Price volatility, ethnobotanicals studies win WESVARRDEC’s 24th RSRDH awards

By Niño Manaog

With reports from Rector John Latoza

"There’s no stopping us now," said Dr. Guillermo Legada, Jr., research director of the Capiz State University (CapSU), on the recent achievements of the CapSU faculty during the 24th Research Symposium on Research and Development Highlights (RSRDH) sponsored by the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) on Oct. 14, 2014 at the West Visayas State University in La Paz, Iloilo City.

In particular, the research study titled “Price Dynamics and Volatility Spill-over Effects in Farm Retail Price Relationships of Chicken and Pork, 1990–2013” Prof. Maritess Villanueva of CapSU Pontevedra Campus won Best Paper under the Social Science Category, beating all other papers from around Western Visayas.

In the same symposium, the “Ethnobotanical Dewormer Composition for Free-range Native Chickens” by Dr. Ma. Sylvia Ozaraga of CapSU Dumarao Satellite College was awarded First Runner-up for the Development & Technological Research. The paper beat 6 other papers in the said category.

The winners were awarded certificates of merit and cash prizes.

Other papers read were, as follows: “Acceptability and Market Potential of Makahiya Tea” by Prof. Ma. Dorothee Villaruz of CapSU Roxas City Main Campus for the Development and Technological Research category; and for the Natural & Biological Research Category, three other papers were presented, namely: “Shell Lime: An Eco-Friendly and Cost-efficient Alternative for Agriculture Lime” by Dr. Mae Dumapig of Pontevedra Campus; “Macro Flora Diversity of Pilar Caves: Basis for Utilization” by Prof. Philomel Innocent Obligar of Pilar Satellite College; and “Determination of Anthelmintics Activity of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) Pulp Supplementation against Gastrointestinal Parasite and Its Potential in Rumen Microbial Manipulation in Growing Kids” by Prof. Marjorie Licatan of Burias Campus.

CapSU hosts 25th RDE symposium

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Roxas City—On Aug. 8, 2014,the Capiz State University (CapSU) Research, Developmentand Extension Center (RDEC) led by Dr. PedroGavino, vice-president for research and extension hosted the 25th RDE Symposiumat the Conference Room of the CapSU RoxasCity Main Campus on Fuentes Drive here.

The annual research summit convened some 80 participants composed offaculty and staff researchers from the three campuses and seven satellitecolleges of CapSU across the province of Capiz.

Inhis opening speech, Dr. Gavino paid tribute to the contributionof the RDE’s precursors, namely: Dr. Ernesto Botin and Dr, Rochellir Dadivas,our past presidents; and Dr. Anthony Navarrosa, Dr. Nicolas Braña, Dr. GeronimoGregorio and Dr. Cora Navarra, all vice-presidents for research and extension,for having “recognized the importance of research and extension in the dynamicexistence of our university.”

For one day, the congress witnessed the presentation of some 17 researchstudies on the social sciences; three on extension; 10 on naturaland biological sciences; and seven on development and technology.

For theevaluators, Vice-Presidentfor Administration and Finance Aladino Leccio; ExtensionDirector Emelita Solante; and Publications and Instructional Materials DirectorSusan Dangan read and critiqued the social science research and extensionpapers.

Dr. GuillermoLegada, Jr., research director; Engr. Gerbe Dellava of the Department of Science and Technology Capiz; Engr.Efren Linan and Dr. Jocelyn Villaruz of Filamer Christian University served aspanelists for the natural, biological research, development and technologicalstudies.

For eachcategory, the panel of evaluators chose top three research studies which willbe CapSU’s official entries to the regional selections by the PhilippineAssociation of State Colleges and Universities (PASUC) and the Western Visayas Agriculture and ResourcesResearch and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC)

Forher part, CapSU President Editha Magallanes restated her challenge to thefaculty to consider research an integral function of their profession.Magallanes also asked them to design their researches to the needs of the timeseven as she stressed on the climate change mitigation and relevant researchesthat not only benefit the environment but also give livelihood to thecommunities.

The RDEC teamwas supported by Dr. GuillermoLegada, Jr.; research director and Dr. Emelita Solante, extension director;Engr. Efren Linan, intellectual property director; and staff.

The CapSU Monitor off the press

By Niño Manaog
Extension Associate

Roxas City—Recently, the Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC) of the Capiz State University (CapSU) based here headed by Vice-President for RDE Pedro Gavino, facilitated the release of the two issues of The CapSU Monitor, the official publication of the CapSU RDEC.

The said two issues, namely: Volume 13, Number 1 (January to June 2013) and Volume 13, Number 2 (July to December 2013)—document RDEC’s activities highlights of the second and final year of the late Dr. Cora F. Navarra, then vice-president for RDE.

The first issue banners CapSU President Editha Magallanes's visit to New Zealand and South Korea; and also featured on the cover Techno Gabay's study tour in Negros.

The second issue features “Persistence in Research: DOST 6 names CapSU's ethnobotanical dewormers best creative research” which features the successful research of veterinarians Dr. Bede Ozaraga and Dr. Maryneth Baticbatic Barrios and Dr. Ma Sylvia Inting Ozaraga of CapSU Dumarao.

Highlighting more of CapSU’s research and extension activities for the said period, the said publications also profiled Dr. Bede Ozaraga who led the ethnobotanical team based in Dumarao, Capiz; Dr. Emelita Solante, current extension chair of the university who cultures mushroom for profit in CapSU Burias; and Ms. Jennifer Alba Perez Benliro, nurse and extension chair at CapSU Pilar, who has engaged in so many activities that have benefited her school and community.

Published twice a year, The CapSU Monitor
is funded by the CapSU Extension Institute.

Legada, CapSU researchers join int’l summit on water, food security

By Niño Manaog

Scientists and professors, policymakers and students—all these were the key clients of the Conference on Strengthening University Programs to Enhance Water and Food Security in a Changing Climate an international summit held on Aug. 13–15, 2014 at the Visayas State University in Baybay City, Leyte.

Funded by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research based in Japan, the three-day conference sought to accomplish three things. First, it sought to make agriculture scientists and professors more efficient so they could help formulate more relevant policies to mainstream climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives

Second, it aimed to teach policymakers on the scientific basis of said initiatives and their implications to water and food security.

Third, it aimed to make students more aware of policies and make them more capable for policy analysis to the said field of study.

For said conference, the Capiz State University (CapSU) sent four participants, namely: Dr. Guillermo Legada, Jr., Research director; Engr. Efren Linan, intellectual property director; Dr. Ramises Solante, CapSU Burias’s dean of agriculture; and Prof. Ariel Bolledo of CapSU Pontevedra.

More Feathers on the Cap(SU)

Dr. Amel Lavezores Magallanes of the CapSU Roxas City Main Campus won the Best Paper Award for the research paper titled “A Framework for an ICT-based Development Program for Science Teachers in State Universities and Colleges in Region VI presented at the Seoul International Conference on Applied Science and Engineering held on Aug. 29-31, 2014 in Seoul, South Korea.

Dr. Magallanes represented the Capiz State University, Centro Escolar University and the St. Dominic College of Asia.

Prof. Leo andrew Biclar whose study titled “Understanding the Filipino Worldviews in Demetillo’s Barter in Panay: An Epic” was awarded Best PowerPoint Presentation during the International Conference on Social Sciences, Health, and Environment held on Aug. 26–27, 2014 at the Stones Hotel in Bali, Indonesia. Sponsored by the IAMURE Multidisciplinary Research, the conference also conferred on Mr. Biclar as Best Oral Presenter.

Earlier, Prof. Biclar, who is currently pursuing doctorate in literature at the University of Sto. Tomas, presented “Meta-historical contexts of the Epic Barter in Panay,” which also won the Best Research Paper award at the 3rd Annual International Conference on Language, Literature and Linguistics held at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand on June 9–10, 2014.

WARMEST  CONGRATULATIONS!
From the CapSU RDEC Family and the CapSU Community

Solante, CapSU extensionists join first nat’l extension summit in Aklan

By Niño Manaog
Extension Associate

The Capiz State University (CapSU) Extension Institute led by Director Emelita Solante and the extension chairpersons of the ten CapSU campuses across Capiz joined the first National Training on Extension held on Aug. 13–15, 2014 at the Aklan State University Review Center, in Banga, Aklan.

CapSU representatives were Prof. Maddy Gallardo of Sapian; Prof. Sandra Escabarte of Pontevedra; Prof. Ginalyn Obien of Sigma; Dr. Mary Jane Floro of Tapaz; Prof. Gemma Angelias of Roxas City Main Campus; Dr. Nelinda Duero of Dumarao; and Extension Associate Niño Manaog of the Research, Development and Extension Center.

Led by the newly formed State Universities and Colleges Extension Managers Network, Inc. (SEMAN), the first National Training on Extension was an offshoot of the Flagship Course on the Management of SUC Extension Services sponsored by the collaboration between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Development Academy of the Philippines, which became a venue “to surface issues, articulate solutions and provide framework to rationalize extension operation in the academia.”

Anchored on the theme “Strengthening the Role of SUC Extension Services in Achieving Inclusive Growth,” the first national extension congress gathered some 200 participants including SUC vice-presidents, extension chairpersons and staff from across the country.

In his message, Pres. Benigno Simeon Aquino urged the participants “to harness your collective knowledge to adapt to the trends in sustainable countryside development” even as he sought for them to integrate said knowledge into the strategies into nation-building.

The congress featured Dr. Ruperto Sangalang, CHED commissioner who shared his input and insights on the “Global Trends and Issues Affecting the SUC’s extension programs vis-à-vis the PHER Agenda.” Sangalang underscored the need for the academe to take stock of the existing platforms of internet such as the social media to promote and enhance communication between and among extension stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Dr. Leilani Pavilando, Bicol University’s extension director, shared the best practices in her institution which highlights the effective collaboration on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management between SUC and the local government units (LGU) in Legaspi City and Albay.

On the last day of the training, the CapSU participants joined the national caucuses and parallel sessions on different fields of extension, namely: agriculture, education and the social sciences, Muslims and indigenous peoples, fisheries and development and technology.

Among other outputs, the fisheries group, where Prof. Gallardo belonged, tackled institutional capability which they addressed to the Department of Budget and Management and CHED. Recognizing the lack of manpower for fisheries extension, they moved for the creation of plantilla positions for extension workers in said field.

One group advocating the concerns of the Islamic minority and indigenous peoples proposed a program titled Innovating Extension Services toward Sustainable Human Development for Muslims and Indigenous Communities. It recognized that interventions of non-Muslims and non-IP organizations are not culturally responsive and there is also the lack of culture-sensitive or culture-based extension services. It also lamented using tribal groups for marketability for financing institutions local and abroad and the unstable peace and order conditions in their communities.

The Western Visayas group, meanwhile, proposed for the development and translation into vernacular varied information, education and communication (IEC) materials previously published and distributed by the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute and SUCs of Region VI.

For her part, Solante said that part of their learning from the said capability-building initiative is the reinforcement and polishing of 4K, CapSU’s current extension agenda. In particular, Solante has set to make use of the current social media in their activities to promote effective communication channels among CapSU extension workers.

The participants and facilitators of the first National Training on Extension in Banga, Aklan.

CapSU Pilar, RDEC host journsem for The Bridge staff

To enhance the writing skills of the staff members of The Bridge, its school paper, the Capiz State University Pilar Satellite College headed by Dr. Marcela Buenvenida, in coordination with the Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC), hosted “Bridging the Gap: The Bridge Journalism Workshop” on July 21–23, 2014 at CapSU Pilar, Bgy. Natividad, Pilar, Capiz.

The three day writing workshop featured Mr. Niño Manaog, extension associate of RDEC, who lectured on journalistic ethics, news writing, feature writing and editorial writing.

It also featured two professors of CapSU Pilar’s College of Information Technology, namely: Mr. Philomel Innocent Obligar, who shared on internet publishing and blogging; and Ms. Sharon Baticados, who taught the students on photojournalism.

Aside from the editorial staff of The Bridge, ­participants included the Education, Information Technology and Social Work majors of said campus.

Led by Mr. Eric Esteban Contreras and Ms. Tara Mateo, The Bridge advisers, the training was also supported by Vice-Gov. Esteban Evan Contreras.

Participants and facilitators of Bridging the Gap: The Bridge
Journalism Workshop at CapSU Pilar Satellite College,
Natividad, Pilar, Capiz

Mr & Miss CapSU 2014

Roxas City Main, Pontevedra, Burias bets win titles

By Ramon Launio
The Courier 
Mambusao Satellite College

John Rey Venancio of the Dayao
Satellite College won Mr. CapSU; while
Jenny Rose Socias of Roxas City
Main Campus won Miss CapSU.

Roxas City—During the Search for Mr. and Miss CapSU-PASUC 2014 held Sept. 17 at the CapSU Gym on Fuentes Drive here, three CapSU campuses romped away with the top prizes as both of their male and female contestants won the top places in the said competition.

In this year's search, John Rey Venancio of the Dayao Satellite College won Mr. CapSU; while Jenny Rose Socias of Roxas City Main Campus won Miss CapSU.

Garnering the top scores in most categories, they are followed by Nepthalie Ong, Jr. of Roxas City Main and Louella Louise Cordero of Burias Campus , first runners-up; Francis Valentin of Pontevedra Campus and Sanilyn Patricio of Pilar Satellite College,second runners-up; Mark Vincent Junio of Burias Campus and Melarey Roxas of Pontevedra Campus, third runners-up; and Noel Tyson Godinez of Mambusao Satellite College and Rebecca Moralla of Sigma Satellite College, fourth runners-up.

Forthe male search, the board of judges consisted of Mr. Nobel Paderes; Ms. AgnesJune Limaco Custudio; and Mr. Thomas Ciudad, chief judge

For the female candidates, judges were Ms. Adelia Bajada; Mr. Genesis Ambrosio; andCapiz Vice-Gov. Esteban Contreras, chief judge. Mr. Freden Delgado and Ms. Felyn Mae Yap of CapSU MSC hosted the pageant.

The top two male and female winners will represent CapSU in the 2014 Mr. and Miss PASUCto be held later this year.

CapSU MSC hosts 2014 Inter-Campus meet

The Courier Staff
Mambusao Satellite College

Roxas City—The Capiz StateUniversity (CapSU) Mambusao Satellite College (MSC) hosts this year’sInter-Campus Meet from September 17– 20 at the Roxas City Main Campus onFuentes Drive here.

Every year, CapSU campuses acrossthe province of Capiz take turns to host the said sports and cultural summit; andthis year is the turn of the Mambusao Satellite College based in Poblacion,Mambusao, Capiz.

According to Dr. Lillibeth Leonor,MSC director, hosting the meet “is not an easy task, even as we have to prepareboth the physical and financial aspect of the activities, and considering thefact that we are also undermanned.”

But because of the “dedication,perseverance, and the support from the central administration ofadministrators, faculty and staff, and students of MSC, we are able to prepareeverything so easy and smoothly,” Leonor said.

MSC was the host campuslast year but because they were busy for accreditation, the Sigma SatelliteCollege was given the assignment. Now MSC is beginning to fulfill what it haspromised.

Anchored on the theme “PASUCSocio- Cultural and Literary Development toward ASEAN Integration,” this year’sInter-Campus Meet formally opened at the Villareal Stadium at 3 p.m. on Sept 17.

"We Are One Family"

CapSU holds 2014 Inter-Campus Meet

By Jhona Tayco

The Courier Staff

Mambusao Satellite College

Roxas City—On Sept. 17,2014, all roads led to the Capiz State University (CapSU) here as it opened the 2014 Inter-Campus Meet.

Ten campuses (Roxas City Main, Pontevedra, Roxas City Dayao, Burias, Pilar, Mambusao, Sigma, Sapian,Tapaz and Dumarao) vie for championships in various sports and cultural events.

Anchored on the theme “PASUC Socio-Cultural and Literary Development towards Asean Integration,” the campus meet is being hosted by the Mambusao Satellite College (MSC) and will wrap up on Sept. 20, 2014.

During the opening program held at the Villareal Stadium, the CapSU Roxas City Main Chorale led the Doxology and the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, CapSU March and Capiz Hymn.

In her welcome address,Dr. Editha Alfon, newly installed vice-president for academic affairs, said that “CapSU has ten different campuses yet we are one CAPSU family.”

Dr. Lilibeth Leonor, Mambusao Satellite College director, also delivered the opening remarks.

The Torch of Sportsmanship was lit by the regional SCUAA athletes, namely: Noe Necessario,Ismael Faisal Mercurio, Glenn Barrientos and Riza Arroza. Then the university colors were raised by Mr. Francisco Roman Figarola of CapSU Burias Campus,university athletic manager and MSC’s Prof. Caster Kapunan, cultural affairs chairperson. Then, the team Banners were raised by the team managers, campus administrators and college directors.

Riza Arroza, regional SCUAA athlete led the athletes’ oath; while Athletics Manager Figarola led the oath of coaches.

Selected MSC faculty and staff performed dance numbers; while the drum and lyre corps of Burias and Roxas City Main campuses also rendered musical numbers.

In his keynote speech, Capiz Vice-Gov. Esteban Evan Contreras encouraged the athletes to “work hard and work together for the win.” He also urged them “not let the games begin but also let the winning begin.”

And finally, CapSU President Editha Magallanes officially declared the 2014 Inter-Campus Meet open.

IPOPHL, CapSU train 50 researchers on IP nationwide

By Niño Manaog

Photos by Rector John Latoza

LOCAL OFFICIALS (clockwise from top left):
Dr. Gavino; Dr. Ambut; Engr. Linan; and Dr. Legada

To engage more faculty and staff in research and level up—this has been the mantra for the recently concluded Foundation Course on Intellectual Property (IP) held on July 30–31, 2014 at the Conference Room of Capiz State University (CapSU) Roxas City Main Campus, Fuentes Drive, Roxas City.

According to Dr. Pedro Gavino, CapSU’s vice-president for research, development and extension (RDE), the University has made sure that they send at least three participants from each of the CapSU campuses to engage more participation. As such, CapSU RDEC is able to engage bigger involvement and encourage more of its personnel to pursue research and follow through production and development.

IPO RESOURCE SPEAKERS
(Clockwise from top left):
Atty. Gepty; Mr. Sablan; Mr. Dumali;
and Mr. Fulo 

Initiated by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and led by Engr. Efren Linan, newly designated IP director of CapSU, the two-day course featured the expertise of four experts from IPOPHL based in Manila.

In his keynote speech, Atty. Alan Gepty, deputy director general of IPOPHL’s Adjudication, Policy and International Relations stressed on what academic researchers can expect in the future. Among others, he zeroed in on value, competition and automation, citing how patented products will become very valuable in the future. For example, Nike attributes 90 percent of its worldwide profit   to its trademark.

Mr. Adrian Sablan, IP specialist, discussed the relevance of IP to the academe. According to Sablan, the current mantra in the academe is not anymore “Publish or Perish” but rather “Patent, Publish and Profit.” For his part, Mr. Dindo Dumali, certified patent agent, gave the participants the overview of the protection of inventions including its advantages, uses and relevance to technology development. Mr. Harris Fulo, another IP specialist, briefed the participants on the importance of patent information in relation to research and its uses and advantages.  Fulo also provided a run-through of the different parts of a patent document.

Said resource speakers shared their knowledge to some 50 researchers of the CapSU system plus researchers from other higher educational institutions.

The two-day IP primer gathered the participation of researchers from three other HEIs, namely: Central Philippine University (3 participants), University of San Agustin (3 participants) and the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (2 participants), all of Iloilo City. A sole participant from the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology also availed herself of said training.

Among others, Dr. Guillermo Legada, Jr., CapSU research director, cited the merits of said research initiative.

According to Legada, researchers in the past had been content with pursuing research only to the extent of classroom prototype production or journal publication. This time, however, the activity instilled in the participants that research work does not end there. More important, it also includes the production of patents and copyrights for the university’s intellectual properties.  To ensure this, he included in the university’s research agenda the prioritization of research projects on product development.

Legada added that the training sought to instil in the CapSU community a culture of research even as their efforts target genuine development in their communities.

The said capability-building initiative has been fully supported by CapSU’s key officials led by Pres. Editha Magallanes; and facilitated by the Research, Development and Extension Center staff.

CapSU engineers train 41 brgy residents on welding, wiring

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

To help augment the livelihood of the members of their community, the engineering faculty of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology of the Capiz State University (CapSU) Roxas City Main Campus recently led skills trainings to selected residents of Roxas City.

First, Engr. Kenneth Occeño of the Electrical Engineering Department conducted the Skills Training On Building Wiring Installation to some 11 residents of Barangay Milibili in Roxas City from Feb. 12, 2014  to March 25, 2014.

And for its part, the Mechanical Engineering Department also led the Skills Training on Basic Arc Welding in the same barangay. Facilitated by Engr. Josue Ajera, the said training benefited  21 barangay folks and out-of-school youths in Brgy. Milibili, Roxas City beginning Feb. 12 and ending on March 26, 2014.

Said activities form part of the College’s Skills Training Development Program of the CapSU Roxas City Main Campus.

MENTORS AND PUPILS. Engr. Occeño (far left) guides a trainee on building wiring installation and Engr. Josue Ajera (far right) mentors a student in shield metal arc welding.

UPV opens mgt grad courses in Roxas

By Ralph John Mijares
Reporter, The Capiz Times

ROXAS City—Classes for the Master of Management (MM) offered by the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) will begin here next month.

Under the said program, UPV offers two MM specializations, namely: Business Management and Public Management.

The function room of El Circulo Convention Center in Pueblo de Panay, a residential-commercial township in Brgy. Lawaan will serve as classroom for the first batch of students.

Owing to the lack of faculty members, only 30 students were registered for the pioneer batch.

In a recent Memorandum of Agreement signing at said convention center, Prof. Mary Ann Gumban, UPV’s college of management dean said that the Masters of Management courses were chosen because they are in line with the development in Capiz.

Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr., UPV Chancellor Rommel Espinosa and Pueblo de Panay President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Nery Ong led the ceremonies.

The organizers said a building inside the Pueblo de Panay educational zone will be built in the future should there be more students. Other courses will soon be offered.

Ong stressed that UPV offering courses here does not signify that a campus has been built here; it is rather an extension of their services.

He said that UPV offering courses in Roxas City can serve as a “catalyst of growth in Capiz and Northern Panay.”

Around the 1980s, UPV had also offered for Capiz graduate courses in management.

CapSU researchers study basic, inferential statistics

By Niño Manaog

With reports from Rector John Latoza

“There is a need to level up our capacities to do research—and one way to do it is to improve our skills in interpreting data from our own researches.”

Thus said Dr. Pedro G. Gavino, Capiz State University (CapSU)’s vice-president for research and extension, during the opening program for the Training on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) on Sept. 8–9, 2014 at the Conference Room of CapSU Roxas City Main Campus in Fuentes Drive, Roxas City.

The two-day seminar-workshop featured the expertise of its own faculty, Prof. Maritess Delfin Villanueva, assistant professor at CapSU Pontevedra satellite college who lectured and led exercise-workshops on basic statistics and inferential statistics using IBM-Statistical Package on Social Sciences (SPSS) to some 45 faculty and staff engaged in research and extension.

For two days, Villanueva led the Data Management & Statistical Analysis in Social Science Research using IBM-SPSS Statistics Version 20. In the said period, participants were taught basic statistics skills using the said software package used for statistical analysis. According to IBM’s website, using the said software allows one to “predict with confidence what will happen next so that [you] can make smarter decisions, solve problems and improve outcomes.”

Villanueva obtained Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics from the CapSU Pontevedra Campus and Master of Science in Statistics at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

On the first day, Villanueva introduced the basic concepts in statistics, categories of statistics and statistical softwares. More important, Villanueva guided the participants on how to run SPSS and go through the basic operations in using its features.

On the second day, participants were taught inferential statistics, which is used to test hypotheses and make estimations using sample data. Lectures and exercises included those on analysis of variance, chi-square and regression analysis.

At the day’s end, the training drew collaborative support from the technical facilitators from the CapSU Pontevedra graduate school and faculty, led by Dr. Jocelyn Dagudag, research chair of said campus.

The lecture-workshop gained favorable feedback from the participants from across the CapSU campuses.

Engr. Arlyn Olmo of the College of Agricultural Engineering of CapSU Burias highly noted Villanueva’s expertise in statistics and requested that she conduct the same to their campus on another date.

For her part, Dr. Ma. Shiela Simon of the College of Education of CapSU Roxas City Main Campus had to say that the hands-on exercises helped much in the understanding of the skills taught.

Then, besides recognizing the availability of the free software, a number of participants also thought the hands-on incisive and helpful even as they also recognized the need to conduct the said capability-building activity for a longer period.

For his part, Gavino urged the participants to apply the skills taught and also encouraged them to echo their learning to their respective campuses and satellite colleges.

Participants, facilitators and resource speakers of the training (Photo by Rector John Latoza)

CapSU ethnobotanical dewormer featured in nat'l inventions exhibit

By Niño Manaog
Extension Associate

On July 21–25, 2014, the ethnobotanical team of CapSU Dumarao Satellite College composed of Dr. Bede Ozaraga, Dr. Ma Sylvia Inting Ozaraga and Dr. Maryneth Baticbatic Barrios brought the Capiz State University to the national limelight during the National Invention Contests and Exhibits 2014 at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

For three days, the CapSU team showcased the award-winning ethnobotanical dewormers originally produced for native chickens, an innovative technology tagged along with the nation's finest technologies and innovations. NICE 2014 brought all these advancements in science and technology as part of this year's celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW).

Dr. Maryneth Barrios answers queries from a walk-in visitor.

Previously in September 2013, CapSU's ethnobotanical team clinched the regional Likha (Creative Research) award conferred by the TechnologyApplication and Promotion Institute (TAPI) of the Department of Science and Technology. The group was led by Dr. Pedro Gavino, vice-president for research and extension, and supported by Engr. Ef Ren Linan, intellectual property director and Mr. Niño Manaog, university extension associate. In the same event, Manaog also joined the PCAARRD photo contest.

Dr. Sylvia Ozaraga, Dr. Bede Ozaraga and Dr. Maryneth Barriosbrought pride to CapSU with their award-winning ethnobotanical dewormer. 

Award-winning Research

DRASTIC FANTASTIC
Engr. Efren Linan (left), CapSU’s Intellectual Property director, hogs the limelight with Dr. Aladino Leccio (right), vice-president for Administration and Finance, after winning Best Paper Award for his study titled “DRASTIC Model and GIS-based Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Contamination in Boracay Island” during the ASEE 2014 International Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 1–3, 2014. The said study beat 36 other entries from around the world.(Niño Manaog/Extension Institute)

Jennifer Perez-Benliro, The Accomplished Advocate

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

HAVE YOURSELF A JENNY LITTLE CHRISTMAS. Jennifer Perez Benliro follows the Santa Claus tradition of giving to fellow Yolanda victims days before Christmas. Here she helps dispense chocolate candies to some 250 kids in Sitio Baybay, Bgy. Natividad, Pilar, Capiz in December 2013.

“As a nurse, I took the oath of literally lending a hand to people. I also believe that I have the responsibility to do so,” says Jennifer Perez Benliro, Nurse II of the Capiz State University (CapSU) Pilar Campus who is profiled for Extension for this issue.

Born on July 10, 1972 in Pilar, Capiz, Benliro is a registered nurse who also holds a graduate degree in public administration. She has also started her doctoral studies in the same field. Currently, she is the extension chairperson of the Capiz State University (CapSU) Pilar Campus.

“Months after I started work at then Panay State Polytechnic College (PSPC) Pilar Campus, I organized the Red Cross Youth (RCY), a group of volunteers who were trained on first-aid services.” Since then, she has always been involved in extension activities of the campus helping and serving the underprivileged sectors of their community.

In various instances, she led the activities of RCY volunteers in conducting first-aid, and also assisted the activities of the Philippine Red Cross. In these activities, Benliro is inspired by the principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies—among them, voluntary service, impartiality and humanity.

Appointed chair of the health services from 2003 up to the present, Benliro has also served as the guidance counselor of the CapSU Pilar Campus since 2011.

For years, she has been Teen Center coordinator for CapSU Pilar, also holding several positions and capacities and helping facilitate medical services and advocacies that have not only engaged and catered to the youth but also helped uplift the welfare of the other sectors of the neighboring communities.

“I grew up surrounded by politicians and public officials mandated to cater to the needs of people; in the same setting I have come to love service for the public,” Benliro says, citing how the place where she lived has inspired her on what to do—or to keep doing what she has been doing.

A graduate of the PSPC High School in 1989, Jennifer Perez Benliro has been doing extension work since 1993, the year she graduated from college. In high school, she also served as regional public relations officer for the Future Farmers of the Philippines. She says that it was during this opportunity that she developed volunteerism and leadership.

“Such involvement and exposures contributed to my personal and professional growth, leading to the years in service which have motivated me to work harder for the University.”

Then after being appointed extension chair in 2011, Benliro’s conceptualized “Skills Development, Advocacy, Volunteerism and Empowerment (S.A.V.E.) Program on Health,” which reaches out to a number of sectors of the community and later benefited hundreds of constituents in Pilar, Capiz.

Three years into its launch, the program covered a big number of extension activities, namely: advocacy and health services and literacy trainings, first-aid services, feeding program, tooth extraction, Oplan Tsinelas, gift-giving, personality development training, blood sugar testing and blood pressure monitoring.

From the beginning, the volunteers consisted of students from the different departments who also composed the first aid team of the campus, supervised by Ms. Benliro.

“Engaging four fields of human activity and cooperation, namely: skills training, advocacy, volunteerism and empowerment, the S.A.V.E. Program is one extension agenda which seeks to make a difference in the communities where CapSU is located,” she says.

Originally intended for health advocacy via volunteerism, the program was later enhanced and expanded to include skills training, advocacy and empowerment of the sectors in the community. In fact, the program was enhanced and polished by CapSU’s RDE team—consisting of Dr. Marcela Buenvenida, Dr. Evelyn Borgonia, Dr. Guillermo Legada, Jr., Dr. Emelita Solante, and Dr. Cora Ferrer Navarra, then vice-president for Research, Development and Extension, who particularly advised her to include skills development in the project.

Among others, the program has instilled the spirit of volunteerism in the students. Sometimes even with scarce resources and faced with difficulties in reaching the target areas, student volunteers still supported the programs with their participation and initiative.

In recent months, the program also included skills development among the youth on the visual arts and other disciplines.  Through its varied activities since its beginnings, the program has taught youth participants that nothing could repay the happiness and contentment given by the opportunity of being able to help others.

During the 4th Regional Extension Symposium sponsored by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) VI held in September 2013 at the Punta Villa Resort in Villa, Iloilo City, the S.A.V.E. Program was cited first runner-up in the Health Category. It also won first runner-up in Poster Category.

With this towering achievement both in the recognition by her peers and the benefit to the community, Benliro feels “fulfilled that through the little things—activities and involvements in the community—I am able to make it a bit better.”

Though I have not served as a nurse in the hospital, directly tending to the sick people and the patients, I feel that my involvement in the activities in the communities enabled me to help more people and make a difference.”

Having launched the S.A.V.E. Program in 2012, it is noteworthy to say that Benliro has broken new ground for CapSU—blazing the trail for others to follow.

The advocacy program she launched could serve as prototype for others, even as they are also mandated to make a difference in their respective communities.

“I believe that the advocacy I started in our campus will serve as an example to others,” she confides.

For now, Benliro only wishes that hazard pay be given to medical or public health workers of the university like her. She is also concerned about how CapSU’s extension programs can be effectively funded and sustained. For her, addressing these issues will reinforce the efforts of extension workers like her to be able to reach out to more people and even create more impact in the communities.

THE COMMUNITY NURSE
Jennifer Benliro takes to relief the fellow members of the community where they are coming from. As the community nurse, she makes sure that the health of basic sectors—from the children to the elderly—are literally kept in check.

Emelita Solante, The Mushroom Queen

Dr. Emelita Solante, director for extension at the Capiz State University (CapSU), presents her hanging oyster mushrooms at the Mushroom Training Center based in CapSU Burias Campus, Mambusao, Capiz. Funded since in 2011 by the Japan International Cooperating Agency under KR2 Fund through the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 6, the Mushroom Production and Extension Project has already benefited some farmer beneficiaries and entrepreneurs around the community. (Photo by Niño Manaog)

"To share what I know" is the credo of Dr. Emelita Pongcol Solante, the 53-year old Cebuana from Alburquerque, Bohol, who is currently the extension director of the Capiz State University (CapSU).

With such words, she describes her commitment to extension work even as she finds fulfilment from the fact that ordinary people would learn something from her in order to improve their lives.

Born on June 30, 1961, Solante finished Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, major in Plant Protection in 1982 at the Visayas State College of Agriculture (ViSCA), now Visayas State University.

Shortly after college graduation, Solante worked as research assistant at the ViSCA, where she helped conduct the research on the Etiology of Stem Twisting Disease of Abaca.

And in June 1984, she came to Mambusao, Capiz to teach at the Panay State Polytechnic College (PSPC) Burias Campus, where she would teach for the rest of her life.

From 1990 to 1993, as a scholar of the International Rice Research Institute at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Dr. Solante’s thesis titled “Biological Control of Rice Blast” garnered 1.25 rating from the advisory panel.

From 1996 to 2000, Solante qualified for a Monbukagakusho Scholarship to study in Ehime University in Japan and in 2012, she completed her Ph.D. in Agronomy at the CapSU Poblacion Mambusao Campus. Currently, she holds the position of Professor V with teaching load at the CapSU Burias Campus.

The road to Dr. Solante’s success in the professional ladder in the university was paved with simple intentions, so to speak.

Back in the early 1990s, during her doctoral studies at the University of the Philippines Los Banos, Solante was drawn to the work of Dr. Teresita Quimio, who was then in charge of the mushroom project in UPLB.

“I became curious of what she was doing inside the Mycology laboratory and later, I was inspired by her passion in culturing mushroom and producing them for food and business,” Solante says.

Dr. Emelita Solante has had a string of accomplishments in extension work through the years. From 1990 to 1993, she was part of the Municipal Science and Technology Advisory Program, which allowed her to work with a people’s organization in Ivisan, Capiz. Along with Dr. Cora Ferrer Navarra, who served as vice-president for research and extension, she also served as consultant for the farmers owing to her engagement in the biological control of rice blast.

Dr. Solante also shared her expertise in mushroom culture and production during the Uswag Info Caravans initiated by the Regional Applied Communication Group (RACG) of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC). Initiated by then RAC Coordinator Cora Ferrer Navarra, these exposures also brought her to several towns of Capiz, Antique and Iloilo.

In 2011, she was named project-in-charge of the Mushroom Production Project of the Capiz State University. Funded by the Japan International Cooperating Agency under the Kennedy Round 2 (KR2) Fund channelled through the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 6, the Project seeks to increase the productivity of farmer beneficiaries and entrepreneurs around the community.

Since its launch, the project has produced oyster mushrooms to cater to the protein or health requirements of the community, while providing for the production needs of the farmer beneficiaries.

To date, the Mushroom Training Center has also trained at least 600 mushroom producers and 100 product entrepreneurs from around the community—even as the entire intervention has generated additional income for mushroom farmer-beneficiaries and product entrepreneurs.

Solante’s passion in the study of mushrooms did not stop in the culture and production of straw mushroom. While studying at the UPLB, she began culturing and producing oyster mushroom varieties and later shared her discoveries in her subsequent extension activities.

Then, more recently, Solante took on the task of experimenting with cooking the mushroom recipes which she integrated and adopted from popular culinary dishes, namely: mushroom siomai; mushroom achara (pickles); burger patties; crispy mushroom fries; CapSU Express (a la Bicol express) and mushroom lumpia.

More important, she has shared this technology to the household women of her locality. Under the Mushroom Production Project, household women and ordinary barangay folk are being trained on cooking mushroom recipes at the Mushroom Production and Training Center in CapSU Burias in Mambusao, Capiz.

For Dr. Solante, these community interventions “give them the realization that mushroom is not just an ordinary food—it can also be cooked and prepared for profit.” Solante also promotes the commodity not only because it is high in protein and a cost-effective meat substitute, which cannot only augment livelihood but also give health benefits to consumers.

Solante claims that all these involvements in extension work helped her overcome her own shyness and stage fright because she would speak in front of people from all walks of life.

For her, such involvements helped her enhance her communication skills owing to her participation in varied trainings and lectures on mushroom culture and production. These activities which were held across the province of Capiz and Iloilo also afforded her the opportunity to travel and see other localities in the region.

Looking ahead, Solante says that it is important that the University’s Extension agenda prioritize choosing and adopting depressed barangays where CapSU’s interventions can be poured in and implemented.

Per 4K, the extension agenda she submitted as her final paper for the Executive Course required by PASUC, CHED and Development Academy of the Philippines, each of the CapSU campuses will have one adopted barangay in their jurisdiction.

To begin with, she has short-listed the barangays of Pangpang Sur, Pangpang Norte, Liboo and Sinundujan—one of which will be the adopted barangay of the Extension Institute based in Poblacion Mambusao Campus.

For now, she has challenged herself to devise ways and approaches by which she can package the mushroom culture and make it appear practical and lucrative to the communities. As part of her prospective research, Solante is studying the social acceptability of mushroom culture and production among the poor and the middle-income classes. (Niño Manaog/Extension Associate)