The Visayas State University shall bestow 112 medals to this year’s graduates with Latin honors: (Baccalaureate Degrees) Summa Cum Laude – 1, Magna Cum Laude – 11, Cum Laude – 96; (Certificate Course) With High Honors – 1, and With Honors – 3.

Other special awards that await this year’s batch of graduates include: VSU Presidential Award of Academic Excellence (1) with Cash Award of P15,000; Gov. Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla Award for Most Outstanding Student (1); Manuel B. Villar, Jr. Award of Excellence (4);  Sen. Sonny J. Angara Award of Excellence (10); Sen. Bam Aquino Bida Ang Mamamayan Award (5); Sen. Francis Joseph G. Escudero Award of Excellence (15); Sen. Franklin Drilon Award of Excellence (7); Sen. Loren B. Legarda Award of Excellence (1); Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago Leadership Medallion (5); Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano Award of Excellence (10); Sen. JV Ejercito Award of Excellence (5), Sen. Gringo Honasan Award of Excellence (5), Sen. Lito Lapid Award of Excellence (2), Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. Leadership Award (7), Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. Academic Excellence Award (7), Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III Award of Excellence (5),  Sen. Grace Poe Award of Excellence (6), Sen. Ralph Recto Award of Excellence (3), Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV Award of Excellence (3); An Waray Partylist: Cong. Victoria Noel Award of Excellence (30); and Philippine National IT Standards [PhilNITS] (1).

Moreover, medals will also be given to some graduates, such as: Vice President for Instruction’s Medal of Excellence, Vice President for Research and Extension’s Medal of Excellence, Vice President for Administration and Finance’s Medal of Excellence, Vice President for Planning, Resource Generation and External Affairs’ Medal of Excellence, College of Agriculture and Food Science Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Education Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Engineering Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Forestry and Environmental Science Dean’s Medal of Excellence, College of Management and Economics Dean’s Medal of Excellence, Dean of Students’ Medal of Excellence, DOST Medal of Excellence in Science and Technology, and PAGKAON Scholars Academic Medals.

Likewise, VSU graduates who were placers in last year’s Board Examinations will be receiving medals.  They are: Board Member Florante A. Cayunda, Jr.  Award of Excellence for Mr. Nic Oswald M. Borines (Agriculture); Mayor Carmen L. Cari Award of Excellence for Engr. Rey Mark L. Alfante, and Engr. Arnolfo R. Antolihao9 Geodetic Engineering); and Congressman Jose Carlos L. Cari Award of Excellence for Engr. Lemar N. Bacardo (Agricultural Engineering).  JFMBaldos 

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research Development (PCAARRD) revives its support to the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Program (ViCARP) this year, 2015. This is to address the need to strengthen further such partnership to make Science and Technology development efforts more visible in the region and more appreciated by the policy-makers.

Dr. Edwin C. Villar, Director for Livestock Research Division of PCAARRD, formally announced as he graces the opening program during the 26^th Regional RDE Symposium held last March 17-18, 2015 at the VSU Convention Hall. He said that PCAARRD will revive and renew its engagement with the consortium. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing will commence in June 2015 with a theme “Strengthening Partnership, Delivering Results”.

In his message, he further elaborated that Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, the new Acting Executive Director of PCAARRD, has laid out initially his platform of governance in Research and Development management which includes the revival of PCAARRD’s active support and engagement with the consortia. Dr. Ebora believes that the consortium is a potent mechanism to deliver the Council’s deliverables based on its mandate and functions. But certainly the engagement with the consortium will not be the business as usual type. “We will identify particular tasks and specific management components which the Council can delegate to the Regional Consortia. For example, the consortium should include the conduct of a regional pest and disease/hazard surveillance as an added task including packaging programs on hazard mitigation and the crafting of a regional quick response mechanism”, he added.

Furthermore, he stressed “we will identify what are the specific PCAARRD expectations from the consortia and what they should deliver. We will also discern the benefits and costs to be derived from undertaking certain tasks and what are their relative importance for mainstreaming/adoption purposes”.

PCAARRD’s engagement with the Consortium will be anchored on the Industry Strategic Programs (ISP) based on the current 34 PCAARRD ISPs. It will look closely on the RDC regional priorities, the consortium member-agency’s current RDE agenda and the DOST’s 8-Point Desired Outcomes.

There are more initiatives which PCAARRD have already put on the table citing their experiences in the recent past particularly on packaging programs and technology transfer.

With this initiative, VICARP is set to bring more impact and change in the research and development scenario in Eastern Visayas.

Miss Angelica Joy G. Yu, a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (BSChem) from Pawing, Palo, Leyte, will lead this year’s batch of 1,063 graduating students who will leave the portals of their Alma Mater during the 62^nd VSU Commencement Exercises on April 22, 2015 at the VSU Gymnatorium.  She will be marching with a Summa Cum Laude Honors, together with the other 11 Magna Cum Laude and 96 Cum Laude honorees who are the VSU’s “Cream of the Crop.”  She will be the first BSChem graduate of VSU who will be receiving the highest academic honor as Summa Cum Laude for earning a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 1.141.

The ever loyal ViSCA/LSU/VSU alumni who are now based in the United States of America and organized the ViSCA Alumni Association in North America (VAANA) held on April 3-5, 2015 its 2^nd VAANA Reunion at Gold Coast Casino, Las Vegas, USA.  Attended by 19 alumni together with 30 family members and guests, the gathering was spearheaded by Jess Diongzon, Joel and Zarah  Borines, and other VAANA members. 

The erstwhile governor of the Province of Leyte who is now the Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Philippines, Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, will speak before some 1,063 graduating students of the Visayas State University during the 62^nd VSU Commencement Exercises in the morning of April 22, 2015 at the VSU Gymnatorium.  He joined the cabinet of Pres. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III on November 5, 2012 as Energy Secretary.

The Baybay Food Processors Association (BFPA), represented by its president, Ms. Martha Y. Villalino, and Mr. Felizardo G. Darasin, a locally-registered jackfruit farmer, entered into a marketing agreement for the Pinoy Science and Technology Services for Farmers and Entrepreneurs (PSF) Program of PCAARD on April 6, 2015 at the G/F, Center for Continuing Education, VSU, Baybay City, Leyte.

The 11^th National Congress for Veterinary Medicine Students (NCVMS) with the theme “Veterinary Students: Excellence and Camaraderie Gearing towards ASEAN Economic Integration” was recently held at the University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, North Cotabato.

The congress was participated in by eight veterinary colleges from all over the Philippines and only the Visayas State University delegates represented the Visayas. The six VSU delegates who took the challenge to march forward to venture beyond their comfort zones were: Dr. Melvin A. Bagot as the coach-adviser of the group, along with Mr. Carl Leonard Pradera (DVM-5), Ms. Nannette Joy Bercades (DVM-4), Mr. Edu Gelo Orig (DVM-4), Mr. Steven Tan (DVM-4), and Mr. Perkin Charles Ong (DVM-3).

The three-day congress kicked-off with a parade. The first day was filled with seminars about Asian integration and animal welfare, updates about swine breeding, nutrigenomics, understanding diversity, and scientific research presentations. The seminar-series imparted new knowledge on the advancement and updates of the current trend of the veterinary medicine field. The teambuilding activity followed which was geared towards building strong bonds among the participants and foster camaraderie.

The second day assessed the skills of the students in terms of communicating their thoughts through the different literary and academic quiz contests. Mr. Steven Tan placed 1^st Runner Up in the extemporaneous speaking contest; Mr. Carl Leonard Pradera was the 1^st Runner Up for the essay writing contest; Mr. Edu Gelo Orig came in 2^nd Runner Up for the poster-making contest; and the VSU Team composed of Mr. Pradera, Ms. Nannette Joy Bercades, and Mr. Perkin Charles Ong finished 5^th place in the national academic quiz contest.

Also, as part of cultural integration, the congress visited the Institute of Middle East and Asian Studies, which was a school and at the same time a mosque.

 The last day was aimed to promote community awareness and extension via the Anti-Rabies Vaccination drive held at Barangay Osias, Kabacan, North Cotabato.  In the said activity, application of the basic knowledge and principles were tested. It also taught the students how to be flexible and innovative in any situations.

During the congress, new officers were elected of whom Ms. Nannette Joy Bercades became the new Vice President for the Visayas of the National Executive Council.

The Congress was a wonderful experience for students to learn beyond the four corners of the classroom. Melvin A. Bagot/CVM