The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP), in coordination with ICP Leyte Cluster, recently conducted a Seminar–Training on Water Quality Testing and Analysis at the Visayas State University. Ms. Edna C. Mijares, External Vice President of ICP and CEO of Jefcor Laboratories, Inc., supervised the World Health Organization (WHO) funded activity as part of the Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) project entitled “Assessment and Strengthening of Water Laboratories in Yolanda–Affected Areas of Region 8”. It was participated in by 29 personnel from various laboratories in the region both in the government and private sectors who are involved in water analyses. Regional Department of Health, Provincial Health Offices in Eastern and Western Samar, Local Water Districts, Regional Department of Science and Technology, Ormoc City Health Office and Leyte Provincial Hospital with their sanitary inspectors and laboratory analysts/microbiologists joined with participants from the academe and industry.

Dr. Lily M. Varca, ICP Officer, assisted Ms. Mijares in giving lectures while Ms. Cynthia Dolores V. Godoy and Prof. Jesusito L. Lim facilitated the hands-on training on physico-chemical analyses and microbiological testing of selected water samples, respectively. Prof. Jacob Glenn F. Jansalin, ICP Leyte President; Dr. Candelario L. Calibo, ICP Leyte Internal VP; and Dr. Ma. Theresa P. Loreto, ICP Leyte Member, composed the local organizing committee.

VSU Lower Campus Oval Grounds. She soulfully performed the song of Angeline Quinto’s “Patuloy ang Pangarap” written by a Filipino songwriter Jonathan Manalo during the Final Round that held the audience in rapture with her fabulous performance.

During the Elimination Round, Melanie tied in the first place with Miss Mariane D. Balladares of the College of Engineering who sang “And I Am Telling You” and advanced in the Final Round. Melanie nailed the audience in awe as she performed the Charice Pempengco’s song “Always You” written again by Jonathan Manalo. Both Melanie and Mariane belonged to ‘Team Freddy’ with Mr. Jesus Freddy M. Baldos as their coach.

As the grand champion, Melanie received a cash prize of PhP10,000 and a trophy from VSU President, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, with the assistance of Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, VP for Instruction, and Prof. Jesusito L. Lim, Head of VSU Culture and the Arts Center.

On the other hand, Mr. Rhyan L. Panto, a freshman BS in Mechanical Engineering student of the College of Engineering also of ‘Team Freddy’, was adjudged Second Placer for his song “Ikaw Ang Pangarap”. He advanced to the Final Round for interpreting the song “Too Much Love Will Kill You.” He received a cash award of PhP7,000 and a trophy.

Mr. Ronnel John M. Barbusa, a third year BS in Computer Science student of the College of Engineering of ‘Team Doray”, was named as the Third Placer for his song “Bulag, Pipi, at Bingi.” He won PhP5,000 and a trophy.

The other top five finalist was Angie S. Caidoy of ‘Team Jude’. She also represented the VSU-Tolosa.

The remaining 13 finalists also received a consolation prize of PhP1,000 each from VSU. The other coaches were Ms. Rhodora A. Bande ‘Team Doray’ and Mr. Jude B. Rola ‘Team Jude’.

The show was hosted by Miss Ella Lois T. Bestil of DYDC-FM 94.7. JFMBaldos

A total of 102 campus ministers, guidance facilitators, dormitory advisers and organization advisers of the University took their oath of office before the VSU President, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, on July 20, 2015 at the VSU Hilltop Amphitheatre. The ceremony formally installed them to their respective functions for the welfare of the whole VSU studentry.

They promised before VSU President Bacusmo, in the presence of Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, VP for Instruction, with the student leaders of the University that they will faithfully and conscientiously carry out their responsibilities with wisdom, maturity, diligence and impartiality, to promote the welfare of the dormitory/cottage and its residents, and uphold the rules and policies of the University.

After Dr. Bacusmo delivered his message to the newly installed advisers, campus ministers and guidance facilitators, Ramon Salvador of the College of Agriculture and Food Science Supreme Student Council who represented the student leaders, together with Dr. Nilda T. Amestoso, on behalf of the advisers, and Prof. Manolo B. Loreto Jr., the Dean of Students, shared their expectations.

Spearheaded by the University Student Services Office, the 2015 Oath Taking Ceremony was closed with a message from Dr. Tulin. JFMBaldos

Forester Marjorie D. Elbiña, a Cum Laude graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Forestry of the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte, got the first place among the 961 hopefuls in the August 2015 Forester Licensure Examination throughout the country. For. Elbiña got a rating of 90.95% ahead of the second placer from Caraga State University in Butuan City who got a rating of 90.10% and of the third placer from the University of the Philippines Los Baños who got 89.70%.

For. Elbiña finished her BS in Forestry at VSU on April 22, 2015 as consistent honor student. Presently, she is working as a Science Research Assistant of the VSU College of Forestry and Environmental Science (CFES).

Asked as to her reaction upon knowing that she topped the Board Exam, For. Elbiña humbly said that she did not expect that she will top the examination considering that the exam was very difficult. “In fact, when my dean of CFES and my mentors texted and called me, the news did not sink in to me immediately. I was in the state of shock that I do not know how I felt that very moment. Later on, I was so happy that I got the highest place in the Board Exam and I was so thankful to the Lord for how He blessed me,” For. Elbiña happily narrated.

For. Elbiña preferred to have her review class for the whole month of May at the VSU Review Center where she also topped in the Pre-Board Exam conducted by the Review Center.

Being the topnotcher in the August 2015 Forestry Licensure Exam, For. Elbiña shall be receiving a cash award of PhP50,000 from VSU during the 2016 Commencement Exercises. The award is VSU’s way of recognizing the excellent performance of its graduates in professional licensure examination by virtue of Board of Regents (BOR) Resolution No. 24, series of 2011, dated 20 December 2011 granting monetary incentives to board examination topnotchers, such as: 1^st Placer – PhP50,000; 2^nd Placer – PhP40,000; 3^rd Placer – PhP30,000; and 4^th-10^th Placers – PhP20,000.

As released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board of Foresters, out of 961 examinees nationwide, only 461 passed the Board registering a national passing percentage of 47.97%. The Board Exam covered the following subjects: Forest Ecosystem (20%), Forest Governance and Social Forestry (25%), Forest Utilization Engineering (20%), and Forest Production and Management (35%). The examinations were held in the cities of Manila, Cagayan De Oro, and Davao on August 2-3, 2015. The results were released in two (2) working days after the last day of examination.

There were a total of 20 first timers from VSU, of whom 16 of them passed the exam, giving VSU an institutional passing percentage of 80%. However, there were 15 repeaters of the said exam and only five (5) of them successfully passed the Board Exam.

The New Foresters of VSU are as follows: Marjorie D. Elbiña – 1^st placer, Ma. Theresa Q. Cabido, Catherine C. Cepada, Julios B. Comaling, Jazzy L. Emutan, Joshua B. Enas, Eduardo G. Espejon, Jr., Marichu E. Jabines, Ildefonso T. Jayme, Susette P. Lazarte, Rojie G. Lingo, Ivy Migzylo E. Macalalag, Mary Grace N. Merano, Robert Julius I. Miano, Raymund V. Moca, Zhamier S. Naval, Jessa C. Nuñez, Jerson Pacanan, Jiely Rose T. Pecasales, Gonzalo O. Recosana, Jr., and Charie May C. Taripe. JFMBaldos

The Mighty Pythons Team with Engr. Florentino Morales, Jr. as the General Athletic Manager (GAM) and Dr. Roberto C. Guarte, VP for Administration and Finance, as the Team Coordinator; and the VSU-Isabel Cyber Warriors with Mr. Jobane P. Delantar as the GAM and Dr. Edwin A. Balbarino, College Dean, as the Team Coordinator, victoriously defended their titles as champions in the Faculty and Staff Intramurals and the College Student Intramurals, respectively, during the University-wide Paugnat 2015 held on July 22-24 with a hashtag “#BeTheBestYouEver”. The Mighty Pythons garnered the championship in the Faculty and Staff Intramural Games 2015 held last March 11-13, while the VSU-Isabel Cyber Warriors was proclaimed champion in the 2013 University-wide Student Intramural Games.

Facilitated by the Institute of Human Kinetics (IHK) under the leadership of Dr. Aleli A. Villocino, IHK Director, the games successfully reeled-off despite very minor glitches considering that it was the first time in VSU to hold such kind of sports competitions wherein the faculty and staff, and the students in the high school and in the college of the VSU System played the games at the same time.

In his message during the opening ceremonies, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, VSU President, stressed that the Paugnat 2015 is a sort of an experimentation of a new modality of holding intramural games simultaneously between the faculty and staff, college students, and high school students in a given period of time. “We used to cancel holding classes for three to four days when we hold the student intramurals and another three to four days when we hold the faculty and staff sportsfest. In this new modality, we could somehow eliminate cutting down the number of days of cancelled classes by holding the two events simultaneously,” Dr. Bacusmo emphasized.

The VSU President also pointed out the importance of holding sports competitions. “Intramurals is important for your physical and emotional development,” Dr. Bacusmo quipped. He added that by playing sports, we can develop sportsmanship as we would be tested with our dedication to practice while at the same time honing our skills and competitiveness with humility and willingness to accept defeat.

In the Paugnat 2015 for the Faculty and Staff, the Mighty Pythons was proclaimed as the Overall Champion as it outsmarted the other three teams. The Team was also named as the champion in sports for garnering 307 total points as well as in the song festival with 25 points for a total of 338 points. It got first places in volleyball women, softball men, track relays men/women, walkathon men/women, Korean bike women, lawn tennis mixed, table tennis mixed, badminton mixed, chess women, and dart women.

The Eagles came in as First Runner Up for accumulating 247 points. The Team championed in basketball women, kayak men/women, dart men, and dama women. The Leopards got the Second Runner Up spot for garnering a total of 229 points. The Team won in basketball men, dama men, and billiards men and women. The Tigers tailed as Third Runner Up with a total points of 227. It dominated in the volleyball men, kickball women, chess men, and the overall champion in the dance festival.

In the Paugnat 2015 for the College Students, on the other hand, the VSU-Isabel Cyber Warriors bagged the Overall Championship among the ten competing teams of the VSU System. The Team accumulated 255 points and got the overall championship in both song and dance festivals. The Warriors grabbed first places in athletics women, mural, sepak takraw men and women, dart women, and arnis men/women.

The Aggies Supersonics of the College of Agriculture and Food Science came as the First Runner Up with a score of 225 points. The Team was the champion in the basketball men and women, softball women, and swimming men. It was also the overall champion in sports.   The CME Red Dragons was declared the Second Runner Up with 215 points. The Team bested in soccer men, lawn tennis men, and dart men.

The Third Runner Up spot went to the VSU-Tolosa Blue Sharks with 209 points. It dominated in the volleyball men, athletics men, and badminton women; while the Bravehearts of the College of Engineering snatched the Fourth Runner Up slot for accumulating 200 points. The Team outshined the other teams in table tennis men, badminton men, chess men, and billiards men. And the Fifth Runner Up slot was captured by the CE Tigers with 179 points. The Tigers lambasted the other teams in the volleyball women, dama women, billiards women, and swimming women.

The other teams who joined in the competition and the points they earned included the CVM Cowboys – 103, the CAS/CN/CFES Titans – 73, VSU-Alangalang Blue Eagles – 55, and VSU-Villaba Griffins – 54. JFMBaldos

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Visayas State University and the Institute of Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation (ERECON) in Machida-shi, Tokyo, Japan was signed on August 3, 2015 at the VSU Guesthouse.  The MOU was signed by VSU President Jose L. Bacusmo and ERECON President Machito Mihara to extend the cooperation and to promote mutual interest in relation to research project planning and implementation between the two parties.

Both parties agreed to support each other in conducting projects and research concerning sustainable development and environmental rehabilitation and conservation on the basis of equality and mutual benefits, including visits and exchange of knowledge, materials, resources and services.

The MOU shall remain in force for a period of three years starting from the date the MOU was signed and in the event that a project or activity will be held, a Memorandum of Agreement shall be signed by both parties stating therein the responsibilities and obligations of each party.

The MOU was signed in the presence of Dr. Humberto R. Montes, Jr., Director of VSU’s Institute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Management (ITEEM), and Mr. Koji Miwa, Assistant Program Manager of ERECON.   Also present during the MOU signing were Dr. Dennis P. Peque, OIC-Dean of the College of Forestry and Environmental Science, and Dr. Marlito Jose M. Bande, Assistant Professor of ITEEM. JFMBaldos

The VSU-Tolosa Campus under the OICship of Dr. Lourdes B. Cano, VSU’s Director for Administration and Human Resource Development (ODA-HRD), was able to acquire new musical instruments in addition to the existing musical instruments for its marching band. The musical instruments consisting of 5 pieces bass drums (Fernando brand), 4 pieces parade drums with harness (Fernando brand), 4 pieces snare metal drums with harness (Fernando brand), 3 pieces bugle (gold), 4 pieces king lyre, 1 set chimes with stand, and 1 set jam block with stand were bought with a total cost of PhP98,700 taken from its cultural and athletic fees.

In an interview with Mr. Danilo Lerios, instructor and head of Socio-Cultural Affairs Section of VSU-Tolosa Campus, the new musical instruments would be an addition to some wind and percussion instruments donated by KOICA and the Leyte Provincial Government, respectively. “With the acquisition of new musical instruments, we can now upgrade our parade band in terms of its musical quality, and hopefully come up with an orchestra,” Mr. Lerios happily mused. JFMBaldos