Assoc. Prof. Maria Aurora Teresita W. Tabada, Director of the Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies (ISRDS), was invited by the Transparency and Accountability Initiative (T/AI), to attend two workshops on February 10-12, 2015 in Washington, District of Columbia.

The Regional Annual Administrative and Tactical Inspection (RAATI) Team for school year 2014-2015 led by Colonel Ricardo M. Colina, INF (GSC) RET PA, hailed the VSU ROTCU as the regional champion in the 2015 RAATI held on February 23, 2015.

The two research projects of the VSU Laboratory High School (VSULHS) students which won first places during the Regional Festival of Talents and Science Fair last December 20-22, 2014 in Hinunangan National High School, Hinunangan, Southern Leyte were the official entries of Region 8 in the National Science and Technology Fair held on February 9-13, 2015 at the Tagaytay International Convention Center in Tagaytay City.

The project of Sheena S. Wheless, Keren Eunice A. Itumay, and Sheryl Ann Mae C. Bombales with Prof. Tessie C. Nuñez, as adviser, entitled “Effects of Plant Growth Regulators on In Vitro Multiple Shoot Development and Ex Vitro Survival of Regenerated Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr. (Queen))” was selected for the national competition (Life Science – Group Category).  The group investigated the possibility for genetic improvement and mass propagation of “Queen” pineapple through the micro propagation technique using different plant growth regulators such as naphthalene acetic acid, dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and benzyl amino purine.  The group was awarded Best Presenters during the national competition.

On the other hand, the project of Stefani L. Bartolabac with Prof. Flora Mia Y. Duatin, as adviser, entitled “Enhancing Seed Germination and Propagation Using In Vitro Technique of a Guyabano Plant (Annona muricata Linn.) was also selected to represent Region 8 in the national competition (Life Science – Individual Category).  Miss Partolabac conducted the research to enhance germination of guyabano seeds using pre-treatments, determine the best pre-treatment that would give the highest percent germination of seeds, investigate the performance using in vitro technique, and determine the growth regulators used singly or in combination that would enhance growth of guyabano nodal cuttings.

 Aside from the researchers and the advisers, the VSULHS students were accompanied by Mr. Leo A. Mamolo, VSULHS Science Club Adviser, during the said national competition.

Other winning projects and the researchers during the Regional Festival of Talents and Science Fair were:  “Guso Seaweed (Gracilaria compressa) Combined with Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a Potential Source of Electrical Energy” by Galileo Gregory Abrasatdo II with Dr. Daniel Leslie S. Tan and Engr. Arthur It. Tambong, as advisers – second place (Physical Science – Individual Category); and “Galvanic Cell: The Association of Badiang (Alocacia macrorrhiza) Plant as a Possible Substitute for Battery” by Reeves Ian Stephane B. Ababat, Jasper D. Dagale, and Mark Jelouh S. Magaddatu with Dr. Daniel Leslie S. Tan, as adviser – second place (Physical Science – Group Category).  JFMBaldos

The “Himig Handog 2015” organized by the Senior Students’ Event Planners – Charlie taking up BS in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management (BSHRTM) spearheaded a post-valentine concert for a cause in the evening of February 22, 2015 at the VSU Gymnatorium.  The concert featured the international award-winning University of the Visayas (UV) Chorale in Cebu City under the tutelage of Ms. Anna Tabita Abeleda-Piquero.

The WorldFish, an international research organization that harnesses fisheries and aquaculture to reduce hunger and poverty, spearheaded the launching of the coalition for abaca rehabilitation on February 2, 2015 at the Plenary Hall of the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) in Sogod, Southern Leyte.  The coalition aims to help realize the hopes and dreams of farmers in rehabilitating the abaca farms in Maac and Mahayahay, and scale out to Maria Plana and Javier in Sogod, Southern Leyte.

To ground and strengthen partnerships among members of the coalition for abaca rehabilitation, the WorldFish facilitated a Scenario Building Workshop on February 4-6, 2015 at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel, Cebu City.   The activity aimed to: 1) review and assess the current stage of team development, 2) identify future vision and clear short term goals, 3) make action plans for the coalition, and 4) identify roles and responsibilities of each coalition member.

After winning the gold in the Regional SCUAA Meet in October 2014, the VSU Lawn Tennis Women Varsity Team composed of Elgy Dasian, sophomore Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; Elma Dasian, junior Bachelor of Secondary Education; and Ma. Theresa Tagalog, freshman BS in Computer Science; with Mr. Lyndon Maningo, instructor of the Institute of Human Kinetics, as coach, in lieu of Mr. Vincent Nel D. Antipaso, took the silver medal during the National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Olympic Games.  Diezanne Jireh D. Antipaso, senior BS in Civil Engineering and a member of the team, signified not to join the national competition to give priority to her studies.