Heavy downpour brought by typhoon Paeng didn’t stop the enthusiastic lively performances prepared by the students for this year’s celebration of the University Pag-iririmaw. The colorful spectacles, loud cheers, drum beats, and the incessant energy of the students was once again felt in the University grounds after two years of distant/online classes.
Category: News
By: Joseph Nebres
West Visayas State University held its first-ever face-to-face University Pag-iririmaw since the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
After two consecutive years of distance/online learning, the empty campus was once again filled with lively spectacle and roaring spirits as the students participated in this year’s university Pag-iririmaw, with the theme “Stars and Amusement: This is the Greatest Show.”
The heavy downpour from Typhoon Paeng didn’t stop the enthusiastic students from representing their college in a colorful parade. Performers danced to lively drum beats amid loud cheers from fellow students as college banners waved under the rain.
WVSU President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz graced the opening of this year’s University Pag-Iririmaw with a welcome remark and explained the significance of the university transitioning back to its pre-pandemic traditions.
“We can rebuild this world together, standing strong forever; nothing will stop us now. No amount of rain can ever ruin our spirits,” said Dr. Villaruz. Let us enjoy this moment. We are all invincible and strong. We were bruised. We are brave. We are who we are meant to be. This is us. Welcome to the greatest show at West Visayas State University!”
The crowd’s energy only grew more intense as the downpour became heavier. Soaked in the rain, stained with mud, and exposed to chilling weather, performers and students brought the sun out with enthusiasm and camaraderie.
Typhoon Paeng was no match for WVSU’s greatest show.
The University Pag-iririmaw was cut short when Mayor Jerry Treñas declared the cancellation of classes at all levels due to the severe weather conditions. The University Student Council (USC) rescheduled the event’s second leg on November 4, 2022.
by Leo Almonte
West Visayas State University representatives are participating in Project FORTH meetings in Europe. As of this writing, WVSU President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz is attending a dissemination session at the University of Bologna, Italy.
Project FORTH, or Formation of Teachers in Emerging Challenged Areas in the Philippines, aims to develop a network of Higher Education Institutions, associations, and stakeholders, creating a system of quality, motivation, and support to teacher training in a number of emerging challenged areas in the Philippines that could serve as a model of teachers training for similar contexts in the world (www.projectforth.org).
“For WVSU, Project FORTH is FOR educating the future through Trailblazing innovations and Honing champions,” said WVSU President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz during his presentation at the University of Bologna.
Also in attendance are College of Education Secretary Dr. Rosemarie Felimon, Ms. Joyce Tondo, and Jessica Gegantoca, MAEd major in Teaching in Challenged Areas students and Department of Education project partners. They are scheduled to share action research results in the meeting.
VPAA Dr. Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla, Dr. Purita Bilbao, COE Undergraduate Associate Dean Dr. Amabel Siason; COE Graduate School Associate Dean Dr. Baby Rose Robles; and Ms. Rosalie Quicoy are attending FORTH activities in Groningen, Netherlands. Dr. Antoniette Cortez (Program Adviser, MAEd TCA) and Ruby Blando (DepEd teacher) are in Bilbao, Spain, attending the dissemination of the project.
All participants will be in Brussels, Belgium, to meet with the European Commission, which co-funded the project. Project FORTH dissemination meetings in Europe are slated from November 1 to 6, 2022.
By Leo G. Almonte
After months of painstaking preparations for a virtual conference, WVSU’s hard work finally paid off with the successful hosting of the World Research and Innovation Festival (WRIF) that ensued from October 17 to 19, 2022.
Responding to the call-to-arms of University President Dr. Joselito Villaruz to heighten efforts in establishing WVSU as a research university, Dr. Greta G. Gabinete, Vice President of Research, Extension & Training, led the charge in organizing the event as WRIF Lead Convenor.
Through the concentric effort of the different committees for keynote and plenary speakers, abstracts, invitations, IT infrastructure, technical support, marketing, and staffing, WRIF pushed through despite a short timetable and other operational issues.
Keynote and plenary speakers who are experts in the fields of Education and Social Sciences; Pure and Applied Sciences; Medical, Health, and Allied Sciences; and Business, Hospitality, and Management, inspired brought new knowledge and inspiration to the participants.
The virtual conference drew 425 participants (283 attendees and 142 presenters) from North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. WRIF garnered positive assessments from the participants, although there were a few technical glitches during the conference.
Overall, WVSU’s WRIF attained its goal “to connect the global community through research,” a feat that the institution can be proud of and proved their commitment to research and innovation.
By Leo G. Almonte, MDC
As part of its institutional effort to rank higher in global university standings, the Office of Quality Assurance under Director Dr. Dolly Rose F. Temelo organized Training-Workshop on Internationalization last October 7, 2022, at the Center for Teaching Excellence Building.
Dr. Adrian P. Ybañez, Vice President for Research at Cebu Technological University, facilitated the one-day training workshop. WVSU President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz lauded the workshop’s objectives and stressed the significance of the global university rankings assessed by different global accreditors.
Among in attendance at the workshop were the vice presidents, directors, and heads of units who are involved in preparing documents for global university ranking and accreditation.
Dr. Ybañez combined his expert technical knowledge in the accreditation processes and experience as the lead person who helped CTU attain the 7th highest place among the 50 best Philippine universities in Alper-Doger (AD) Scientific Index.
He discussed the accreditation process and techniques to gain a good spot in Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking and the World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI). Most, if not all, global university ranking entities based their scores on the impact of the school on the fulfillment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Adrian P. Ybañez is placed in the Top 18 among the top-ranking scientists in the Philippines. He obtained his Bachelor of Animal Science (Cum Laude) and DVM degrees (Cum Laude) from the Visayas State University.
Dr. Ybañez finished the post-graduate Diploma in Research and Development from the University of the Philippines Open University and completed his doctorate in Veterinary Sciences (Internal Medicine) from the United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences of Gifu University and Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan. (CTU).
As a direct impact of the Training Workshop on Internationalization, Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz formed WURI Accreditation Committee headed by Director Dr. Dolly Rose F. Temelo. The committee formed sub-teams tasked to fulfill documentation for institutional achievements related to the SDGs.
By Leo G. Almonte, MDC
US Embassy Deputy Public Attaché Ms. Pauline Anderson visited West Visayas State University last October 25, 2022. The visit aims to discover opportunities for WVSU in the United States in exchange programs, student mobility, academic research, and partnerships with American educational institutions. Ms. Anderson was accompanied by Ms. Jennifer Anna J. Pascua, American Spaces Program Coordinator, Public Affairs Section.
WVSU President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz headed the representation from the university, together with Dr. Ma. Asuncion Christine V. Dequilla, VP for Academic Affairs; Dr. Porferio J. Barlas Jr., VP for Administration and Finance; Dr. Celina C. Gellada, Vice President of Medical & Allied Sciences; Dr. Wilhelm P. Cerbo, Director of UPDO; Dr. Alona M. Belarga, Director of Instruction; Dr. Dolly Rose F. Temelo, Director of Quality Assurance; Dr. Ryan Michael Oducado, Director of URDC, Prof. Edel Carmela S. Subong-Csoka, Director of ILLO; Dr. Ian C. Espada, Dean of the College of Communication; and Mr. Leo G. Almonte, Director of PAMCO.
In his opening talk, Dr. Villaruz discussed the past and ongoing engagements with academic institutions in the United States. He mentioned the challenges and issues that WVSU experienced in their exchange programs involving US universities. Aside from medicine, the university president stated that agriculture is another area of possible partnership.
After a video presentation about WVSU, Ms. Andersen gave her response and insight on potential collaborations between the university and the United States. “I am very optimistic about future partnerships,” she said. “There are doors of opportunities in education between the university and United States in the new normal.”
A group photo-taking and the exchange of tokens between Dr. Villaruz and Ms. Andersen capped the meeting. The WVSU-US Embassy talk was made possible through the coordination of ILLO led by Prof. Edel Carmela S. Subong-Csoka.
The supplies and equipment to be used to teach Master of Science in Family Business Management (FAB) were turned over to the College of Business and Management (CBM).
FAB is a new postgraduate course in 2023 as an output of the FAB project, which is cofunded by the Erasmus+ of the European Union.
CBM was led by Dean, Dr. Ma. Corazon Samorin with WVSU President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz, Director of Instruction Dr. Alona Belarga, and WVSU International and Local Linkages Office – ILLO Director Edel Carmela Subong-Csoka witnessing the event.
Dr. Joselito Villaruz, WVSU President, stresses that FAB is one of the University’s contributions to the academe and the community.
West Visayas State University participated in the EduCanada Pathways to Partnership event at the Grand Hyatt, BGC, Taguig.
EduCanada Pathways to Partnerships provides a venue for Philippine Higher Educational Institutions to collaborate and create networks with Canadian colleges and universities.
This year’s event was joined by different higher educational institutions from the Philippines and a record-high 66 Canadian institutions.
WVSU was represented by Director of the International and Local Linkages Office, Ms Edel Carmela S. Subong-Csoka.
Present in the signing ceremony were WVSU’s President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz, Vice Presidents Dr. Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla and Dr. Greta G. Gabinete, International and Local Linkages Office Director Edel Carmela Subong-Csoka, Calinog Campus Administrator Dr. Rosario Clarabel Contreras, Calinog Campus KUMA project coordinator Dr. Marie Candy Celeste, Calinog IZN focal person Dr Raymund Moreno, College of Communication Dean Dr. Ian Espada, and College of Information and Communications Technology Dr. Ma. Beth Concepcion.
Dr. Ho-woong Yoo (Researcher of YUMC & Visiting Professor of DSSID)and Ms. Young Sook Song (Researcher and Nurse, YUMC) discuss possible collaborations with the College of Medicine team led by Dean Dr. Victor Amantillo. WVSU’s VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla was also present.