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Friday, October 21, 2022

PBBM leads launching of 75th Ormoc City Charter Day Commemorative Stamps


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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ormoc City Mayor Ms. Lucy Torres Gomez, Leyte 4th district Rep. Richard Gomez and Postmaster General Norman N. Fulgencio unveiled the 75th Ormoc Charter Day Stamps and official first day covers to mark the City’s “Adlaw sa Ormoc” Diamond Charter Day held at Ormoc Superdome on October 20, 2022.

Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio said they are honored to issue the 75th Ormoc Charter Day Stamps, which feature a historic building constructed in 1945-46 right after World War II. Later the building served as Ormoc City Hall in 1947 and has now been fully restored to its original beauty as the Museum of Ormoc City.

“The stamp is more than a piece of paper as it immortalizes the Philippines’ rich history. It makes us realize how far our country has progressed. It reminds us how Ormoc has now transformed into a highly urbanized coastal port city, serving as the economic, cultural, commercial, and transportation hub of western Leyte”, Fulgencio said.

He added, “the Philippine stamps promote unity in the Filipino people, as we celebrate our achievements and milestones of the country together”.





The Post Office also expounds on its modernization program and its continuous digitalization and innovation. “All of these are in support of the leadership of President Bongbong Marcos towards a modern and convenient public service”, he said.

According to PhlPost, stamps are pieces of art to record the most important people and events in our country in the most artistic and beautiful way. It is not only meant to commemorate our rich history and culture, but they are also our way to celebrate and thank our best, brightest, and most patriotic Filipinos who have brought honor, pride and joy to our nation.

Stamps and official first-day covers are now available at the Philatelic Counter, Manila Central Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio. For inquiries on the stamps, please call (02)8527-0108 or (02)8527-0132 and follow and like the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PilipinasPhilately/ for updates.

Governor’s Forum 2022: Uncovering Boundless Competencies


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Unleash prowess to thrive in a dynamic industry!

Conquer new borders towards marketing eminence and gear up to lead with purpose, ingenuity, and authenticity as the Philippine Junior Marketing Association | PJMA brings you…

Governor’s Forum 2022: Uncovering Boundless Competencies happening on October 23, 2022, from 4:00 PM to 7:00PM via Zoom Cloud Meeting.  

For inquiries, you may contact Ms. Arielle M. Alejandrino at (0947) 851 2276 or via email at pjma.amalejandrino@gmail.com. 

Delve towards a multiverse of networks and hone your abilities to become a progressive leader. Level up your competencies for a greater height of excellence with Wazzup Pilipinas!


Governor’s Forum is an annual conference conducted by the Philippine Junior Marketing Association that aims to gather student leaders from local Junior Marketing Associations (JMA) of various member and non-member schools across the Philippines.

As PJMA continues its pursuit of making greater milestones and delivering excellence to the marketing community, the 36th National Federation aims to ignite the capacities of every junior marketer across the country. Incorporating the 36th term vision of the organization, Activating Ingenious Competencies, to the theme of the event, this year’s governor’s forum is entitled “Uncovering Boundless Competencies” and will be launched on October 23, 2022, Sunday, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM via Zoom Cloud Meetings

This event is focused on paving the way toward progressive leadership by unveiling relevant skills while developing flexibility and adaptability to meet the ends of the continuously changing industry. The event is also aimed at building career relationships and field connections by providing networking opportunities for junior marketers. 

The National Federation invited honorable guest speakers from business industries and the Philippine Marketing Association to discuss relevant topics which include Marketing Beyond Competencies, Building a Multiverse of Networks, and Reimagining the Innovative Future of Marketing. Apart from gaining knowledge and unlocking skills, participants of the said event will also have access to networking sessions that will open opportunities to grow their connections and build relationships with their co-leaders. Moreover, they will also get a glimpse of how PJMA emerged through the years and a peek at what exciting ventures the future still awaits for the 36th term. Junior marketers will also have a chance to win exciting prizes from generous sponsors through the raffle segment. 

#PJMAGF2022

#UncoverPJMA36

Thursday, October 20, 2022

How to prepare for F2F classes, according to UP scientists and admin experts


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Experts from the University of the Philippines - Diliman are in agreement that precautionary and safety measures are still necessary in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though improved vaccination numbers across the country have warranted an overall easing of restrictions.

The experts also stressed the need for a carefully planned, calculated, and gradual return to face-to-face (F2F) classes to allow universities and schools enough time to adapt their facilities to accommodate hybrid learning.

These were some of the key takeaways from “Pagbabalik sa Unibersidad: Mga Aral Batay sa Paghahanda at Karanasan,” a gathering of some of UP Diliman’s health experts and veteran administrators to tackle best practices for a safe and healthy transition back to F2F.

Organized by the University of the Philippines - Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS), the discussion was held simultaneously online and in person last October 17. The panel of experts represented a variety of disciplines and perspectives, with College of Mass Communication (CMC) Dean Dr. Fernando Paragas; College of Law (UP Law) Dean Carlo Vistan; CS Associate Dean for Mentoring, Academic Progress, and Advancement Dr. Eizadora Yu; Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Laboratory Manager and Clinical Health Officer Dr. Marc Edsel Ayes; Institute of Biology (IB) Biosafety Officer Dr. Ivan Imperial; and National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) Deputy Director for Academic Affairs Dr. Ron Leonard Dy.


SAFETY FIRST. Biology students undertake a “move-type” laboratory exam in the Institute of Biology under strict safety guidelines and protocols. (Photo: Dr. Lillian Jennifer Rodriguez, UPD College of Science)
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‘Hyflex’ classrooms and workspaces

The “hyflex”— or ‘hybrid-flexible” — event was not just a public forum but also a proof-of-concept showcasing the possibilities and benefits of such spaces for work and learning, moving forward.

“It’s not easy shifting, especially if we’re trying to explore new modes of work and study,” said UPD-CS Dean Giovanni Tapang as he opened the discussion. “But today isn’t just about exploration, it’s about sharing and facing the problems of COVID head-on in terms of addressing the pandemic as well as continuing to pursue teaching and learning.”

EXPLORING NEW MODALITIES. UPD-CS Dean Dr. Giovanni A. Tapang states the goals of the “hyflex” public forum as he welcomes the online and on-site attendees. (Photo: UPD College of Science Facebook Page)

“Newer virus variants are more infectious than those before them, but vaccines have blunted the rise of cases and prevented outbreaks from overwhelming our hospitals,” explained Dr. Ayes, a pandemic expert. However, he also warned against complacency: “Regardless of vaccine status, people can still get the virus but unvaccinated people are at the highest risk of severe complications.”

Dr. Yu agreed, underscoring the need for a “phased return” to F2F to enable institutions to design and implement safety measures, such as customized safety guidelines; improved ventilation and socially-distanced seating in classrooms; and easier and more stable online access for everyone.

“We recognize the flexibility afforded by blended learning to both students and faculty. CS needs to have a balanced approach to quality instruction, health risk assessment, response, and beyond,” Dr. Yu shared.


Hybrid work and study spaces are an immediate need

The experts raised the pressing need to accommodate hybrid online learning by creating bigger and more open spaces to allow social distancing, accompanied by stable internet connectivity and proper ventilation. Institutes under the CS, for example, retrofitted their laboratories to ensure safety while conducting F2F classes. “Science is experiential. We cannot wait until the pandemic is over or when COVID is declared endemic. Guidelines may change but some things remain,” said Dr. Yu.

Even UP Law resorted to bringing its library tables out into hallways and corridors to allow for proper distancing and ventilation. Dean Vistan recommended having more classrooms and areas where students can stay under safely distanced and well-ventilated conditions: “The ideal model for us is to have each class have its own classroom. Kasi even if we maximize our spacing, hindi pa rin kasya,” he said.


Importance of social media and direct communication

Dean Paragas also stressed the importance of always having a direct line with students. He shared how the CMC implemented its own back-to-school program, in which the College enhanced its visibility and ties to its constituents by having the dean himself manage the institution’s social media account. “Tuluy-tuloy pa rin [PR campaign] sa aming Facebook page. Alam nila na nandoon ako. Mahalaga na the students know I’m always there,” Dean Paragas said.

“Have a platform to be able to broadcast announcements really fast, so that when cases happen you have a way to mobilize and adapt,” added Dr. Dy. He presented a primer on F2F guidelines that students can use during their stay at the university and also recommended looping in student leaders to help disseminate information faster.

According to the speakers, the faculty, staff, and other community leaders should set an example to other UPD constituents by conducting regular F2F meetings while still following proper safety protocols. “Mahalagang makita ng faculty and students na nandoon kami sa building,” Dean Paragas further stated.


Crisis management teams

The gathered experts also underscored the need to establish clear protocols for handling suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases, and delegating teams specifically tasked with handling various aspects of safety.

“Every unit should have a proper crisis management team. There should be a COVID reporting system because voluntary reporting is crucial for ensuring safety in face-to-face activities and having a stock of rapid antigen test kits,” Dr. Dy said. Meanwhile, Dr. Imperial emphasized the importance of having antigen tests on hand, saying that “it is really helpful, even if it’s not the gold standard.” He also added that voluntary reporting of possible COVID-19 cases is essential. “We always emphasize that if you’re already symptomatic, stay at home,” he said.

UPD-CS Post-ECQ Team (PET) Chair Dr. Rene Rollon closed the forum by reiterating the critical role that PETs had in ensuring a well-planned shift to F2F learning.


UP Diliman bounces back from COVID-19

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, UP’s Diliman campus alone had 23,360 students attending regular F2F classes. The university administration quickly suspended work and classes on March 9, 2020, and things have never been the same since. The university’s faculty and staff had to immediately work remotely, juggling the challenges of new technologies and family obligations. Even now, there are still thousands of students who do not have access to computers and stable internet connection. After almost two years of a fully online learning setup, UP Diliman eased back into limited F2F classes this year, only accommodating some 400 students out of over 25,000 students in January 2022. For the current academic year, the university implemented blended learning after seeing the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines improve.

For more information and interview requests, please message media@science.upd.edu.ph.
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