The Visayas State University (VSU) and the Ghent University (GU) at St. Pietersnieuwstraat, Ghent, Belgium entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the establishment and promotion of research collaboration on the basis of reciprocity and mutual interest. 

Dr. Lucia M. Borines, Professor III in Plant Pathology of VSU’s Department of Pest Management (DPM), is the recipient of the 2015 Region 8 Gawad Saka-Outstanding Agricultural Scientist Award accorded by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 8 (DA-RFO8). 

Greetings…

“Where your heart is, is where your home is.”

I’ve said same phrase two years ago in welcoming the alumni and I think it is worth mentioning again in this occasion.  Your coming back to our Alma Mater means your hearts are with Visayas State University. For that, we are all thankful. Welcome home! Welcome to your Alma Mater!

This year’s VSU Grand Alumni Homecoming hosted by Batches ’90 and ’91 with Ms. Jill Lacandazo-Magsambol and Ms. Patricia Pala-Santiago as batches representatives, respectively, successfully gathered 309 VAC/ViSCA/LSU/VSU alumni on May 15-17, 2015.  On the tagline “Panaghiusa, Pagbuligay, Pagbangon, Pagsadya” (UNICORN: Unity, Cooperation, Recovery, Celebration), the annual festivity commenced on May 15 with a thanksgiving mass at the VSU Convention Hall with Rev. Fr. Brian Flandez as the celebrant.  Part of the thanksgiving mass was the blessing of the VSU Convention Hall after the flooring was tiled. 

More than 90% of the coral reefs in our country have fair to poor condition. Typhoons, illegal fishing methods, pollution, and other natural and anthropogenic disturbances all contribute to the decline of our coral reefs. On this tenet, McKeough Marine Center of Xavier University (XU) – Ateneo de Cagayan, organized on May 2-5, 2015 a four-day workshop on Coral Conservation and Restoration held at the Marine Station in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

Mr. Art Russel R. Flandez, Marine Ecologist of the Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) and member of marine biology research group of the Institute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Management (ITEEM) of VSU, participated in the said event.  Aside from the workshop, it also tackled lectures and laboratory work on gravid coral identification, techniques on larval culture, settlement, nursery and outplanting; larval collection techniques, and coral husbandry. The participants were also exposed on field work including daytime and nighttime SCUBA diving. Night diving is crucial in the observation of coral spawning and collection of gametes (eggs and sperms) and larvae.

The workshop was concluded with a seminar on May 6, 2015 held at the Faber Hall Amphitheater of XU. It was attended by various representatives from the academe, local government units, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders.

The activity was realized with funding and technical expertise from SECORE Foundation in collaboration with California Academy of Sciences, Omaha Zoo, and Underwater World Guam.

SECORE (which got its name from sexual coral reproduction) is a non-profit, non-governmental research organization known for its ground-breaking work on coral rehabilitation through propagation using sexual reproduction. This is contrary to the commonly used asexual methods, e.g., fragmentation and transplantation.  Art Russel R. Flandez/DBS

The Visayas State University (VSU) has been identified as one of the places included during the grand summer launching of the destinations in Leyte dubbed as “Pasyada ha Leyte 2015” (Leisure Trip in Leyte 2015).  The activities were held on April 27-30, 2015 in the different tourist destinations in Leyte spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Leyte, together with the Department of Tourism Regional Office No. 8 (DOT-8). 

The first Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Dr. Gerardo P. Sicat, visited the Visayas State University (VSU) on May 7-8, 2015 to discuss about agricultural situation in the region with some VSU key officials. Dr. Sicat was warmly welcomed by Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, VSU President, and afforded a tour around the campus with the VSU President as the tour guide.  He personally observed the different facilities of the University including the research centers, academic departments, and other laboratories.