Professorial Chair.