Category: News

By Leo G. Almonte, MDC

 West Visayas State University lives up to its “tradition of excellence” as 19 nursing graduates excelled in the 2022 Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE). WVSU has high expectations for the College of Nursing graduates since the university is known as the “Home of Topnotchers,” with a consistently high NLE passing rate.

The outstanding feat brought pride and joy to the WVSU community, further validating their culture of excellence that drives students to deliver the best possible results with a can-do attitude when facing academic challenges.

According to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), 19 schools achieved a 100% passing rate. The 134 examinees from Batch 2022 – Siklab took the NLE from November 12 to 13, 2022. 

The list of the WVSU 2022 NLE Topnotchers:

• Rank 2 – Jezrel Cabasis Alijid – 89.90%
• Rank 3 – Emmanuel John Dorado Aggabao – 89.60%
• Rank 4 – Carlos Jose Estacio Cerrada, Pauline Marie Robide Haro, Terese Angel Mispeñas Lee, and Emielle Salinas Ong – 89.40%
• Rank 6 – Pauline Catong Castro, Sarah Joy Cabaluna Demetillo and Mark Aron Tomedo Martirez – 89%
• Rank 7 – Francis John Patricio Gargarita and Ernesto Tabobo Gargaritano III – 88.80%
• Rank 8 – Chelsy Sophia Besario Acain, Mary Therese Condag Jambaro, Mary Bless Gentuya Debuque, Steffi Marie Sy Lao, and Aquiuz Enero Salcedo – 88.60%
• Rank 10 – Ma. Katrina Izabylle Capulot Alegario, John Earl Albert Alvarez Luces and Ma. Luisa Villarias Pelayo – 88.20%.

Photo courtesy of Lifeline

by Leo G. Almonte, MDC

The Civil Service Commission presented a Certificate of Recognition to West Visayas State University for its contribution and role in the government’s effort to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Certificate of Appreciation reads: The Certificate of Recognition is hereby given to West Visayas State University – Region VI for its delivery of exemplary service, through the tireless commitment, resiliency, and priceless contributions of its government frontliners and workers, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this 28th day of September 2022 at the CSC Central Office, Constitution Hills, Diliman, Quezon City.

 CSC Chairperson Atty. Karlo A.B. Nograles, Commissioner Atty. Lourdes A. Lizada, and Commissioner Atty. Ryan Alvin R. Acosta signed the certificate.

WVSU became a venue of several vaccination roll-outs where hundreds of residents from the Iloilo Province receive their inoculation. The West Visayas State University Medical Center went above and beyond its duty during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in responding to the health crisis.

by Leo G. Almonte, MDC

Three researchers from West Visayas State University garnered recognition in the recent Idlab Awards, the first-ever Regional Research and Development Awards created through the Regional Development Council (RDC) Region VI’s Resolution No. 80 Series of 2020.

RDC officially launched the 2022 Idlab Awards last August 17, 2022. They received a total of twenty-one (21) researchers from various State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the region and selected nominees under the fields of (1) Basic Research; (2) Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Natural Resources; (3) Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technologies, and; (4) Health Research.

The awardees from WVSU were Dr. Patricio P. Palmares (Outstanding Researcher, Health Research Category), Dr. Marie Grace Dawn T. Isidro (3^rd Placer, Health Research Category), and Dr. Joel T. de Castro (2^nd Place, Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research Category).

The Idlab Award aims to inspire more research and innovations in the region by recognizing outstanding researchers, engineers, and innovators in Western Visayas. It also intends to create an avenue for government and private partnerships to generate resources to support research and development.

WVSU WESVAARRDEC supported the establishment of RRDIC’s Idlab Awards as a member of the Technical Working Group in the AANR category. The Regional Research Development and Innovation Center (RRDIC) handed out the awards during a ceremony at the Iloilo Convention Center last November 19, 2022.

by Leo G. Almonte, MDC

West Visayas State University, a Higher Education Institution collaborator in the  Commission on Higher Education (CHED) LAKAS 2022-001 Project, sent Dr. Celina Gellada, Dr. Carol Joy Quimpo, and Dr. Helmar Soldevilla, as representatives to a two-day training activity entitled  “Optimizing Simulation-Based- Education (SBE), Training, Collaboration & Research- a focus on Technology- Driven Teaching & Learning Strategies,” held in Singapore from November 21 to 2022, 2022.

WVSU contingent attended the IMS Simulation Educators Training in Singapore’s Academia and other educators from  UP – Manila and MSU General Santos.

The course goals are 1.) Establishing and maintaining role clarity 2.) Communicating effectively with a team 3.) Optimizing personnel support 4. Utilizing available resources, and 5.) Maintaining appropriate focus while assessing the big picture.

The lecture topics include Adult Learner and Simulation-based Learning, Orientation to Manikin & Equipment, Scenario Design, and Familiarization Scenario. Breakout Group Discussions highlighted the training where participants shared their insights on respective topics assigned to them.

by Kareen Gancio

ZARRAGA, Iloilo – The faculty members of West Visayas State University College of Communication Broadcasting Division and Zarraga National High School celebrated the completion of the Project BEST workshop series on May 20, 2022.

Project BEST, or Broadcasting for Extension Service and Training, is a COC-initiated capacity-building effort that enables the adopted community members to acquire practical broadcast communication skills.

Since the trainers conducted the program virtually, which limited the facilitators-participants interaction, participants anticipated the much-awaited face-to-face culminating workshop.

 It concluded the three-part training that covered topics on scriptwriting, broadcast performance, and media production. Its highlights include the participants’ presentation of their multimedia output and a feedback session with the facilitators.

For over a decade, the COC has partnered with ZNHS as one of the college’s adopted communities for its extension programs. ZNHS Senior and Junior High School teachers have expressed their struggles in learning new tools and techniques like many other teachers all over the country.

The needs assessment conducted before the implementation of this project reveals that the training participants are generally confident in their knowledge of the subjects they teach. They also have access to basic tools needed to produce multimedia output that can serve as learning materials for their students.

However, some of them were overwhelmed by the spate of information and the situations they needed to adapt to within a short time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further analysis of their responses revealed they needed help with conceptualization, media production, and on-camera performance, which became priorities in the workshop series developed for Project BEST.

The first installment of the series, Writing Broadcasting Material for Educational Content, was conducted from September to December 2021. The training exposed the participants to the development of concepts and scripts intended for video-based instruction.

It prepared the participants for the succeeding training on broadcast performance and the production of the actual instructional media material conducted from January to May 2022. During the broadcast training, the participants learned basic techniques in self-presentation in front of the camera and voice projection. The training in media production exposed them to basic camera shots, audio-visual elements, and editing techniques.

by Riza June Charity Rafols

The Municipality of Sarah,  West Visayas State University,  and Panay Darag Chicken Breeders Association, Inc. (PADABA) partnered with GALING-PCAARRD Kontra Covid-19 Program “GALING” (Good Agri-Aqua Livelihood Initiatives toward NationalGoals), to support communities afflicted by Covid-19 around the country to enable communities to recover faster and become more resilient.

Forty farmers benefited from the two-day Darag Native Chicken Production and Marketing activity conducted on September 27-28, 2022, at the Evacuation Center of the Municipality of Sara, Iloilo.

The initiative was made possible through the collaboration of  Sara Mayor Jon Aying, WVSU – University Extension and Development Center  Director Dr. Ricky Becodo, WVSU- College of Communication Dean, Dr. Ian Espada, and PADABA President Mr. Rosendo DL Parreñas.

The forty project participants and co-operators were chosen based on the interview conducted by the UEDC together with the Municipal Government Livelihood Assistance Division  (MGLAD) from more than sixty prospective farmer-beneficiaries in different barangays.

Mr. Rosendo DL Parreñas, PADABA Board Member, discussed the DNC Business Opportunities, DNC Timeline, Housing Care and Management of Chickens, Feeds and Feedings, Selection, and Breeding. Dr. Helen G. Genandoy of the WVSU College of Agriculture and Fisheries (WVSU-CAF) covered chicken health, sanitation, and monitoring topics. To give the participants first-hand experience, they conducted a  field visit to the Darag farms owned by Mr. Rogelio Nice of Brgy. Malapaya and Mr. Rodel Brillantes of Brgy. Bagaygay, Sara, Iloilo in the afternoon.

The said multiplier DNC farmers will receive four sets of Darag native chickens composed of four hens, and a rooster-set were identified based on the following criteria: (1) has attended the basic training DNC Production; (2) willing to allocate an area for ranging and has an available area for ranging DNC; (3) ready housing for DNC; (4) area is peaceful and accessible; (5) willing to invest a capital of feeds, and; (6) execute Agreement with WVSU and Sara LGU from the barangays Aguirre, Domingo, Malapaya, Ardemil, Ferraris, Latawan, Aspera, and Aposaga.

The training started with a projection orientation and pretest by Dr. Ricky Becodo. Participants and co-operators will have a month or two to prepare their areas. MGLAD will monitor the progress of the selected farmers headed by Mr. ArgeoProquez Jr. before the distribution of the Darag Native Chicken before the end of the year.

West Visayas State University Graduate Dr.  Mark Arlo Hernandez Segundo landed on the Top 5 spot in this year’s Physician Licensure Examinations (PLE) with a score of 87.58%. His achievement validates the exceptional education and training that  WVSU College of Medical provides to their medical students.  Segundo shared the 5th spot with  Gamaliel Pulpulaan Galigao  from the University of the East (UE) Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center who got the same score.

West Visayas State University had a passing rate of  89.19% passing rate in the recent licensure examination.  Here is the  2022 PLS Top Ten list:

1. Justin Adriel Zent Gautier Togonon, UP Manila – 89.00%
2. Francesca Marie Aby Lagrosa, UP Manila – 88.75 %
3. Karla Joyce Saavedra Badong – Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila – 88.00 %
4. Kim Zapatos Sia, University of Santo Tomas (UST) – 87.67 %
5. Gamaliel Pulpulaan Galigao – University of the East (UE) Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center – 87.58%
   Mark Arlo Hernandez Segundo – West Visayas State University – La Paz – 87.58%
6. Christian Joseph Barrion Cruzado – Far Eastern University (FEU) Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation – 87.50%
   Sonny Cabahug Redula, Cebu Institute of Medicine – 87.50 %
7. Neill Steven Cainglet Cachuela, UST – 87.42 %
   Trisha Marie Ramos Galapon, UP Manila –  – 87.42 %
8. Anna Patricia Anonuevo Bartolome, Our Lady of Fatima University – Valenzuela – 87.25 %
   Christopher Tabora Pilarta, UP Manila – 87. 25 %
   Keith Alexius Kim Wangkay, UE Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center – 87.25 %
9. Randy Franz Gubantes Selim, St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine – William H. Quasha Memorial – 87.17 %
   Christian Jerell Salvacion Cosme, UST – 87.17
10. David Marco Abaya Bildan, UE Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center – 87.08 %
    Mark Johnuel Matabilas Duavis, University of Cebu College of Medicine Foundation Inc. – 87.08 %
    Christine Bernadette Orfano Lo, UP Manila – 87.08 %
    Hannah Leian Herrera Tan, Davao Medical School Foundation   – 87.0

West Visayas State University faculty and students watched the culminating show of Pag-iririmaw in the Cultural Center last November 2, 2022. Spectacles of light, loud cheers from a lively crowd, and dazzling performances electrified the jampacked venue.

The most-awaited Clash Of Queens, an inter-college drag queen competition, showcased entertaining and exciting numbers performed by contestants in lavish costumes. Each college cheered its representatives in a frenzy like there was no tomorrow. 

The drag queens set the stage ablaze with their intense impersonations of iconic female singers and heart-stopping dance moves. Crowd favorite West Crew took center stage during the intermission, to the crowd’s delight.

 The showdown came to an end when the announcement of the judges announced the winners. Danilo Clarato Jr., a.k.a Blanch è Nana from the College of Education, was hailed as the 2022 Clash of Queens winner. Following in the first runner-up was  Ethan John Bellot, a.k.a Celeste Glamore, from the College of Business and Management, and James Byran Almonia, a.k.a ABCDEF Beatrice Windtower, from the College of Arts and Sciences as second runner-up.