Alumni Milestones

Multi-Generation UPLB Alumni Award conferred on Searca director’s family

October 27, 2022

By Leander C. Domingo

The family of Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture received the Multi-Generation University of the Philippines Los Baños Alumni Award during the 104th Loyalty Day and Alumni Homecoming: Strengthening the Partnership between UPLB and Alumni for Progressive Communities. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

THE University of the Philippines Los Baños Alumni Association (UPLBAA) has conferred the Multi-Generation UPLB Alumni Award to the family of Dr. Glenn Gregorio, director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca).

According to the UPLBAA, this special recognition is bestowed on families who have produced three or more successive generations of exemplary UPLB alumni in their respective fields.

The Gregorio family with three generations of UPLB graduates is one of the recipients of the said award.

They are the late Dr. Rizalino Gregorio (BS Agriculture in honor curriculum, 1958; MS Agricultural Engineering, 1972); his son Dr. Glenn Gregorio (BS Agriculture, 1986; MS Plant Breeding, 1991; Ph.D. Genetics, 1997) and daughter-in-law Myla Beatriz Gregorio (BS Sugar Technology, 1989; MS Biochemistry, 1995); and grandchildren Michaia Bea Gregorio-Tamago (BA Communication Arts, 2016 cum laude), Phoebe Liwai Gregorio (BS Civil Engineering, 2020), and Patricia Lois Gregorio (BA Communication Arts, 2022 magna cum laude).

From 1954 to 1962, the late elder Gregorio worked at UPLB, starting as student assistant and was hired as research assistant and assistant instructor after graduation. He then transferred to Central Mindanao University (CMU) as instructor and rose to professor 6 at the College of Engineering where he also became the dean in 1978 after completing his Ph.D. degree in Agricultural Engineering at Purdue University. From 1985 to 1986, he became the CMU vice president and vice president for administration and officer-in-charge president from 1987 to 1988 before his retirement after serving the government for 48 years.

A professor at the UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Science and Academician at the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Philippines, the younger Gregorio is also the current chairman of the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Technical Panel for Agriculture and steering committee member of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA)-Biotechnology Program.

In 2021, he was named one of the United Nations Food Systems Champions and Filipino Faces of Biotechnology. Dr. Gregorio has a highly decorated career and is a respected scientist who has published more than 120 scientific journals, book chapters, policy papers, and manuals.

Among his numerous awards are Ten Outstanding Youth Scientists of the Philippines (TOYS), Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) in the field of Genetics, Honorary Foreign Scientist of the Rural Development Administration of Korea, The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Philippines, Ho Chi Minh Medal award for “Having Great Contribution to the cause of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam.”

Dr. Gregorio is also an agri-entrepreneur, farmer, and co-founder of Binhi Inc., an agri-research start-up company on micropropagation and seed business.

Sharing the second generation spot with Dr. Gregorio is his wife Myla Beatriz Audije who worked at the UPLB National Institute of Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology before becoming a stay-at-home mom in 1997, homeschooling their six children. To augment her role as a breastfeeding advocate, she is now pursuing her Ph.D. in Human Nutrition.

Three of Gregorio’s daughters comprised the third generation awardees.

Myla graduated cum laude with a BA Communication Arts degree in 2016 and served as project staff at the UPLB Technology Transfer and Business Development Office between 2018 and 2021 and is currently a freelancer in 2018-2021; Phoebe Liwai, a licensed civil engineer, is currently an instructor at the UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology; and Patricia Lois, graduated magna cum laude with a BA Communication Arts degree in August 2022.

The Multi-Generation UPLB Alumni Award was conferred on Oct. 8, 2022 during the 104th Loyalty Day and Alumni Homecoming: Strengthening the Partnership between UPLB and Alumni for Progressive Communities.

Dr. Fernando Sanchez Jr., Searca governing board chair (2016-2018); Dr. Djuara Lubis, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)-Searca scholar; Dr. Ericson Dela Cruz, Philippine Carabao Center (PCC)-Searca scholar; and Forester Eriberto Saños and Dethsackda Manikham, who are Searca alumni, were among the UPLBAA awardees.

Source: https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/10/20/campus-press/multi-generation-uplb-alumni-award-conferred-on-searca-directors-family

UPLB grad tops October 2022 chemist board exam

October 26, 2022

MANILA — The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Tuesday announced the results of the Chemist Licensure Examination and Chemical Technician Licensure Examination given this month.

The PRC said 284 out of 731 passed the Chemist Licensure Examination.

Carmel Rose Malones Rolloque of the University of the Philippines Los Baños topped the chemist boards with a 91.30 percent score rating.

Ryan Joseph Ycoy Magsipoc of the University of Santo Tomas came in second with a 90.60 rating, while Yumi Lee Briones of the Ateneo De Manila University came in third place with a rating of 88.80 percent.



Meanwhile, the PRC said 2,204 out of 2,588 passed the Chemical Technician Licensure Examination, also given this month.

Carlos Antonio Nicdao Concepcion of UPLB, Christian Rey Salinio dela Cruz of Technological University of the Philippines in Visayas, and Jopette Marie Binasahan Villas of the Eastern Visayas State University in Tacloban City were tied in first place with a rating of 94 percent.



The PRC also said those who failed the board examination for chemist but had obtained a rating of at least 70 percent in any two subjects can register as chemical technician.

UP Los Baños was the top performing school with a passing percentage of 82.35 percent.

TUP Visayas, meanwhile, was the top performing school in the chemical technician licensure examination with a 100 percent passing rate.

Here are the successful examinees.

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/26/22/uplb-grad-tops-october-2022-chemist-board-exam

UP Diliman posts 96.36% passing rate in October chem eng board exam

October 19, 2022

By Gabriela Baron



The University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman posted a 96.36% passing rate in the October 2022 Chemical Engineering Licensure Exam, the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Fifty-three of its 55 examinees passed the licensure test.

Five UP Diliman alumni were also included in the top 10.

Meanwhile, PRC asaid that 531 out of 1,036 takers passed the board exam.

Jerome Ignatius Tan Garces from the De La Salle University-Manila emerged as the topnotcher with a rating of 89.30%. -ag

Source: https://ptvnews.ph/up-diliman-posts-96-36-passing-rate-in-october-chem-eng-board-exam/

UPV posts 100% passing rate in 2022 Licensure Exam for Fisheries Professionals

October 18, 2022

Ms. Lenilyn Gallos



UP Visayas (UPV) posted a 100 percent passing rate in the October 2022 Licensure Exam for Fisheries Professionals, with 10 alumni in the Top 10.

UPV secured eight of the 10 highest places in the said examination.

John Rey Fortu Rasgo, a BS Fisheries graduate of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS), topped the board exam with a rating of 86.25 percent.

Rasgo who graduated in July 2022, Cum Laude, shared the same spot with Jean Margaret G. Badong of Iloilo State College of Fisheries-main.

All 39 aspirants from UPV-CFOS hurdled the exam held last October 6-7, 2022.

Nine (9) more topnotchers led the newly registered fisheries professionals from CFOS.

They are Angelica Marie S. Dominguez, third place (85.75); Leslie T. Sampollo, fifth place (85.25); Cedric Jay A. Nantong and Cherry Dale C. Templonuevo, sixth place (84.75); Robert Christian F. Patani, seventh place (84.50); Joseph Keith Paulo T. Nava, eighth place (84.25); Reymark C. Busalla and Marianne Joyce S. Herrada, ninth place (84.00); and Yessamin T. Lebaquin, tenth place (83.75).

CFOS Dean Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap lauded the performance of the 39 new fisheries professionals produced by the University for they weathered the storm taking into account the challenges that they have been through.

They were among the first batch of K-12 graduates and the first batch of students under the revised BS Fisheries program.

They were on remote learning mode from March 2020 to February 2022 and went back to the University to attend laboratory classes for their undergraduate thesis last March.

They took the board exam prepared by new members of the Board of Fisheries of the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) and yet, they were able to pull through, Yap stated.

“Warmest congratulations to our new batch of fisheries professionals for holding on. We are very proud of you. Thank you. May we all continue to serve the fisheries industry and the Filipino people,” the dean said.

PRC released the list of 716 successful examinees out of 1,966 takers with a national passing percentage of 36.42% on October 12.

UPV-CFOS has been dominating the licensure exam as the top performing school in the previous examinations.

Last year, UPV registered a passing rate of 95.83 percent; 96.33 percent in 2019; 97.30 percent in 2018; and 98.97 percent in 2017.

Source: https://www.upv.edu.ph/index.php/news/upv-posts-100-passing-rate-in-2022-fisheries-technologist-licensure-exam

Asst. Prof. Kriza Faye Calumba receives Young Investigator’s Research Award at The 12th Asian Conference



Asst. Prof. Kriza Faye Calumba received the Young Investigator’s Research Award (Early Career Researcher Category) at The 12th Asian Conference on Lactic Acid Bacteria held at Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, on October 10-13. The award was given by Dr. Sung-Sik Yoon, President of the Asian Federation of Societies for Lactic Acid Bacteria.

Asst. Prof. Calumba presented the study “Probiotic Viability in Marang (Artocarpus odoratissimus) Juice Inoculated with Putative Lactobacillus paracasei C1I12” which was funded by the UP Mindanao in-house research grant.

The co-authors are:
Ms. Carmina Demerey (BSFT alumna)
Asst. Prof. Rovi Gem Villame (DFSC faculty)
Ms. Zarryn Palangga (BSFT alumna)
Assoc. Prof. Jackie Lou Tagubase (DFSC faculty)

Congratulations!

Source: University of the Philippines Mindanao Facebook

UP-Diliman grad tops Electronics Engineer exam; 3 Electronics technicians share first place

October 17, 2022

A graduate from the University of the Philippines – Diliman garnered the highest percentage ranking over 785 out of 2,644 passers of the October 2022 Electronics Engineer Licensure exams, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Friday evening.

Meanwhile, three Electronics Technicians graduates from three different schools share first place in the licensure exams. They were among 1,546 out of 2,005 who passed the examinations given earlier this month.

Harold Andre Teodoro Puig from UP-Diliman gained a rating of 91.1 percent while second placers John Albert Capule Bertuldo (Bulacan State University – Malolos) and Mark Andrew Victor Montero Lim (Mapua University – Manila) garnered 88.50 percentage rating.

The rest of the Top 10 examinees who took the October 2022 Electronics Engineer Licensure exams are:



The topnotcher for the Electronics Technician Licensure Examination with a percentage rating of 90.00 are:

Cris Ramil Lequigan Calzita (Eastern Visayas State University – Tacloban), Mark John Rayela Peña (Pamantasan ng Cabuyao), and Jun Nico dela Cruz Zabala (University of Sto. Tomas).

The rest of the Top 10 examinees are as follows:





The top performing school for the October 2022 Electronics Engineer Licensure Examination is the University of the Philippines – Diliman while for the Electronics Technician Licensure Examination, the PRC named the Mapua University – Manila. — BAP, GMA News

Source: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/848121/up-diliman-grad-tops-electronics-engineer-exam-3-electronics-technicians-share-first-place/story/

2022 UPLB SESAM Distinguished Alumni

October 14, 2022

The UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) and the SESAM Alumni Association congratulate the 2022 SESAM Distinguished Alumni:


𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲
𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁. 𝐃𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐳𝐦𝐚𝐧
𝑃ℎ𝐷 𝐸𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 2004
Independent Researcher and Consultant, Gaia Resource and Environmental (GReEn) Consultancy Services


𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥)
𝐅𝐨𝐫. 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐁. 𝐒𝐚𝐧̃𝐨𝐬
𝑀𝑆 𝐸𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 1998
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) – Laguna
2021 to present


𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥)
𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐫. 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐝𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐦
𝑀𝑆 𝐸𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 2010
Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Chomthong Village,
Thakek District, Khammouane Province Lao PDR


𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐨 𝐒. 𝐓𝐚𝐧
𝑃ℎ𝐷 𝐸𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 2009
Vice President for Research, Extension and Intellectual Property
Carlos Hilado Memorial State University


𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐀𝐌 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
𝐃𝐫. 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐂. 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐳, 𝐉𝐫.
𝑀𝑆 𝐸𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 1995
Professor, College of Agriculture and Food Science
9th UPLB Chancellor
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)

Source: UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management Facebook

Former IBM head to lead IT&E’s IT team

October 11, 2022
Rina Marie Guzman joins IT&E as its IT director for Guam and CNMI. (IT&E)

IT&E announced yesterday the addition of Rina Marie Guzman to its team as IT director for Guam and CNMI. Guzman has a total of 16 years of experience in the technology industry in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region, most recently as board director and transformation leader–customer experience of Cisco Philippines.

“We are excited to announce Rina’s appointment to lead our IT department. She has a stellar record in the technology industry in the region and brings a forward-thinking mindset as an accomplished transformation leader and strategic program manager. The entire company is eager to support her as she leads her team to greater success,” said Jim Oehlerking, CEO of IT&E.

During her three years at Cisco, Guzman also served as program manager for Governance and Transformation advisory. Previously, Guzman served as country chief information officer and business design consultant for IBM, Asia Pacific for three years.

A champion of women’s leadership development, Guzman held various positions at Intel from 2006 to 2014, where she was the first Filipino and female technologist, as well as the first female and senior technical leader on the company’s senior management team. She holds two invention disclosure submissions in the Intel Patent Office.

For a short time, she led a newly formed division to support digital transformation at the Bank of the Philippine Islands as division head and business technology leader (vice president).

In addition to her corporate positions, Guzman has held leadership positions in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations engineering community, including past board chairman for Young Engineers ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations, country representative for the Philippines, and external affairs director. She is also the first Filipino awardee in the ASEAN Engineer Register.

Guzman is author of Set Me Ablaze, an inspirational guide for young professionals navigating their career journey.

Guzman holds a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of the Philippines – Diliman and Project Management Professional certification, among other certifications.

Source: https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/former-ibm-head-to-lead-ites-it-team/

UP Mindanao faculty members researches selected for the 2022 Australian Award Philippines

October 6, 2022







UP Mindanao faculty members and their respective researches were among those selected for the 2022 Australian Award Philippines.

Glory Dee A. Romo and Jon Marx P. Sarmiento of the School of Management, Prof. Isidoro R. Malaque of the Dept. of Architecture, and Senior Lecturer Jayson Ibañez of the Dept. of Biological Science and Environmental Studies, and their respective research proposals, were selected for support under the 2022 Australia Alumni COVID-19 Response Grants Scheme.

Professors Romo and Sarmiento will study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of resources in a community in Maguindanao Province, Philippines. Architect Malaque, for his part, will use Placemaking to collaborate with communities for a more inclusive post-pandemic recovery. Lecturer and conservation biologist Ibañez will build an indigenous peoples coalition and stakeholder partnership for human and biodiversity wellbeing within the Mt. Apo and Pantaron key biodiversity areas.

Source: University of the Philippines Mindanao Facebook

Upsilon Sigma Phi congratulates its 3 alumni for being included in the “100 Most Powerful People in the Philippines”

October 3, 2022



The Upsilon Sigma Phi congratulates Department of Justice Philippines Secretary 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻 “𝗕𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴” 𝗖. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮 ‘𝟳𝟵, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗚. 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗲𝘇 ‘𝟴𝟱, and University of the Philippines President 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗼 𝗟. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻 ‘𝟴𝟵 for being included in the “100 Most Powerful People in the Philippines” by Esquire Philippines.

The individuals included in this list are recognized for their power and influence in their respective professions. The list is divided into three categories: Government and Spiritual Leaders, Titans of Industry, Media, and Academia, and Wielders of Soft Power.



DOJ Secretary Boying was Chief of Staff under former Senator Loi Ejercito-Estrada from 2001 to 2004. He was then elected for two terms as Congressman of the 3rd District of Cavite from 2004 to 2010. Boying was subsequently elected Congressman of the 7th District of Cavite from 2010 to 2013. He then served as Governor of Cavite from 2016 to 2019. Boying was later elected for two more terms as Congressman of the 7th District of Cavite from 2019 to 2022.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UP Diliman in 1983. He then obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the UP College of Law in 1987.


House Speaker Martin presently serves as Congressman of the 1st District of Leyte. Prior to becoming Speaker, he was Majority Floor Leader of the House from 2019 to 2022. Martin was also Chairman of the Board for Equitable PCI Bank and Director for various other companies such as the Philippine Commercial International Bank and Equitable Card Network. He concurrently works as Director of the CARPA Realty Development Corporation and Trustee of the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Cornell University in 1985. Martin then obtained a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University in 1988. He subsequently completed his Bachelor of Laws degree at the UP College of Law in 1992.



UP President Danilo was an Associate Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from 1996 to 2000. He was then President of De La Salle Araneta University from 2000 to 2002. Danilo later worked as Associate Dean of the UP College of Law from 2002 to 2006. He subsequently served as Dean of the UP College of Law from 2011 to 2018.

He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from De La Salle Araneta University in 1979. Danilo then graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the UP College of Law in 1983. He subsequently obtained his Master of Laws degree from the University of London in 1986.

Congratulations, Brods!

Source: Upsilon Sigma Phi Facebook