ISSN 2094-3991 Volume 5 Issue 6 June 2013

BU confers honoris causa upon Lagman

BU-JMRILG launches grad courses

Bicol University awarded an honorary degree—

Doctor of Humanities—to Honorable Edcel Castelar Lagman, Albay first district representative, in recognition of the contributions of the congressman to the education of the “common tao” and his achievements in public service, human rights and social justice. C o n f e r m e n t ceremonies were held at the La Piazza Hotel and Convention Center 3p.m. Friday, June 21. Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya,

The Bicol University Graduate School (BUGS) launched the Master in Rural Development and fourth batch of

the Diploma in Local Government Management under the Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Local Governance (JMRILG) on June 27, 8:30 a.m. at the BU Amphitheatre. The launch was highlighted by a Lecture Forum on the theme “Inclusive and Sustainable Growth through Good

The President’sO U T B O X

BU president, addressed the petition during the conferment ceremonies while Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, Commission on Higher Education Chairperson, read

A new school year always equates with new blessings. This school year, we are truly grateful for the things that have come to the university: new curricular programs, new scholarships, new partnerships, new engagements. We actively sought these partnerships to bring the University closer to the community in keeping with our commitment and vision. B i c o l University continues to be on the go, in its continued quest for excellence, innovation, and good governance. And our presence is being felt not just in the country but now also abroad. As this new school year starts, let us all do our best to maintain what we have achieved and surpass our targets for this year!

Governance”, keynoted by Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras. Almendras discussed the importance of “inclusive and sustainable governance” and the government’s plans and actions in achieving it. He addressed various sectors and their roles in supporting these plans and actions, and in promoting PNoy’s “walang korupt, walang mahirap” advocacy. “We [took] this opportunity to share with you some thoughts, some ideas, and some of the things that we’ve been doing in government,” Almendras said. He added, in addressing the different

the Conferment Citation, conferred the degree, and vested the academic robe upon Lagman. Administrators, faculty, non-

Lagman/P2

Graduate/P2

Hon. Edcel Lagman (4th from the left) receives his Doctor of Humanities with his family. Earl Epson Lim Recamunda

Sec. Almendras explains the roles of the various sectors in reaching the government’s goals. Earl Epson Lim Recamunda

teaching personnel, and students attended the event. On its regular meeting on March 12, the Bicol University Academic Council approved a resolution by the College Student Council of BU Tabaco Campus to award the honoris causa to the

2 the BUzzette

congressman, which was unanimously approved by the Board of Regents during its 102nd regular meeting. The resolution cited the approval of legislations authored by Lagman that made impact in uplifting the living conditions of the masses through quality

Lagman...education, respect for the dignity of human life and responsible parenthood as reasons for the conferment.Under the Republic Act 5521 titled “An Act Establishing the Bicol University, Defining Its Powers, Functions and Duties, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other

BU alumni lecture on common core standards Bicol University College of Education (BUCE)

conducted a Lecture-Forum on Transitioning to K to 12 Common Core Standards with resource speakers

Purposes,” the university can confer upon persons other than its alumni an honorary degree in recognition of learning, statesmanship or eminence in literature, science or arts. (Rey Anthony de los Reyes Ostria/OP)

from page 1

(TOP) Dr. Myrna Llona-Audal gives her lecture; (BOTTOM) Anna Marie Abril holds her check worth P10,000. Earl Epson Lim Recamunda

Mr. Arnaldo N. Audal and Dr. Myrna Llona-Audal on June 25 at the BUCE Training Hall. The training was attended by students and teachers of the college, who would be the key players in the application of the concepts discussed in the lecture-forum. The resource speakers are both alumni of Bicol University, particularly Class 1971 of the BU College of Education, and are now both educators in the United States of America, where the 12-year basic education system is practiced.

Florendo Grant Awarded The lecture-forum was turned into

a double event when during the program, the chosen recipient of the Tony Florendo Financial Assistance Grant (see related story in BUzzette Summer 2013 Issue), Anna Marie Abril, was awarded PhP10,000 to cover school related expenses, and thereby help her achieve her dream of finishing college in Bicol University, which is the purpose of the grant. Lecturer Arnaldo Audal, who is also the chair of the Bicol University Alumni Endowment Management Council on Foundations, Inc. (BUAEMCFI), awarded the grant on behalf of the Florendo family. (Ma. Celina G. Meneses/OP)

sectors present, that “All are part of the solution” and that “Things can happen, and if we wrestle the problem, we can solve it.” The keynote speech was answered by representatives from different sectors, namely: Dr. Gloria J. Mercado, Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) Senior Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School of Public and Development Management; Director Ma.

Angelita C. Cells, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Region V; Police Chief Superintendent Clarence Guinto, Philippine National Police Region V; and Atty. Clarin Tobias, Chair of the Bicol Competitiveness Committee of Metro Naga who expressed their agreement of and support for Almendras’ discussion of the current government’s plans and projects which are consistent with its call for good governance.

Newest Graduate Course The Master in Rural Development is the newest addition to the courses under the institute. There are currently 12 pioneer students enrolled for the program for this semester. Meanwhile 33 scholars are enrolled for the fourth batch of students under the Diploma in Local Government Management program, all sponsored by the Bicol Consortium for Development Initiatives

(BCDI) through the efforts of its president, Fr. Jovic E. Lobrigo. The BU Institute of Local Governance was created in 1994 and was renamed last year as the Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Local Governance (JMRILG) in honor of the late DILG Secretary and former mayor of Naga City. BCDI is a major partner of BUGS in the development of the JMRILG. (Ma. Celina G. Meneses/OP)

Graduate...from page 1

3the BUzzette

The Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development (BCHRD) hosted an Ethics Training

on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at the BUCN Hospital Room on June 18-19.

BCHRD hosts training on Ethics SOPs

BU hosts Guinness featBicol University was the host to Albay’s attempt to break

a world record, June 28. All wearing white, red and black, 13,892 Bicolanos—3,200 of them BU students and faculty members—formed what could be the world’s largest human No Smoking sign in the world. During the event, BU President Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya expressed her full support for the feat and her

pride that the university was chosen as the venue for the once-in-a-lifetime event. The world record attempt was organized by the office of the governor with the Smoke-free Albay Network (SFAN) coordinating the event. The formation covered 5,033 sq. meters of the BU grounds. (Rey Anthony de los Reyes Ostria/OP)

After forming the No Smoking sign, Albayanos stand in place for at least ten minutes to validate the attempt. Earl Epson Lim Recamunda

Resource speakers during the two-day training were Dr. Marita V.T. Reyes and Dr. Cecilia V. Tomas, co-chair and member of the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB), respectively. With them were Ruben Alcaraz, Jr., member of PHREB Secretariat, and Marie Jeanne Berroya,

Philippine Consortium for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) regional project officer. Participants during the training were the same ones who attended the BCHRD Basic Ethics Training in October 2012 – members of the Consortium Ethics Review Committee (ERC) and representatives

from member-agencies including Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH), Bicol Medical Center (BMC), Universidad de Santa Isabel (USI), Catanduanes State University (CSU), Department of Science and Technology Region V (DOST-V), Department of Health-Center for Health Development Bicol (DOH-CHD), and host agency, Bicol University (BU). Also present were the BCHRD director and staff. Dr. Helen Llenaresas, vice-president for academic affairs, graced the activity and delivered a rousing inspirational message. Expected output of the training was the SOP of the BCHRD ERC. PCHRD is encouraging the said ERC to register with PHREB, considering that the DOST Administrative Order 001 Series of 2008 requires the registration and

accreditation of all ERCs. According to Alcaraz, at present, there are 119-and-counting registered ERCs nationwide, and none of them is from the Bicol Region. The purpose of an ERC is to ensure the safety of the human participants in a research/study, and the SOPs are the guidelines with which the ERCs perform their duties and functions. With the registration of the ERC will be the compliance with the DOST Administrative Order 001 Series of 2007 that requires the ethics review and monitoring of all health researches that involve human subjects/participants. The training on Ethics SOPs is one step towards said compliance. (Maria Vicenta Corazon B. Guidote/BCHRD)

quality education. Three students from Polangui Campus, two from Tabaco Campus and 21 from College of Education signed their contract with PBEd on June 27 and were formally accepted into the scholarship program, having

understood their duties and responsibilities as scholars of the organization. Apart from the tuition fees and allowances, the grantees will also enjoy sponsorship of their review classes for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).

To top the scholarship package, the grantees are assured of a job, as, upon passing the LET, they will be hired as a public school teachers in a “pay forward” agreement. Initial requirement for applicants to this

scholarship was being in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school. As grantees, the scholars need to maintain a general weighted average of 1.75, and not have any failing grade throughout their four years in college. (Ma. Celina G. Meneses/OP)

Scholars...from page 4

Participants , guests and orgnizers of the Ethics Training on SOPs by BCHRD. Earl Epson Lim Recamunda

Editorial BoardEditorial Head: Dr. Ma. Celina G. Meneses Managing Editors: Ms. Merly J. Loria Photojournalist: Earl Epson L. RecamundaAssociate Editor: Prof. Vineth G. Morcozo Circulation Manager: Ms. Mary Ann M. See Writer: Rey Anthony D. Ostria Editorial Consultants: Dr. Helen M. Llenaresas • Dr. Reina O. Habalo Overall Consultant: Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya

the BUzzette4

Marilyn B. Estrellado, 5th place, 83.60; Angelo C. Uclaray, 8th place, 83.00

Jhonabie M. Villamor, 9th place, 82.90

National Passing Rate: 55.56%(1015/1827 takers)

Defensor lectures on maintaining COEs, CODsCommission on Higher

Education (CHED) Commissioner and Bicol University (BU) Board of Regents Chairperson Nenalyn P. Defensor shared strategies on maintaining a Center of Excellence (COE) and Center of Development (COD) in Teacher Education during a lecture-forum on June 6. President Fay M. Lauraya, who introduced the guest lecturer, stressed

Bicol University welcomed Dongguk University for a partnership visit aimed at familiarizing the South Korean

university with not just the institution it was visiting but the community it belongs to, particularly the Province of Albay.

Korean University pays partnership visit to BU

Twenty-five Koreans, headed by the dean of the College of Social Sciences of Dongguk University, Professor Kim Heung Hoi, came to the university on July 8 and were met by BU President Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya, together with other school officials particularly of the host unit, the Graduate School. During the welcome program, Dr. Lauraya gave the guests an orientation about Bicol University as a higher and advanced learning institution.

Also invited to the meeting were the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Office V, with Police Senior Superintendent Arnold L. Albis representing Police Chief Superintendent Clarence V. Guinto, and the Provincial Government of Albay (PGA), with Mr. Mac Pavia of the Provincial Planning and Development Council (PPDC) representing Albay Governor Joey S. Salceda. Albis briefed the visitors on the PNP’s development and prospects, while Pavia oriented

Twenty-six first year students of Bicol

University were granted free tuition, P2,000 monthly allowance and P2,000 semestral book allowance as part of the 1000 Teachers

BU, PBEd sign MOA for 26 scholars

Program of the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), a non-government organization that partnered with the Department of Education for the cause of

Scholars/P3

that the activity is but another step towards attaining the university’s vision of excellence. The lecture-forum was made to coincide with the blessing of the Center of Teaching Excellence Training Halls of BU College of Education, a project funded by CHED. BU Chaplain Fr. Florante Afable performed the blessing.

Exchange of Gifts Pres. Lauraya hands a book about the history of normal schools of the Philippines as a gift to the Korean visitors. Earl Epson Lim Recamunda

Scholars hold their signed contract with the Philippine Business for Education Earl Epson Lim Recamunda

Dr. Defensor challenges the institutions to continue carrying out the responsibilities of being Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development to maintain their status.. Earl Epson Lim Recamunda

them on the province of Albay’s development and investment prospects. As a result of the meeting, Dongguk University and Bicol University are expected to eventually tie up for academic

programs and projects where they find mutual purpose and benefits, given the information on BU and Albay presented to the visiting university.

Bicol University is still the top performing school in the Social Work Licensure Exam with passing rate of 98.15% (53/54 takers).