Category: Linkages
Balik Scientist Annabelle P. Villalobos, Ph.D. donated almost a million worth of instruments to the College of Arts and Sciences. This donation was facilitated by Dr. Anita Estela M. Monroy, Chairman of the Department of Physical Sciences. The instruments are intended for the proposed B.S. in Chemistry Program that the university will soon offer.
Dr. Villalobos symbolically turned over the donation to WVSU President Joselito F. Villaruz, during a meeting last December 7, 2021. Other attendees included VPAA Dr. Ma. Christine Asuncion V. Dequilla; CAS Dean, Dr. Ma. Elfleda R. Ecube; Chemistry Faculty Members Dr. Morwena Jane V. Solivio and Prof. Kathleen Mae T. Gaspalinao; and Phy.Sci. Chair, Dr. Anita Estela M. Monroy.
As one of the panel members who reviewed the proposed curriculum of the B.S. Chemistry Program last November 2021, Dr. Villalobos provided valuable insight to improve the proposed program.
After completing her Doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Villalobos had a sterling career at Johnson & Johnson. She helped develop drug products for anemia, chronic renal failure, cancer chemotherapy and AIDS. After early retirement, she dedicated her time and knowledge to helping Philippine universities develop research on alternative food sources, medicinal plants, and biopesticides.
West Visayas State University (WVSU), through the Center for International Linkages and Public Information (CILPI) ,will hold its first International Students’ Day celebration, in partnership with University Distance Education, Center for Foreign Languages, and the Foreign Languages Students’ Society, the official student body organization of Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages in WVSU.
With the theme, “WVSU Students Around the World: Learning as One for Environment, Equality, and Peace”, the event aims for participants to learn different cultures, to recognize the University’s international students and WVSU graduates excelling around the globe, and to develop strong camaraderie among local and international students of the University.
The event will be streamed live here on the official FaceBook page on November 17, Wednesday, from 9 AM to 12 PM. # -JDuro/CILPI
Dr. Rejie F.Palmos, Director of West Visayas State University Center for Peace Education (WVSU CPE), was accepted in the 5th Lecturer Workshop on Teaching Human Rights and/or Peace, which started October 11, 2021 and will end this November 18.
The one-month event focuses on Developing Skills and Knowledge on Peace and Transformative Peacebuilding.
The ASEAN University Network-Human Rights Education (AUN-HRE), the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP), Mahidol University, the Strengthening Human Rights and Peace Research and Education in ASEAN/Southeast Asia (SHAPE-SEA) and the Research and Education for Peace, Universiti Sains Malaysia (REPUSM) with support of the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights at the University of Oslo are the organizers of the workshop.# -CILPI
Out of 1,546 examinees, 1,084 passed the September 2021 Physician Licensure Examination given by the Board of Medicine at venues in Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Tacloban and Zamboanga.
Maria Inez Sellado Benedicto, a West Visayas State University (WVSU) -College of Medicine alumna, ranked first with a rating of 87.83%.
Dr. Maria Inez Benedicto remembers vividly when she was a student at WVSU—a friend recorded her looking at the wall of topnotchers in the library at Roxas Hall saying, “Someday, my picture will also be on that wall.”
Indeed, from now on, her face and name will be one of those who will be forever etched in the history of WVSU.
Dr. Benedicto has been an achiever since gradeschool and placed 7th in the 2015 Medical Technology Board Exam in 2015.
Before the Physicians’ Licensure Examination, she struggled with the academic workload, pandemic adjustments, and uncertainty with schedules.
“We only had 40 days to review and I was not able to finish all the things that I really wanted to read,” she said, “Saan ko huhugutin ang mga sagot? We just went there with whatever we have studied.”
She had to undergo a 14-day quarantine when she travelled to Iloilo, so she used that to read notes. The breaks after her duty as an intern at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City (CLMMRH) were also used as study time.
Benedicto was anxious and started to ask why there were so many roadblocks as she prepared to take the licensure exam. “So when the result was out, I was not confident that I will top the Board. In the back of my mind, I was hoping, yes but I was not expecting to be in the top 10.”
Our topnotcher is not only all about the brains. She is also a beauty titlist.
She was crowned Mutya ng NOPSSCEA (Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural Educational Association) and Mutya ng WVPRISAA (Western Visayas Private Schools’ Athletic Association).
In 2013, Benedicto represented the Lin-Ay of La Carlota, winning the Muse of the Media and Best in Talent.
One may think that she has too much on her plate but despite the stresses, she takes time to unwind. Dr. Benedicto is a Mobile Legends (ML) player — an online 5v5 MOBA for handheld devices that offers a variety of playable heroes, game modes, and intense, fast-paced gameplay.
As to her role models, she tells the Center for International Linkages and Public Information (CILPI) in an interview through Zoom, “I really look up to my parents. They raised us to think for ourselves, to express our opinions, and to follow the path we want for this life.”
As for her plans after the Board, she said, “I will give myself a break. I want to regain myself. I really think I deserve that.”
Benedicto is planning to teach in review centers, help her brother–a City Councilor in La Carlota–and go into residency middle of 2022.
CILPI asked her for a short message to WVSU students. The charming doctor said, “I want you to continue and pursue your passion. It was not served to me on a silver platter. I have to work hard on this. Just be ready to make a lot of sacrifices. Remember to thank the people who and will support you as you achieve your greater heights.” # Jovy Duro/CILPI
The alarming cases of CoVid-19 only made West Visayas State University more motivated in consistently becoming agents of change and helping out communities in need. Thus, winning the support of the Iloilo City mayor himself.
Mayor Treñas met online with the WVSU representatives led by President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz and Vice President for Medical and Allied Sciences, Dr. Celina Gellada, to discuss matters regarding the University’s limited face-to-face classes of the medical courses and the proposal to utilize another floor at the WVSU Medical Center to help out with the CoVid situation in the city.
As to the limited face-to-face classes, Dr. Villaruz stressed. “We will be doing the cyclical system when it comes to face-to-face classes. With our classrooms retrofitted, only 50% capacity will be allowed per face-to-face session. We are still going to be faithful to the memorandum circular (of the Commission on Higher Education) that once the city is on General Community Quarantine, we will proceed.” As to the 4th year medical students and those undergoing internships, they will be back to the hospital, no matter the community quarantine status is.
Treñas suggested that students must be first fully vaccinated before going back to the limited face-to-face classes. Dr. Gellada said that 75% of the 3rd and 4th year Medical students are fully vaccinated.
The mayor referred WVSU to the Iloilo City Covid-19 focal person Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, who was also present during the virtual meeting, for coordination regarding vaccination of all medical and nursing students before the implementation of the aforementioned mode of instruction. He also said that if WVSU can gather 200 students, he would send a team to conduct the vaccination right there at the university.
Dr. Villaruz brought up the proposal on increasing the absorptive capacity of the University’s Medical Center, opening an additional floor with enough staff and equipment. Also, WVSU has applied for the utilization of university facilities for a human genome laboratory, so not all specimens will take time in Manila. He said, “We have proposed and submitted requirements. We will be helping out the city”.
The mayor expressed his support by saying that he will sign the endorsement of the WVSU proposals to fast-track action and implementation. He even added, “Whatever WVSU will need, I will endorse.”
To note, WVSU is one of the 24 Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) who passed the assessment conducted by CHED, the Department of Health and the local Covid-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). # -CILPI
The West Visayas State University Crisis Management Committee recently discussed the limited face-to-face classes, health and safety protocols, and communication plans.
Presided by the Vice President for Medical and Allied Sciences (VPMAS) and Assistant Incident Commander, Dr. Celina Gellada, the University Crisis Management Committee gathered for a virtual meeting.
The limited face-to-face classes supposedly to be implemented this academic year 2021-2022 has been delayed due to the CoVid-19, especially that the Delta variant is affecting the city and also because of Iloilo City being under the Modified Enchanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). Dr. Joselito Villaruz, WVSU president and the Incident Commander of the Committee , clarified that the limited face-to-face classes will only be allowed in areas, which are under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and the University should strictly maintain health and safety measures.
Safety Officer and the Director of the University Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Mr. Ian Van Sumagaysay presented updates on safety and health protocols implemented in the campus. The University is prepared when it comes to retrofitted classrooms, signage and directions, and policies approved by the Board of Regents. The University also has its own holding/quarantine facility, just in case there will be cases.
Dr. Roumila Mendoza of the College of Medicine shared that some students have problems when it comes to their boarding houses, because some boarding houses are not meant for quarantine—the bathrooms and toilets are for common use of the tenants—and also some students were discriminated because they were part of the contact tracing list. One incident was, one student had to be forced out of her boarding house.
Mr. Julius Undar, the Chief Administrative Officer of the University and Operations Section and Logistics Chief, updated on the number of vaccinated faculty and staff: As of September 3, 74% of the faculty are fully vaccinated; 76% of the regular staff and of the job order employees, respectively, have already received full doses.
The Center for International Linkages and Public Information (CILPI), with its director Ms. Edel Carmela Subong-Csoka presented a communication plan, which focuses on townhall and stakeholders’ meetings, information campaigns, and press releases, including the updating of data on CoVid 19 cases and vaccination to be included on the FaceBook page and the University website.
The University Crisis Management Committee was formed early this year to prepare the University for possible limited face-to-face classes and to ensure monitoring of safety- and health-conscious University operations.
For the public to see the University policies and protocols on safety, they can visit https://www.facebook.com/wvsudrrmc or https://www.facebook.com/wvsu . # -CILPI
West Visayas State University considers diversity a beauty. To prove this, one of the activities of the ASEAN Day on August 27, 2021, was the more than 1-hour FaceBook livestreaming of different member-countries of the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ASEAN-related initiatives by the third year students of Bachelor of Science in Development Communication (BSDC) and the selected fourth year students of the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (BAJ).
The Facebook livestream showcased these students’ outputs, facilitated and compiled by the University’s Center for International Linkages and Public Information (CILPI). The students of WVSU shared their knowledge about cultural diversity, connecting and converging ASEAN, and talked about how ideal it is to travel to the member-countries of ASEAN through series of virtual podcasts hosted by Bachelor of Science in Development Communication students Rose Coleen Rubio, Reymart Eufracio, and Iris Arboleda. Also included was a video presentation on inclusivity, focusing on persons with disabilities by Cindy Jade Seares, also a BSDC student, and the different proposed communication plans and initiatives on promoting ASEAN to the world.
Fourth year Bachelor of Arts in Journalism students Jonar Dorado, Zennia Mirasol, and Ivy Pepito contributed to the ASEAN Day by making videos of the ASEAN hymn and facts about the ASEAN.
The Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the ASEAN based in Jakarta Indonesia, Ambassador Noel Servigon sent his message to the WVSU community: “…through these activities, we would further promote our sense of regional identity in the Southeast Asia”. He expressed that he is looking forward to more engagements in the University through CILPI.
The WVSU ASEAN Day also had the Panel Discussion on Women in the ASEAN , with invited panelists from Thailand, Indonesia,Singapore, Philippines, and Lao PDR, and a guest from one of WVSU’s partner universities in Taiwan.# -Ivy Pepito/CILPI
West Visayas State University achieved Level III Institutional Accreditation status in the survey conducted by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines, Inc. (AACCUP) via Zoom platform on April 12-16, 2021.
This is another achievement unlocked for the university. Despite the challenges faced during the pandemic, the accreditation was a success even in an online setup.
This achievement is not a reason for WVSU to stop here, as this means working more for sustainability and competency of operations and instruction, as to what the University president Dr. Joselito Villaruz said during the opening program of the accreditation held on April 12, 2021.# –CILPI
In support of the 54th Founding Anniversary of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the WVSU Center for International Linkages and Public Information (CILPI) organized the first-ever ASEAN Day celebration on August 27, 2021, with the theme We care, we prepare, we prosper, honoring the chairmanship of Brunei Darussalam’s chairmanship this year.
A Virtual Panel Discussion on Women in the ASEAN Region was the highlight of the celebration It brought into light the strength, power, and challenges of the women in South East Asian nations. Six female panelists were invited from different countries in South East Asia, namely: Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. An expert from one of WVSU’s partner universities in Taiwan was also invited as guest panelist.
A poll regarding what questions the WVSU community wanted to ask the women in the ASEAN region was conducted by the CILPI Office to determine what specific questions will be asked during the Panel Discussion proper. Most of the answers geared towards shaping society and empowerment:
“Let’s all of us be the push for everyone who need strength. Let’s be the hands for everyone needs help and let’s be the shoulder to everyone who are tired and mourning.” -Ms. Dona Saraswati Galindo, Indonesia-Philippines
“Women, we have to voice out. We want to contribute to our society.” -Prof. Shuchuan Liao, Asian University, Taiwan
“Once you’ve already achieved for yourself what you’ve dreamt achieving, then it’s time to give back and to help others to achieve their dreams.” -Atty. Jo Kristine Celera-Revil, Philippines
“Women is really strong, I want women to be aware of their rights and also be more confident.” -Ms. Somsavanh Outhavy, Laos
“Be yourself to the fullness. Everyone matters.” – Ms. Ninalyn Sulit-Cacananta, Singapore-Philippines
“Do not let discrimination weaken or degrade your spirit, for you yourself dictate your destiny. Be strong and stay strong.” – Asst. Prof. Dr. Napisa Waitoolkiat, Thailand
Prof. Edel Carmela S. Subong-Csoka, CILPI Director, also encouraged the WVSU community to take part in every opportunity in the ASEAN, “It’s time to think about what we can contribute as WVSU community. After all, we are one ASEAN.”
The event was in partnership with the Gender and Development Office, Development Communicators’ Society, and Young Journalists’ Society.
To note, the Chairmanship of ASEAN Anniversary rotates every year alphabetically, according to the English name of the ASEAN member-country.# – Zennia Mirasol/CILPI