Fit for Filipinos: Agrimachines for farmers

My article is out in UPLB's Horizon Magazine with cartoonized Manny Pacquaio on the cover!

Pelikultura 2014 showcases Calabarzon shorts, award-winning indie films

Los Baños, Laguna – Along with Calabarzon-produced short films in competition, Pelikultura: The Calabarzon Film Festival 2014 will showcase award-winning full-length indie films during the three-day film festival on Feb. 26-28 at the NCAS Auditorium in UP Los Baños. 

The festival opens with Arnel Mardoquio’s Riddles of My Homecoming, Special Jury Prize winner at the Cinema One Originals Festival in Nov. 2013. Riddles also won four other major awards, including Best Production Design, Best Music, Best Cinematography, and Best Director. The film stars UPLB’s instructor and Pelikultura festival director, Ms. Madz Garcia. 

Pelikultura 2014 is also proud to bring Lav Diaz’s Norte: Hangganan ng Kasaysayan as the closing film on Feb. 28 at 1pm. It premiered as an official selection in "Un Certain Regard" at the Cannes Film Festival 2013 and won the top prize at the Nuremberg International Human Rights Film Festival in Oct. 2013.

The heart of the festival is the showcase of short films from Calabarzon and other regions. From among the 30 film submissions from Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, 10 film entries were shortlisted for the narrative category, and five others were selected for the documentary category.

The 10 shortlisted entries for the narrative category are the following:  Jonathan by Rolson Chester Ilao (Laguna),  Sa Huli  by Jerome Lingan Dulin (Laguna),  Ngiti sa Piso by Domcar Calinawan Lagto (Batangas), Pag ang Palay Naging Bigas  by Lexian Losley Avestruz (Quezon), Isang Karaniwang Kwento ng Pag-Ibig  by Steve Cardona (Batangas), Puppy Love by Hector Lincallo, Jr. (Batangas),  Hula  by PROMDi FiLMS (Batangas), Tiya Bening by Ralph Aldrin Quijano (Batangas), Pag-ibig ni Angelo Guidoti  by Ralph Aldrin Quijano (Batangas), and Kuwento ni Buhol by Ronan Vergara (Laguna).

The following are five shortlisted entries for documentary category: Ang Aking Inspirasyon by Al Geraldleo Laurio (Laguna), Ang Planta by MSEUF BS Mass Comm 3rd Yr. (Quezon), Batang Padyak by Anjeanette Japor & Natalie Mondejar (Quezon), Gulong by Angelie Mae Macalanda (Rizal),Ang Tanda Kung Saan Napunta ang Mga Ngiti by Neville Carbon (Cavite).

The finalists vie for the following major awards: Best Narrative Film, Best Documentary Film, and Best Director in both categories. Other special awards for the narrative category include: Best Story, Best Performance by an Actor and Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Sound, Best Original Music, and Most Gender-Sensitive Film Award. For both narrative and documentary category, special awards will be given such as Audience Choice Award and Special Jury Prize.

Short films in exhibition are also part of the festival, which include those programmed in Cinema Rehiyon, an annual festival of regional films sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Moreover, seminar-workshops will also be part of Pelikultura 2014. Known personalities in the regional indie filmmaking industry will serve as resource speakers namely, Teddy Co, co-founder of Cinema Rehiyon and film programmer who will give a lecture on Film History and Appreciation on Feb. 26, Director Arnel Mardoquio, who will be the resource person on Story Development and Directing, and Director Ditsi Carolino, an award-winning documentary director and producer who will give a workshop on Documentary Filmmaking Feb. 27. Lastly, on Feb. 28, Dexter Dela Peña, who worked in several independent films as cinematographer, will give a workshop on Cinematography.

Admission to all screenings is free, except for the opening and closing films. Tickets for Riddles and Norte cost Php50 each.

This year’s selection jury who shortlisted the films in competition is composed of John Matthew Baguinon, an award-winning Laguna-based filmmaker, Carmela 'Kame' Lagang, a full-time media practitioner of Southern Tagalog Exposure (ST eXPOSURE), and Prof. Rudyard Contreras Pesimo from UPLB, a multi-awarded animation artist and a professor of computer animation and visual effects.

Now on its fourth year, Pelikultura: The Calabarzon Film Festival continues to provide a venue for Region IV-A’s budding and experienced independent filmmakers to showcase their digital films that tell stories from home. It is hoped that with these goals of the festival, filmmakers from the region will be encouraged to continue their filmmaking endeavors and to collaborate with other filmmakers to further enrich ‘Calabarzon cinema’.

This event is presented by NCCA, UPLB Foundation Inc., and UPLB pelikuLAB in partnership with University of the Philippines Los Baños, Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts, Southern Tagalog Arts Festival, UPLB Gender Center, ST eXPOSURE, Canon, Rough Road Productions, WhenInManila.com, UPLB-Anak, UP Caballeros, and UP Film Circle.

For more information and ticket reservation, please contact pelikuLAB Secretariat at 09984344055 & 09053710186 or email at pelikulab@gmail.com and visit our Facebook: facebook.com/pelikultura.calabarzonfilmfestival

UPLB to hold Science & Techology Forum and Exhibit

The University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) will hold a Science and Technology Forum and Exhibit on March 4-5 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Metro Manila. The event, with the theme “making Science Work for Sustainable Development” aims to uphold and promote science and technology in the country as well as to showcase some of UPLB’s most innovative and cutting edge technologies.

Expected to attend are Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Jesus P. Paje; Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala;  Science and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo; Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla;  Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad; Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan; and Senator Pia S. Cayetano.  

Among the UP System constituent universities, UPLB is considered as the preeminent research institution due to the sheer number and diversity of various technologies it has developed as well as being home to some of the brightest scientific minds in the fields of natural sciences, agriculture, forestry, engineering and  environment, among others.  

Aside from the research outputs and technologies that UPLB has produced, the exhibit will also present 18 new and existing interdisciplinary studies centers thatfocus on the advancement of scientific and technical knowledge on important areas in which the country is facing challenges and problems.These are:

1) Biofuels Research Studies Center/Rural Economic Development Renewable Energy Program;  

2) Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Studies Center;  

3) Food and Nutrition Security and Safety Studies Center;  

4) Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Center; 

5) Agribusiness Center for Entrepreneurship; 

6) Bee Program; 

7) Computational Interdisciplinary Research Laboratories;  

8) Industrial Tree Plantation Center;  

9) Instrumentation Development Center; 

10) Nanotechnology Program; 

11) Natural Products Interdisciplinary Studies Center; 

12) National Organic Agriculture Research Development and Extension Center;  

13) Philippine Center for Tropical Forest Science; 

14) Rice Program; 

15) Southern Luzon Studies Center; 

16) University Pulse; 

17) Agricultural Mechanization Development Program and;

18) Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center.

The forum and exhibit will also serve as a prelude to the UPLB’s 105th Foundation Day on March 6 and a venue to recognize the University’s most outstanding personnel for 2014.

For queries, you may contact:

DR. MARIA VICTORIA O. ESPALDON

Office of Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension

Tel: (049)536-2354; (049)536-5326

Email: idsc.uplb@gmail.com

(source) 

UPLB-CLSU ‘Friendship Games’ makes a comeback

After three decades, UPLB and the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija have again come together to hold what once was an annual event, the UPLBCLSU

Friendship Games.

The Friendship Games, held on Oct. 24-26 at the CLSU campus, saw the dominance of UPLB in the faculty and staff category at 140-80 points, with wins in bowling, badminton, basketball, and softball divisions. However, CLSU clobbered UPLB in the varsity category games, garnering a total of 340 points as against UPLB’s 180 points.

The Friendship Games is a revival of the two state universities’ annual dual meet that goes back to the early ‘80s.

In his speech during the opening ceremony held at the CLSU grandstand, Vice Chancellor for Planning and  Development Fernando V. Sanchez, Jr. said that the pursuit of excellence should be the guiding light in all that we do as we push our standards of quality to even greater heights.

Dr. Sanchez said that the games bring about the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship between UPLB and CLSU.

He reminded the participants about sportsmanship quoting former WNBA player Sue Wicks: “Sportsmanship knows that (this) is a game, that we are only as good as our opponents, and whether you win or lose, to always give 100 percent.”

According to the UPLB Sports and Recreation Committee, which oversees the University’s sports program, the Friendship Games help the UPLB varsity teams to prepare for other sports competitions of the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA). (KE Araguas with reports from Rueth Cabral of the College of Public Affairs and Development)

UPLB pitches in to help Yolanda survivors

The UPLB administration has joined what has become a global effort to raise funds and in-kind donations for survivors of super typhoon Yolanda.

According to Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA) Enrique Tolentino, UPLB has sent nine truckloads of in-kind donations to the areas struck by typhoon Yolanda. UPLB had, in fact, been the first among the CUs, to send a truckload of relief goods as early as Nov. 15.

An initial six trucks was sent through UP Diliman that coordinated the distribution of relief items. One truckload was brought to the Muntinlupa Warehouse of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), while two truckloads of relief items were sent through the LBC warehouse in Parian, Calamba. LBC offered free delivery services for the relief goods that included groceries, mineral water, candles, matches, clothing, bed sheets, medicines, tent, rice, and toiletries.

As the rebuilding efforts now begin in the Yolanda-affected areas, cash donations are being encouraged.

According to OVCCA, which is coordinating UPLB’s relief efforts, UPLB has received more than PhP 130,000 cash donations as of Nov. 26. This amount excludes the donation from the UPLB-Foundation, Inc. and other socio-civic organizations that gave donations through the OVCCA, or through conduit national and local organizations, or directly to the victims themselves.

Faculty members in different colleges are contributing to the collective fund, and some student organizations are conducting various fund-raising activities to support the tuition fees and living allowances of UPLB students affected by the typhoon as well as students from UP Tacloban who have cross-enrolled in UPLB.

UPLB has already waived the tuition fees of about 30 students from Leyte and Samar who are enrolled in UPLB.

Cash donations may be deposited to the PNB Los Baños branch account of the UPLB Foundation Incorporated (UPLBFI) with number 212-8379-001-53 or given directly to the UPLBFI Office in A. Aglibut Ave., UPLB, College, Laguna with telephone numbers (6349) 536-3688 and 536-6265.

Those who opt to deposit cash donations at PNB should scan and email their deposit slip and send these to uplbfoundation@uplbfi.org or to uplbfoundation@yahoo.com for the issuance of receipts. (KE Araguas)

SESAM beautifies surroundings through “Adopt-a-lawn contest’’

The School of Environment Science and Management (SESAM) launched the “Adopt-a-Lawn and Landscape Design Project” that aims to create a unique environment to promote outdoor comfort, reduce stress, and sustain aesthetic and recreational value of the place.

Under the project, SESAM’s faculty, research, and administrative personnel, and students were organized into five groups. Each group  conceptualized and implemented the landscaping of selected areas around the SESAM building.

The groups competed with each other in coming up with the best landscape design. They implemented the designs using “necessary horticultural or silvi cultural practices including watering, weeding, and pruning to improve forms and ensure high survival rate of the plants.”  

Each group was provided Php2,000 as initial fund for the purchase of planting and other materials that were used for the design. The members started the landscaping activities of their respective areas on Sept. 18 to ensure that all plants were already surviving and had adapted to the site before the judging date on Oct. 10.

The group “Team Kawayan” was formally proclaimed as the winner of the grand prize winner on Oct. 10 during SESAM’s Alumni Homecoming and Symposium.  (Kristine Araguas with reports from SESAM’s ADOPT A LAWN AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR SESAM GROUND CONTEST)

Photos c/o  Mr. Pol Veluz:

Japanese Ambassador inaugurates Japanese Garden at UPLB

Intermittent rains did not dampen the enthusiasm of people, including the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Toshinao Urabe, to be present at the inauguration of the Japanese Garden in UPLB on Sept. 24.

The Japanese Garden or the Nihon Koen, with the Torii as the centerpiece, was inaugurated by UPLB Chancellor Rex Victor O. Cruz with Ambassador Urabe as the guest of honor. Located between the Thai Pavilion and the International House, the landmark symbolizes Philippine-Japan friendship between Filipino scholars and universities in Japan.

In a symposium that followed at the Southeast Asian Region Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Ambassador Urabe said in the Filipino dialect that Japan and the Philippines are not only geographically close but share similarities in culture and values.

“We practice Bayanihan or helping one another, and we both value freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,” he said. He cited how Japanese companies such as Toyota, Uniqlo, Murata, Bandai, Fujifilm, and Brother have invested in the Philippines. Further, he explained how his country had been supporting  Mindanao and the Mindanao peace cooperation.

“Balikbayan,” was how Dr. Jose V. Camacho, dean of the UPLB Graduate School described Ambassador Urabe. The young Urabe grew up in the house of first Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo in Santa Ana, Manila. His late father Toshio Urabe then headed Japan’s liaison office in Manila from 1954 until 1956 before becoming ambassador to the Philippines from 1969 to 1974. In 2011, now Ambassador Urabe came back to the Philippines to develop strategic partnership between the two countries.

Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr., director of SEARCA, said that the “mutually beneficial ties of Japan and the Philippines involved academic and faculty exchange, with Japan supporting scholarship and human resource development, and collaborative research and development projects. These collaborations have benefited the country, UP, UPLB, SEARCA, and many other academic and scientific institutions throughout Southeast Asia.”

Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera, UP System Vice President for Public Affairs, remarked that it is “heartwarming that Japan and the Philippines are now on common ground on other issues such as threats to territorial boundaries, in which they are ready to help each other.”

Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., UPLB Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development and president of the UPLB Philippine Association of Japanese Government Scholars, Incorporated-Southern Luzon Chapter (PHILAJAMES-SLC) from 2006 to 2007, gave a brief history of the organization. PHILAJAMES planned and funded the garden with the support of UPLB, private donors, and Japanese friends.

The symposium on Japan-Philippine Strategic Partnership that followed the inauguration at the SEARCA was co-sponsored by the PHILAJAMES-SLC, the UPLB Graduate School, and SEARCA. The UPRHS Filipiniana Dance Troupe performed during the symposium. The symposium was closed by Prof. Liza C. Carascal, UPRHS Principal and PHILAJAMES-SLC President from 2011-2012.  (Kristine Araguas with reports from UPLB Graduate School program write up and Business Mirror: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php.en/features/envoys-expats/16359-japanese-envoy-is-a-balikbayan-at-heart.)