The Mindanao summit aims to strengthen the role of Food Science and Technology in the establishment of food security in Mindanao.

The summit also aimed to promote collaboration and solidarity among State Universities and Colleges offering BS Food Technology courses in Mindanao.

The three-day summit was composed of plenary sessions from the different speakers namely, Mr. Virgilio Fuertes, Provincial Science and Technology Center Bukidnon-Director; Ms. Celine Abegail Tan, MERCK representative; Mr. Audy G. Maagad, Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 representative; Mr. Rodelio “Waway” Saway, International Performing Artist and food security advocate; and Mr. Neil B. Abejuela, head, sustainable livelihood program, Hineleban Foundation.

The summit was participated by different state universities and colleges from Mindanao such as Philippine Women’s College of Davao (PWC), Davao City; University of Southern Mindanao (USM), Kabacan, otabato; Western Mindanao State University (WEMSU), Zamboanga, Sibugay; Cotabato Foundation College of Science & Technology (CFCST), Doroluman, Arakan, Cotabato and Bukidnon State University (BukSU), Malaybalay City.

“We are very happy that the summit is well-participated by different schools all over Mindanao that are offering BS Food Technology courses. It is our high hope that we will continue to be united in uplifting food security in Mindanao ” Said Dr. Queenie Ann L. Curayag, Dean-Human Ecology.

The summit gathered 300 participants, which is composed of faculties, graduates, and students of different participating schools that allowed them to establish linkages and give them the chance to interact with professionals in the field of Food Science and technology and other allied fields.

“We had fun meeting other students from other schools and learning new knowledge from the speaker. This is a very great opportunity for us,” said Mayette Calfoforo of Bukidnon State University.

Significantly, this summit has inspired students of the importance and relevance of Food Technology in the scope of food security.

“The speakers were very relevant and also influential in inspiring and motivating FT students to be more equipped in advancing ideas into more challenging trend to address the changing needs of people nowadays the intensification of the food production in a way that everyone can benefit.” Lovely Lao Lato, USM, Kabacan, Cotabato.

The 4th Mindanao Summit was organized and sponsored by Philippine Association of Food Technologists-Sigma Chapter, Department of Food Science, College of Human Ecology, College of Human Ecology Student Council, Central Mindanao University, Zest-O, Highland Fresh, Del Monte Philippines Inc., MERCK, Dole Philippines Inc., and Department of Agriculture.

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Two CMU alumni topped the 2016 Agriculturist Licensure Examination (ALE) with results released yesterday, Oct. 28.

Russel Van Rosales Roa got the 2nd place with 85.33 percent rating, and Kristoffer Dan Romo Abregana got the 7th place with 84.33 percent.

Both Roa and Abregana have degrees in BS Agriculture major in Horticulture.

The two were among the 187 of the 467 test-takers from the university who passed the exam.

According to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), 1,790 out of 5,795 passed the examination nationwide.

A ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Php 9.8 million Institute of Computer Applications (ICA) building was held on August 4.

The ICA, one of the five departments of the College of Engineering, has been home to the BS Information Technology (BSIT) program since its creation in 2005. The number of enrollees has also increased each year, with an estimated number of 400 students enrolled this semester.

On top of this, ICA is also a service hub for all colleges offering IT subjects and other related fields. This has prompted the college to push for the construction of a separate ICA building as one of their top priority projects this year. The building is intended as a venue for several multiple-platform trainings. It will also house high-end computer hardware for students’ use.

The Phase I project costs Php 9,783, 722.95 and will be completed within 168 calendar days, specifically on January 15, 2017. The two-storey building shall have three computer laboratories (one each for networking, software engineering, and computer programming), a server room, classroom, faculty office, and conference room.

Funding was taken from the Special Development Fee that IT students pay for Php 2,500 per semester and the Laboratory fee costing Php 600 per laboratory subject.

“This facility is helpful to the students especially that we wanted to give the best training for our students so they can compete to the rising trend of globalization,” said Prof. Jinky G. Marcelo, ICA Director.

The ground-breaking ceremony was graced by Dr. Maria Luisa R. Soliven, University President; Dr. Judith D. Intong, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Ricardo G. Villar, Vice President for Administration;  administrative officials, faculty, staff, and students.

Dr. Judith D. Intong, VPAA, welcomed all the participants who were mostly selected student leaders of the university and some faculty members who were alumni of US programs. She encouraged everyone to pay close attention as the session could present many opportunities for the university that has internalization as one of its top priorities, in alignment with its revised vision and mission.

The session was divided into two talks. Ms. Affrille L. Degoma (Advisor of Education USA & Cultural Affairs Specialist of the US Embassy) elaborated about Education USA being a resource for interested students. She pointed out that the organization is just an arm to help students who wish to study in the USA and to connect them to the best offices and partners for them to be successful. She also emphasized that “students should think thoroughly as to what track should they go into” as it is very vital for their success in the program. Ms. Christal K. Weber of Lee’s Summit Missouri added some vital points and shared her experience assisting Filipino students and other nationalities who went to the states for various programs.

On the other hand, Mr. Madrid who is from Bukidnon, encouraged everyone to join the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) program, which is an initiative of the Obama administration. He shared the four reasons why students should engage with the programs:

(i) US Exchanges: YSEALI for Academic Fellows (18-24 yrs. old),
(ii) YSEALI for Professional Fellows (25-30 yrs. old),
(iii) Regional Exchanges, and
(iv) Grants.

Ms. Trinnah Marie Caracho and Atty. Meraphi Pimental, other members of the team and who were also fellows, concluded and shared their experiences with the Education USA and YSEALI Program.

In closing, Dr. Luzviminda T. Simborio, VPRE, thanked the visitors for giving insights about the programs and for giving options for the students about their career path after the graduation. The event was spearheaded by the International Relations Office (IRO) headed by Dr. Joy M. Jamago and in coordination with the Office of the President, VPAA, VPRE, OSA, and PRIO.

If you wish to avail the programs of YSEALI and Education USA, you may visit their websites at www.youngsoutheastasianleaders.state.gov and www.educationusa.state.gov.

The celebration was intended to discuss gender equality and to emphasize women’s role in the community which was graced by Dr. Nicole C. Curato from the University of Canberra, Australia as speaker.

Students from various colleges and Laboratory High School, faculty, and staff participated in the program. “We have reasons to celebrate every year because first, women these days accomplished a lot in the community. Second, we are looking forward to the fact that there are still a lot of things women can do,” Dr. Curato said. She added that women should be remembered because until today many of them are still unsafe and discriminated.

The speaker emphasized that biases are evident in various types of media which communicates that women should be more of being beautiful than active. “Women are assessed based on beauty, whereas men are assessed based on their job and how active they are,” she compared. Aside from that, she added that women are expected to portray a sexual image and be static. “Sexism is still very much present in our country,” she stressed.

There were also art exhibit, make over, and free counseling services offered to women who worked hard and contributed a lot in the community during the celebration. She ended her speech by challenging, encouraging, and inspiring women to teach men by example how to respect women and “nobody should be oppressed based on gender preference.”

Contributed by: Trixy Vania D. Ricablanca

Three faculty members, Dr. Joy M. Jamago (Head, International Relations Office), Ms. April Rose T. Torion (Department of Languages and Literature & Adviser of the Central Post), and Mr. Efren Leo V. Aribal (Chief, Public Relations and Information Office) attended this forum together with Mr. Marwel S. Mukara (AB PolSci 3) and Ms. Alliah Nicole Benguar (President of the Student Council Organization, CMULHS) who represented the youth sector as members of the audience during the debate.

For Mukara who is a first time voter on May, he said that the experience was great as he is still contemplating as to whom to cast his vote. Benguar added that even though she still cannot vote, she was grateful to witness how politicians present solutions to problems, thus gave her ideas as to how to evaluate leaders in the future.

For the faculty members, Ms. Torion still has not made a choice among the five candidates and still considers hearing more from them for the next two “PiliPinas Debates”. The same sentiments were given by Dr. Jamago and added that it was just the first round and definitely the candidates will prepare more for the next national debates. She added that the debate provided an overview to all the voters about the platforms of the presidential aspirants who were also scrutinized as to how they presented themselves to the public and how they substantially answered critical issues. Dr. Jamago suggested that perhaps before the election, the University may organize the same debate format to be done by the students for increased awareness on national and international concerns, as well as, to provide the venue for CMU students to present their views and “what” should be so the next Philippine president.

The five representatives sincerely thanked Mr. Oliver Victor B. Amoroso, the Assistant Vice President of Regional Business Development Division at GMA Network Inc. and also an alumnus of the CMULHS, for providing them the chance to participate in the event.

Note: the next two “PiliPinas Debates” will be held in the Visayas (to be co-hosted by TV5) and in Luzon (to be co-hosted by ABS-CBN) sometime on March and April, respectively.

CMU-JPIA was also hailed as the Champion for Local Chapter Banner competition while Mr. John Paul Rosario was awarded as the Outstanding JPIAn for SY 2015-2016.

The results of the academic events and participants are as follows:

Overall Champion – Central Mindanao University

Cup 1: Financial Accounting and Reporting and Advance Accounting
4^th place – Agapito Paña and Lloyd Clinton Ravelo
7^th place – Julie Ann Caburatan and Jess Charls Mojello

Cup 2: Management Advisory Services
5^th place – Jisabel Beril and Japheth Adad
11^th place – Zamcel May Sinet and Johnson Go

Cup 3: Taxation
2^nd place – Ana May Guinsisana and Gerald Jabillo
4^th place – Jeric Bongo and Roldan Medina III

Cup 4: Business Law
6^th place – Abigale Felicio and Mary Dorothy Talidro
7^th place – Riz Cynara Lucienne Romero and Feberlyn Haohao

Cup 5: Audit Problems and Audit Theory
1^st place – John Paul Rosario and Rezil Mejorada
8^th place – Rhona Gabia and Sushmita Zamora

Cup 6: All Board Subjects
1^st place – John Paul Rosario, Riz Cynara Lucienne Romero and Agapito Paña

Executive Cup
        3^rd place – Eiza Jean Curan, Jacquelyn Andamon, and Marie Laine Alburo

The delegation composed of BS in Accountancy and BS in Accounting Technology students from different year levels was accompanied by Ms. Dynnith F. Suaberon, CPA, MBM and Ms. Rose Mae S. Langot, CPA, faculty members, Department of Accountancy, College of Business and Management.

Contributed by: Ms. Sheila Mae L. Poliran, CPA

FOR IN-COMING FRESHMEN SY 2011 – 2012