News & Announcements

UP OAR holds the first Balik-Tanaw sa UP Diliman

February 27, 2024

A trip down memory lane…

 

On February 24, 2024, the University of the Philippines Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) successfully conducted the first Balik-Tanaw sa UP Diliman– a free walking tour within the campus grounds. 

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Mostly attended by UP alumni and armed with their newly purchased 1908 caps, the eager participants leisurely walked around the academic oval. Guided by Wander Manila’s Benjamin Canapi, who is also an alumnus of UP Diliman, the group learned facts about the artworks, buildings, and green spaces.

He shared anecdotes of sites and tales of events that took place within UPD such as historic AS or Palma Hall. He also pointed out new buildings and more recent additions to the grounds: the new University Health Service with its expanded facilities, the multi-level Shopping Center, which is now called UP DiliMall, and the on-going construction of FC (Faculty Commons).

 

The younger members of the party were surprised to know that there used to be a golf course within the campus. The supposed sinking of Sunken Garden or that Fernando Poe, Sr. was the model for the Oblation: both myths were busted during the tour. 

The event became an avenue for the participants to reminisce about their good old days. They also met new and old friends. Tour guide, Mr. Benjamin Canapi himself, along with his 1995 batchmates at the College of Mass Communications, Ms. Jaymie Divinagracia and Ms. Aby Yap were thrilled to meet Prof. Elena L. Samonte-Hinckley, who was the University Registrar when they were students. Now a retired professor from the Department of Psychology, she was the oldest participant in the walk. Her student number starting with ‘68. 

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As the group rested on the steps of Quezon Hall, Canapi reminded everyone of the historic Diliman Commune. People discussed the significance of the university and the impact of its students and graduates to Philippine society. 

 

“Does anyone want to sing UP Naming Mahal?,” Canapi asked.

 

“Sure!” the crowd responded.  

 

“Memorize niyo?” 

 

The group laughed and comforted themselves with many photos to commemorate the nostalgic event. 

Aside from creating opportunities for alumni to revisit their alma mater and to immerse themselves once again in the UP community, OAR endeavors alumni to reconnect with the University and to actively participate in UP events and projects.

 

The Balik-Tanaw sa UP Diliman was free, but if you are interested in supporting future OAR projects, we still welcome any amount of donations or you may still purchase some of our merchandise through online registration: bit.ly/Balik-TanawSaUPDiliman. All proceeds will be used to fund various OAR outreach programs. 

 

#connectingUPalumni

UP Mathematicians Develop Algorithm to Simulate Monkeypox Spread and Raise Awareness

February 26, 2024

By: Maria Alexandra Marmol

In a major stride towards enhancing global epidemic preparedness, Drs. Victoria May Mendoza and Renier Mendoza of the UP Diliman College of Science Institute of Mathematics (UPD-CS IM) have provided key findings on the dynamics of monkeypox spread. In collaboration with South Korean researchers, the team developed an innovative algorithm to investigate the pivotal role of self-reporting and contact tracing in the early stages of monkeypox transmission via simulations.

The stochastic simulation process illustrating the possible mitigation or spread of infection depending on whether the primary case self-reports or not. (Photo credit: Ko et. al., 2023)

Their findings, published in the Journal of Medical Virology, showcased that the most crucial element affecting the size of an outbreak and its potential duration is the behavior of the primary case—that is, the infected person carrying disease into a community, and whether or not they report their status for medical attention.

The study followed as a result of a sudden monkeypox outbreak in non-endemic countries in May of 2022. Although the majority of the infected had had no history of travelling to the endemic areas of central and western Africa, the disease continued to spread, and more and more cases were still being reported worldwide.

In South Korea, however, the first case of an individual diagnosed with monkeypox had immediately self-reported in June 2022. After travelling to Europe and returning in the same month, the primary case informed the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) of his symptoms and contact history. Subsequently, there were no other recorded secondary infections of monkeypox within the country.

To study this scenario and the other factors affecting the potential outbreak of monkeypox in a non-endemic country, the team used a mathematical model based on Gillespie’s stochastic chemical kinetics.

Stochastic models are quantitative techniques that take into account random variables when predicting possible outcomes. While these have commonly been used to analyze the effects of other infectious diseases, this marked the first time that a stochastic model was used to simulate the spread of monkeypox in a non-endemic country.

In this manner, their algorithm considered random fluctuations in human behavior and subsequent delayed contact tracing. They then set up eight scenarios for their study, running 100,000 simulations in each to better understand the significance and impact of the primary case’s self-reporting or lack thereof.

Through these simulated outbreaks, they projected the average numbers of infected individuals depending on whether the primary case self-reported or not. In the scenario wherein the primary case self-reported, the number of infected individuals only increased by 11%.

But in the scenario wherein the primary case did not self-report, thereby further delaying contact tracing, the number of infected individuals increased by up to 40%.

The large difference in results served as both clear evidence and cautionary tales of the dangers of unreported cases. By understanding the impact of the primary case’s and infectees’ behavior, the study provides a more intuitive analysis that healthcare authorities may use as guiding information in the management and detection of possible monkeypox outbreaks in the future.

However, the researchers believed that one of the many factors dissuading people from seeking medical help—therefore greatly affecting attempts to mitigate disease—was stigma.

“The social media coverage about monkeypox spread directly or indirectly generates racist and homophobic stereotypes that worsen stigma,” they explained in their paper. They emphasized that approaches to encouraging self-reporting should be based on rights and evidence to avoid situations of hidden infected cases.

“(…) healthcare authorities must ensure confidentiality of confirmed cases and individuals under investigation, and access to health services. Moreover, prompt case finding and information campaigns must be conducted,” they urged.

The World Health Organization (WHO) now intends to replace the term “monkeypox” with “mpox” due to the racist and stigmatizing language surrounding the disease online following the 2022 outbreak. The virus itself is transmittable either through animal-to-human or human-to-human contact with bodily fluids or any contaminated material. For the 2022 outbreak, the symptoms were largely flu-like, with rashes that started around the genital area—but unlike the rashes typical to monkeypox, they appeared more similar to measles or other noninfectious conditions.

For interview requests and other media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

CPH Alumni Share Success Stories, Highlight Mentorship in “Kwentong Alumni” Series

February 23, 2024



In celebration of its 97th founding anniversary and its 59th anniversary as a SEAMEO TROPMED Regional Centre, the University of the Philippines Manila College of Public Health (CPH) launched the “Kwentong Alumni” forum series on February 20, 2024 at the Emilio T. Yap Auditorium in the College of Pharmacy.

This series provided a platform for CPH alumni to impart their inspiring stories, experiences, and journeys in their respective fields, offering valuable insights to students about life after graduation. The inaugural event featured CPH alumni as speakers, including Luceli C. Cuasay, DrPH, MPH, Epidemiologist/Biostatistician Research for Health, Houston, Texas, USA, and Frances Rose E. Mamaril, MPH, Director IV, UHC Health Services Cluster – Technical Office, Department of Health.

Source: University of the Philippines Manila Facebook

College of Science Students Voice Out Concerns at the CS-Wide Student Consultation

February 21, 2024

By Harvey Sapigao

CS students at the CS-Wide Student Consultation. (Photo credit: Leandro Sampang)

Tight academic calendar schedules, ineffective reading breaks, and slow responses to mental health needs are among the pleas of CS students in the student-led CS-wide consultation held at the National Institute of Physics Auditorium on February 12, 2024.

The student-led event, organized by the CS Student Council (CSSC), was an avenue for CS students to raise issues on the academic calendar, reading breaks, learning modes, and student welfare. “It’s important to gather these sentiments as we gear forward to a much better system and policies in the future,” CSSC Chairperson Zedwin Sta. Monica said.

One of the most common sentiments of students was the tight academic calendar schedules. The first-semester schedule, from September to January, only included a few days of holiday break. Some expressed concern that it had been too short to justify spending expensive travel fees to return home to their provinces. A few chose not to make the trip at all and used the break to catch up on requirements instead.

A few students suggested that a first-semester schedule of August to December, and a second-semester schedule of January to May, would provide for a better academic year where students can enjoy the holiday break without needing to worry about their academics.

Another sentiment of students is the ineffective reading break. “Parang reading nalang siya, wala nang break,” one student said, alluding to the deadlines and exams scheduled immediately after the reading break, which forced students to instead use the time to finish requirements and prepare for exams.

The one-week reading break, the students suggested, should be separate from the 16-week semester schedule to avoid compressing academic workloads and give students a genuine week to recharge.

Lastly, a few voiced out the need for a faster response on the psychological services of the University. One student recalled her experience of having to wait two months for a response from PsycServ, or UPD’s psychological services.

They suggested giving more funding to mental health services, that one guidance counselor should be available for each institute, and that the CS wellness center should be made active again.

A total of 55 undergraduate and graduate students from different institutes attended the CS-wide student consultation. “The discussion was successful because the participants are very insightful and participative in their focus group discussions,” Sta. Monica said.

The CS Administration will review the student’s concerns and present them at the next college assembly and university council meeting. “We also plan to aid the CS Admin, should they craft position papers, amendments to the policies, etc.” Sta. Monica added.

For interview requests and other media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

UP Physicists Present Network Science Research at the House of Representatives

February 13, 2024

By Harvey Sapigao

Dr. Reinabelle Reyes and Dr. May Lim at the House of Representatives. (Photo credit: House Committee on Visayas Development)

Dr. Reinabelle Reyes and Dr. May Lim of the UP Diliman National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP) presented their research on transport network efficiency at the recent House Committee on Visayas Development meeting on February 6, 2024.

Together with independent researcher JC Albert Peralta, Dr. Reyes and Dr. Lim used a 300-year-old math discipline called network science to model transport network systems during relief operations. They applied their model to the Visayas transport network, where they discovered that Northern Samar is the most vulnerable to relief operation delays.

Read more about their research in the press release here: https://science.upd.edu.ph/up-physicists-improve-phls-disaster-response-with-network-science/

Their research opens novel ways for improving relief operations and aids policymakers in decision-making and strategic planning. Attendees of the meeting at the House of Representatives included committee leaders and members of the Visayas Region, including Hon. Karen Lolita Javier, Committee Chair and 2nd District of Leyte Representative; Hon. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, 3rd District of Negros Occidental Representative; Hon. Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, 3rd District of Leyte Representative; Francisco “Sonny” Romuar III, Committee Secretary; and Atty. Cherry Pastor-Dalauiadao, Committee Staff.

Leaders of the Visayas Region, together with Dr. Reyes and Dr. Lim. (Photo credit: House Committee on Visayas Development)

At the meeting, they discussed the need to decentralize and distribute resources such as food and key equipment to all congressional districts to mitigate delays in relief operations. They also emphasized the necessity of building transportation infrastructure in areas with no existing road networks.

“It was our first time at the House of Representatives and, though it was a bit intimidating at first, I believe in the end, we made the most of the opportunity given to us to share our work and learn from the perspectives of the House committee members, who are representatives and influential leaders for Visayas,” Dr. Reyes said on their experience.

“Doing scientific research is a very focused activity and involves discussion mostly among our small group of collaborators (and peer reviewers),” Dr. Reyes continued. “So having this opportunity to take the fruits of this work to the highest levels of leadership in the country is quite fulfilling at a different level.”

The research team aims to continue working on their research, developing an open-source, user-friendly web app that lets the public simulate different transport network systems. Dr. Reyes and Mr. Peralta will present their work at the upcoming PyCon PH 2024 conference on February 25 and 26, 2024.

For interview requests and other media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

UP Baguio receives donation from UP Vanguard Baguio-Northern Luzon Chapter

January 30, 2024





The UP Baguio receives a generous donation from the UP Vanguard Inc. Baguio-Northern Luzon Chapter as part of their anniversary/homecoming event. They donated a nebulizer set, gun-type thermometer, pulse oximeter, vitamins, dehumidifier and Php.5000.00 worth of art materials and school supplies.

The University of the Philippines Baguio, specifically the UP Baguio Day Care Center, would like to extend its appreciation and gratitude to the UP Vanguard Inc. Baguio-Northern Luzon Chapter for their generous donation. Your support will undoubtedly make a significant difference in enhancing the learning environment and well-being of our students.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

More photos here.

Source: University of the Philippines Baguio Facebook

Alumni Batch Bluechips ’97 Reunite after 20 years







UP Visayas College of Management (UPV CM) Batch ’97 held their first grand reunion last December 29, 2023 at the UPV CM Lobby.

Almost a hundred of UPV CM Batch ’97 alumni from BS Accountancy, BS Management, and BS Business Administration (Marketing) went back to the CM grounds to reunite with classmates, friends, and former professors. This includes former CM Dean and former UPV Vice Chancellor for Administration, retired professor Mary Ann T. Gumban, retired Judge Daniel Amular, Prof. Mariel Elizaga, former UPV Office of Alumni Relations Director Prof. Benmar P. Panaguiton, and current CM Dean Prof. Christopher B. Honorario.

The batch enjoyed a full day with a “fun walk” to the Iloilo Esplanade, a thanksgiving mass, and an array of local food kiosks which included one for Alimodian delicacies. There was also a grill fest, a lunch, and a dinner buffet that everyone enjoyed. The day was capped with a 90s & 2000s jam session.

Written by: GC T. Castro, UPV OAR, with sources from Mr. Ken Lerona, UPV-CM Batch ’97
Photos courtesy of Mr. Ken Lerona, UPV-CM Batch ’97

More photos on UPV OAR Facebook

Source: UPV Office of Alumni Relations Facebook