In line with VSU’s goal to improve the quality of life in the community through research, extension, technology, and innovation, a collaboration between four strong and dedicated offices hosted the first-ever AbanTeknolohiya: Regional Agri-Aqua Technology Fair and Industry-Academe Fireside Chat during the #VSUAnniv this year.

The two-day event was lined up with a technology pitch and poster competition among the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in Eastern Visayas and the historical gathering of different successful industry partners in the cities of Ormoc, Tacloban, and Cebu for a deep, meaningful conversation with the farmers, researchers, and innovators.

This is VSU’s first time to initiate an assembly with the influential entrepreneurs in this so-called Fireside Chat that aims to discourse with the industry side, knowing their needs and meeting their demands, as well as building linkages between the industry, academe, and the clientele to address different developmental issues.

Through the joint forces of the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Program (ViCARP) and its arm, the Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement (RAISE) Program in Region 8, and the VSU Innovation Office and the VSU Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator (VSU-ATBI) they were able to tap Mr. Benedict Y. Que (President and Chief Executive Officer, Golden Prince Hotel and Suites, Cebu City), Mr. Aaron Que (Vice President Corporate Communications, Cebu City), Mr. Rey Calooy (Founding Chairman, RNC Marketing Philippines, Cebu City), Mr. Noel V. Barquera (Chairperson, Ormoc City Chamber of Commerce), Mr. Francisco P. Barredo (Board of Trustees, Director for Trade and Promotion, Director for Environment and Climate Change, Leyte Chamber of Commerce, Tacloban City) as panelists and guests for the AbanTeknolohiya event.

The discussion went from how ideas added with the value could develop into an innovation that has the potential to change the lives of the people in the community.

To read some of the inspiring messages taken from the Fireside Chat, click here.

The RDE Hall was filled with guests who are heroes of agriculture and aquaculture joining the dialogue and voicing out some of their issues to the industry leaders and the VSU researchers and innovators.

During the Industry-Academe Fireside Chat, invited farmers in the neighboring towns participated in the conversation with the industry practitioners.

Pitching of different technologies and research products

The first day of the AbanTeknolohiya was capped off with the competition of 13 innovative technology pitches and poster presentations of the participants coming from different SUCs in the region.

VSU President Edgardo E. Tulin welcomed the delegates from all over the Eastern Visayas and recognized the remarkable technologies and innovations that each of the SUCs developed to help the agriculture and aquaculture sectors of the region and address food security in our country as a whole.

He also encouraged doing this kind of event regularly during the anniversary week of the university, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness and presenting the technologies that will help agri-aqua production.

“It is nice to invent and produce products. But it is nicer to see these products in the market, and to see that people can use them and consume them, to improve their lives,” President Tulin said.

The technologies that were showcased by the delegates varied from food products and beverages, agri-aqua equipment and machinery, and agri-aqua inputs and products. Below is the list of presenters competing for the title.

Food Products and Beverages:

1. Ms. Mary Ann B. Osores - Pineapple Cupcake
2. Prof. Josefine R. Arellano - Mabolo Stem Tea
3. Ms. Inish Chris P. Mesias - Sweetpotato Wine
4. Mr. Marclin G. Aguilar - Lactose-free Tableya Ice Cream
5. Ms. Mary Rose M. Maniego - Yuca Puff
6. Espiritu Denoy - Horn Snail Cracker

Agricultural/Aquatic Equipment and Machinery:

1. Dr. Angel T. Sabusap - Portable Solar Dryer
2. Mr. Glyan Albos - Mudcrab Locator Equipment System
3. Engr. Khorina O. Aguilar - Thermoelectric Mixed Type Solar Dryer
4. Engr. Fernando S. Macabare III - Project 3D CLUP

Agri-Aqua Inputs and Products:

1. Engr. Vivencio A. Pelesco - Abaca Fiber Knot-Tying Jig
2. Ms. Marivic L. Doncillo - Salacia korthalsiana Antimicrobial Soap
3. Mr. Jovannemar P. Anire - Hybrid Makapuno varieties

The pitch evaluators were the five invited businessmen of the Fireside Chat, and the other two were Supervising Science Research Specialists from the Department of Science and Technology Region 8 (DOST-8) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).

Ms. Khorina Aguilar and Engr. Jonelle Tablada from the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) won both the poster and pitch contests with their unique technology, the Thermoelectric Solar Dryer.

VSU participants also won 2nd place in the poster contest while bagging the 3rd spot for the pitch competition, respectively.

On top of that, one of the highlights of the event was the official launching of the Intellectual Property Policy and Technology Transfer of VSU. The institution needs its IPs to be controlled and protected now that it is mature for commercialization and possible investment from industry partners.

Next to the launching, there was the unveiling of the VSU-ATBI and RAISE-VSU Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management (IPTB) Markers. The unveiling was led by VSU President Tulin and Director for Innovation Professor Alan B. Loreto, alongside Vice President for Research, Extension, and Innovation and the ViCARP Director, Dr. Maria Juliet C. Ceniza, and the other personnel from VSU-ATBI and RAISE-VSU.

Dr. Ceniza expressed her gratitude to the team and participants who made the two-day event a success and for making history in the #VSUAnniv week.

“Thank you very much, Dr. Tulin, for including these two events as highlighted in the 99th VSU anniversary. Our team, and our chancellors, thank you very much. And of course, the office directors, Sir Alan, the Director of Innovation, Professor Velarde, the Director of Research, and Sir Abamo, the Director of Extension. For our research center, because without you this would not be possible. Thank you very much for bringing in your product. Thank you very much for bringing in your technologies for a showcase. And of course, I would also like to acknowledge the SUCs for also responding to our invitation, because without you, we will not be successful. And please let us give warm applause to all of us for making history and making this [event] successful and possible. This is a very nice experience,” Dr. Ceniza said in her closing message.

[All photos are courtesy of Gabriel Cillado and his VSU-ATBI team.]

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