The 11^th National Congress for Veterinary Medicine Students (NCVMS) with the theme “Veterinary Students: Excellence and Camaraderie Gearing towards ASEAN Economic Integration” was recently held at the University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, North Cotabato.

The congress was participated in by eight veterinary colleges from all over the Philippines and only the Visayas State University delegates represented the Visayas. The six VSU delegates who took the challenge to march forward to venture beyond their comfort zones were: Dr. Melvin A. Bagot as the coach-adviser of the group, along with Mr. Carl Leonard Pradera (DVM-5), Ms. Nannette Joy Bercades (DVM-4), Mr. Edu Gelo Orig (DVM-4), Mr. Steven Tan (DVM-4), and Mr. Perkin Charles Ong (DVM-3).

The three-day congress kicked-off with a parade. The first day was filled with seminars about Asian integration and animal welfare, updates about swine breeding, nutrigenomics, understanding diversity, and scientific research presentations. The seminar-series imparted new knowledge on the advancement and updates of the current trend of the veterinary medicine field. The teambuilding activity followed which was geared towards building strong bonds among the participants and foster camaraderie.

The second day assessed the skills of the students in terms of communicating their thoughts through the different literary and academic quiz contests. Mr. Steven Tan placed 1^st Runner Up in the extemporaneous speaking contest; Mr. Carl Leonard Pradera was the 1^st Runner Up for the essay writing contest; Mr. Edu Gelo Orig came in 2^nd Runner Up for the poster-making contest; and the VSU Team composed of Mr. Pradera, Ms. Nannette Joy Bercades, and Mr. Perkin Charles Ong finished 5^th place in the national academic quiz contest.

Also, as part of cultural integration, the congress visited the Institute of Middle East and Asian Studies, which was a school and at the same time a mosque.

 The last day was aimed to promote community awareness and extension via the Anti-Rabies Vaccination drive held at Barangay Osias, Kabacan, North Cotabato.  In the said activity, application of the basic knowledge and principles were tested. It also taught the students how to be flexible and innovative in any situations.

During the congress, new officers were elected of whom Ms. Nannette Joy Bercades became the new Vice President for the Visayas of the National Executive Council.

The Congress was a wonderful experience for students to learn beyond the four corners of the classroom. Melvin A. Bagot/CVM

The Visayas State University shall bestow 112 medals to this year’s graduates with Latin honors: (Baccalaureate Degrees) Summa Cum Laude – 1, Magna Cum Laude – 11, Cum Laude – 96; (Certificate Course) With High Honors – 1, and With Honors – 3.

Other special awards that await this year’s batch of graduates include: VSU Presidential Award of Academic Excellence (1) with Cash Award of P15,000; Gov. Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla Award for Most Outstanding Student (1); Manuel B. Villar, Jr. Award of Excellence (4);  Sen. Sonny J. Angara Award of Excellence (10); Sen. Bam Aquino Bida Ang Mamamayan Award (5); Sen. Francis Joseph G. Escudero Award of Excellence (15); Sen. Franklin Drilon Award of Excellence (7); Sen. Loren B. Legarda Award of Excellence (1); Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago Leadership Medallion (5); Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano Award of Excellence (10); Sen. JV Ejercito Award of Excellence (5), Sen. Gringo Honasan Award of Excellence (5), Sen. Lito Lapid Award of Excellence (2), Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. Leadership Award (7), Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. Academic Excellence Award (7), Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III Award of Excellence (5),  Sen. Grace Poe Award of Excellence (6), Sen. Ralph Recto Award of Excellence (3), Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV Award of Excellence (3); An Waray Partylist: Cong. Victoria Noel Award of Excellence (30); and Philippine National IT Standards [PhilNITS] (1).

Moreover, medals will also be given to some graduates, such as: Vice President for Instruction’s Medal of Excellence, Vice President for Research and Extension’s Medal of Excellence, Vice President for Administration and Finance’s Medal of Excellence, Vice President for Planning, Resource Generation and External Affairs’ Medal of Excellence, College of Agriculture and Food Science Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Education Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Engineering Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Forestry and Environmental Science Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Management and Economics Dean’s Medal of Excellence, Dean of Students’ Medal of Excellence, DOST Medal of Excellence in Science and Technology, and PAGKAON Scholars Academic Medals.

Likewise, VSU graduates who were placers in last year’s Board Examinations will be receiving medals.  They are: Board Member Florante A. Cayunda, Jr.  Award of Excellence for Mr. Nic Oswald M. Borines (Agriculture); Mayor Carmen L. Cari Award of Excellence for Engr. Rey Mark L. Alfante, and Engr. Arnolfo R. Antolihao9 Geodetic Engineering); and Congressman Jose Carlos L. Cari Award of Excellence for Engr. Lemar N. Bacardo (Agricultural Engineering).  JFMBaldos 

In observance of the Fire Prevention Month, the Visayas State University, thru the Security Services Office and in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Baybay City, conducted a Fire Prevention Seminar and Training on Mass Casualty Incident Response on March 26-27, 2015 at the VSU Garden Beach Resort Function Hall.  Participated in by 35 VSU staff and market stall owners, the two-day activity aims to provide leading practices and resources to assist the University in developing emergency plans for preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from mass casualty incidents.

The BFP personnel discussed the following topics: Senior Fire Officer II Helcon Arnulfo I. Dela Torre – Overview of Crisis and Emergency Management Plan, Incident Command System, Tasking, Mass Casualty Incident, and Mass Casualty Incident Simulation; Fire Officer III Peter Galenzoga – First Aid; Fire Officer I Arjean Padayao – Bandaging and Splitting, and Earthquake Drill Procedure; Fire Officer II Marvin Matalines – Proper Carry; and Fire Officer I Dairyl Denosta – Triage. SMCLemos

Miss Angelica Joy G. Yu, a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (BSChem) from Pawing, Palo, Leyte, will lead this year’s batch of 1,063 graduating students who will leave the portals of their Alma Mater during the 62^nd VSU Commencement Exercises on April 22, 2015 at the VSU Gymnatorium.  She will be marching with a Summa Cum Laude Honors, together with the other 11 Magna Cum Laude and 96 Cum Laude honorees who are the VSU’s “Cream of the Crop.”  She will be the first BSChem graduate of VSU who will be receiving the highest academic honor as Summa Cum Laude for earning a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 1.141.

A total of 114 fourth year high school students of the VSU Laboratory High School (VSULHS) were conferred graduates in the secondary level curriculum by the VSU President Jose L. Bacusmo during the 85^th VSU Laboratory High School Commencement Exercises in the afternoon of April 7, 2015 at the VSU Gymnatorium.  Miss Thich Eloise P. Paris, Class Valedictorian, led the last batch of high school graduates who were not affected with the implementation of the K-12 curriculum in receiving their diplomas. The certificates were distributed by Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, VP for Instruction, for and on behalf of VSU President Bacusmo.

The erstwhile governor of the Province of Leyte who is now the Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Philippines, Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, will speak before some 1,063 graduating students of the Visayas State University during the 62^nd VSU Commencement Exercises in the morning of April 22, 2015 at the VSU Gymnatorium.  He joined the cabinet of Pres. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III on November 5, 2012 as Energy Secretary.

The Jackfruit Project headed by Dr. Wolfreda T. Alesna, as Project Leader, facilitated the training on Cleft Grafting and Nursery Management on March 24, 2015 at the Abuyog Experimental Station (AES) in Abuyog, Leyte.

Participants of the training were 19 jackfruit farmers and 8 agricultural technicians (ATs) from Bontoc, Sogod and Maasin City, Southern Leyte.

The training was conducted upon the request of the farmers during the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) conducted by the project leader and co-project leader, Dr. Editha G. Cagasan.  The farmers said that during the lecture-demonstration conducted in a classroom situation in 2014 was “not enough” to make them learn cleft-grafting and nursery management.  That is why the project leader and the co-project leader decided to arrange with AES of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office No. 8 to conduct another training at the AES-Abuyog.

They were taught the process of generating quality jackfruit seedlings—from the production of the rootstocks, to the culturing of the scions, and to the actual cleft-grafting exercises—where the scion is united with the rootstock. The jackfruit variety used was the highly recommended EVIARC Sweet which is now in demand in the market.  Each participant had the chance to experience cleft-grafting.

When asked what new knowledge did they learn from the training, the majority of the participants said that “the culturing of the scion” is really new to them because this was not clearly explained in past trainings they have attended. They thought that all they need to do is cut the selected twig and join it to the prepared rootstock and that’s it.

The training participants were thankful of Ms. Alicia Bulawan, the resource person, who painstakingly explained and demonstrated to the participants the whole process with the assistance of some AES personnel.

The training was made possible through the support of Jackfruit Project 6 – Design and Implementation of Communication Interventions for the Promotion of Jackfruit Technologies in Eastern Visayas which is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), one of the councils of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).  WTAlesna