4 CapSU studies win awards in national research congress

By Niño Manaog

Photos by Veronica Albaladejo & Rector John Latoza

Two research studies on sweet sorghum and another two on upland rice by the faculty and staff of the Capiz State University won awards in the recently concluded National Multidisciplinary Research Conference held on May 22–24, 2013 at the Vigan Convention Center in the Heritage City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

KNOWLEDGE SHARING (Clockwise from top left)
Rector John Latoza; Veronica Albaladejo;
Nicolas Braña, Jr.; and Julito Albaladejo; 

All three papers, namely: Veronica Albaladejo’s “Germination and Vigor Performance of Sweet Sorghum Seeds Harvested at Various Stages of Maturity and Subjected to Various Storage Durations;” Nicolas Braña’s “Response of Sweet Sorghum Varieties to Various Plant Densities under Grown-up Coconut Palms;” and Rector John Latoza’s “Socio-economic Profile, Indigenous Cultural Management Practices and Farming Systems of Upland Rice Farmers in Capiz”—placed third in the food security, agricultural production and environment category; while Julito Albaladejo’s “Physical Attributes and Milling Characteristics of Upland Paddy Rice” placed fourth in the same category.

Organized by the University Northern Philippines (UNP)’s Research Center, the research congress gathered some 258 research studies from some 30 private and state universities and colleges across the country.

Anchored on the theme “Higher Education: Forerunner in Meeting Diverse Global Challenges,” the congress featured Dr. Ricardo Rotoras, president of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges as its keynote speaker.

In the same event, three other resource speakers led the plenary sessions on various topics. Dr. Maria Lourdes Otayza, Region I Health Research Development Consortium chairperson, tackled “Enhancing Practical Solutions on Health Problems through Conventional Biotechnology in Drugs and Medicinal Plants”

Dr. Cecilia Reyes, executive director of the National Research Council of the Philippines, discussed the “Role of Higher Education Institutions in Strengthening Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future.”

Finally, Dr. Amaryllis Tiglao Torres, executive director of the Philippine Social Science Council led the session on “Reengineering Education and Social Science Researches in Meeting Global Challenges.”

Endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the research summit sought to “promote healthy exchanges of ideas from researches of different disciplines throughout the country and to broaden the understanding on the important role of higher education in coping with the many challenges of the present time.”

THOUGH I'LL VIGAN, DON'T WORRY; I WILL BE BACK.
CapSU delegates pose at the UNP grounds at the conclusion of the congress.