CPU rededicates Loreto D. Tupaz Building

The new Loreto D. Tupaz Building

A newly-painted façade – with the help and support of the BS Nursing alumni, Central Philippine University rededicated the Loreto D. Tupaz Building, February 3, 2017, 10:00 AM at the Loreto D. Tupaz Building Grounds.

The new facade of the Loreto D. Tupaz Building sponsored by BSN Class 1977.

The event was attended by Prof. Lily Lynn V. Somo, Dean, CNAHS, Mrs. Ann C. Seisa, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, CPU President, the CPU Board of Trustees, the entire of BSN Batch 1977 and other alumni. In his message, Dr. Robles thanked the alumni for their generous donation and emphasized strength of the Centralian Spirit of gratefulness beyond borders.

Remembering memories and making them last – BSN Batch 1977 poses for a candid group picture.

BSN Class 1977, in which Ann Catedrilla Seisa belongs to, donated 2 million pesos for the repainting of the building. Dr. Robles also announced that Mrs. Seisa, CPU High School Batch 1971 and BSN 1977, pledged 1 million pesos for the soon to be constructed 5-million Virtual Laboratory of the College of Nursing.

Rev. Sian leads the prayer of rededication.

In November 10-11, 2008, Mrs. Seisa with Hudson Valley Hospital Center of New York City namely, Carol Hilbrand, an executive of HVHC;  Mr. and Mrs. Bill and Glenda Geis, international recruitment liaison coordinator, along with Maluh Silvano, Vice-President of Juno Health Care Staffing conducted a seminar on “Update of U.S. Immigration for Nurses” at the CPU College of Nursing.  The event was attended by CPU BSN Batch 1977.

Dr. Robles, CPU President with BSN Batch 1977

On November 12, 2008, Dr. Juanito M. Acanto, CPU President during that time, led the Dedication Ceremony of the Covered Stage donated by Mrs. Seisa with her husband Narciso “Loy” Seisa in memory of her parents Mr. and Mrs. Ponciano Catedrilla. In 1986, the couple founded the Vagthol’s Residential Care Center, Inc. in Los Angeles, California. The center started as a boarding facility for senior citizens, now the center serves individuals with Phenylketonuria (PKU).

BSN Batch 1977 in a group picture.

Mrs. Seisa is also the Chief Executive Office of Solarex Energy International. She was a volunteer at the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center, Mrs. Seisa later became a member of its Board of Directors and Chair of its Program Services and Strategic Committee. Currently, Mrs. Seisa serves as Managing Partner for ASN, LLC and Vagthes, LLC, real estate holding companies.

9 years later, the BSN 1977 reunited and rekindled the Centralian spirit of joy and camaraderie. With the re-dedication of the Loreto D. Tupaz Building also comes the return of familiar faces and laughter that resulted to friendships stronger than time.

The building is named after Loreto D. Tupaz, Dean Emeritus of the CPU College of Nursing, Dean of the Philippine Nursing Schools and considered as “the Florence Nightingale of Iloilo.” On March 28, 2008, a statue honoring her was dedicated by Central Philippine University together with Iloilo Mission Hospital, Capiz Emmanuel Hospital and Nurses Alumni Association around world.

CPU signs 5 Year MOA with DSWD

To further strengthen its partnership and to ensure effective student to professional transition, Central Philippine University signed another Memorandum of Understanding effective for five years, from 2017 to 2022 with the Department of Social Welfare and Development at the CPU Administration Conference Room, January 27, 2017.

Signing of 5 Year MOU of CPU and DSWD

The MOA signing event included reports on the existing CPU-DSWD programs and projects. Prof. Kareen Jay D. Lozada, CPU Head, Social Work Department, Dr. Jaime C. Cabarles, CPU Dean, College of Agriculture, Resources and Environmental Science and Prof. Levi O. De Los Santos, CPU Director, Community Engagement and Service Learning Center made updates on the milestones, assessments and future plans of the CPU-DSWD partnership. “We were able to help our beneficiaries earn 1,500-4,000 a month. We further want to implement leadership seminars to improve the management and organizational skills of the members of the community we serve.” – Prof. De Los Santos.

A Sealed Partnership – CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles and Dir. Rebecca P. Geamala, Director, DSWD Region VI, shake hands after the MOU Signing.

Mr. John Piermont V. Montilla, DSWD Planning Officer II, presented the DSWD Research Agenda. According to him, the 2017-2022 research aims to be evidenced informed and institutionally centered on educational cooperation. A new thrust of priority – Indigenous People is also introduced. “Region VI has the biggest IP community in Western Visayas, thus we want to implement social and environmental protection programs that can be part of policy development in that area.”  Other thrust of research and development include, heath, environment, farming and agriculture, culture, livelihood and women’s rights.

For the MOU signing, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles represented Central Philippine University while Dir. Rebecca P. Geamala, in behalf of DSWD Region VI. “To be effective in community engagement we have to partner with other agencies. If we want to accomplish a lot in short span of time, we have to collaborate. Our students’ potential can be expanded through this collaboration. We have so much to do but I believe by dividing the challenge we will accomplish a lot together­.” – Dr. Robles.

Dimpna C. Castigador, Director of the CPU Office of Institutional Advancement, moderates the exchange of ideas.

Ms. Mary Ann H. Masculino, DSWD Regional Program Coordinator for Sustainable Livelihood Program and Dr. Irving Doming L. Rio, CPU Vice-President for Academic Affairs stood as witnesses in the MOU signing.

For her message of support Dir. Geamala emphasized the importance of Centralians in the success of the programs to be implemented. “I do believe that what we have is but a starting point. As you are serving the academe, you are developing your students to be assets of the future. They will also be our future employees, our clients – we have to afford them social protection. We have to be closely working with the academe, with our clients.”

The event was moderated by Dimpna C. Castigador, Director of the CPU Office of Institutional Advancement.

Centralian gains military honors

Colonel Manuel Trece Robles, CPU graduate of Civil Engineering Batch 1994, has been recently promoted to Brigadier General at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on January 30, 2017.

Certified Centralian, Colonel Manuel Trece Robles has been promoted Brigadier General, (Photo Credit, army.mil.ph)

Robles was the Brigade Commander of the Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army in April 2014 and of the 53rd Engineer Brigade in 2015 respectively. He was also Deputy to the Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans, G5 Philippine Army September 2011 to April 2014.

In 1999, He took his Master+s Degree in Project Management 1999 at the Queensland University of Technology.

Centralian wins Sprint Distance Female title at NAGT

Lamparero bags first place, besting  all contendenders in the NAGT Sprint Distance Competition 16-19 Age Group Female Title.

Jacqui Rosee Lamparero, a CPU Senior High School student won 1st place in the Sprint Distance 16-19 Age Group Female Title in the recently concluded National Age Group Triathlon 2017 Subic Leg on January 29, 2017 at ACEA Subic Bay (formerly Sands of Triboa) with a time of 1:19:45. The Sprint Distance includes 750M swim, 20K bike and 5K run. Jacqui is a member of the CPU Golden Lions Varsity Team in Athletics.

Certified Centralian, Lamparero never forgot her Centralian roots, she placed the CPU Golden Lion logo in her uniform.

The National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Leg is organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and Green Triathlon; and sponsored by Century Tuna, Harbor Point, Ayala Mall, Gatorade, Standard Insurance, PLDT Subictel, BUMA Hotel, Asian Center for Insulation and Seafood Island. Media partners of the event are Big thanks also to our media partners: Raceday, SBR.ph, Trilife Magazine, Sports Radio and Asiatri.com.

Congratulations Tara!

Tara Yap (5th from left) poses with fellow journalists in front of the White House

A few years back we featured this “Ilongga” journalist for the award she received from a national media organization on her work with typhoon Yolanda.  Tara Katherine Yap, simply and fondly called Tara Yap in media circles in Iloilo is a Centralian and current President of the CMM (Centralians in Mass Media). She was presented with an award of recognition by the Central Philippine University Alumni Association Inc. (CPUAAI) during last year’s General Alumni Homecoming at CPU.

We congratulate her this time for the 10-day U.S. Tour that includes Washington D.C, California and Hawaii. Tara is one of the two Ilongga journalists who are recipients of the tour awarded by the foreign media relations officer of the U.S. State Department./ C.A. Natividad

USAID holds evaluation of Be Secure Project’s info materials

USAID’s Be Secure Project a water security program aiming for resilient economic growth and stability held a Pre Test of Climate Change Video and Potable Water Supply and Sanitation Leaflet at the 4th floor, Henry Luce III Library on February 1, 2017.

According to Ms. Susan A. Calanor, Provincial Coordinator, US Aid Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability (Be Secure) Project, the evaluation is to assess the effectiveness of the information materials to be used in its campaign.

A video presentation featuring tips and ideas on how to conserve water was shown and a leaflet containing proper water sanitation methods including the introduction of SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection) were subjects of the evaluation.

RCEC, CPU Chemical Engineering Department hold “Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds Using Purge and Trap, GC/Mass Spectrometer” seminar

The CPU Review, Continuing Education and Consultancy Center in partnership with the Chemical Engineering Department held a lecture seminar entitled “Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds Using Purge and Trap, GC/Mass Spectrometer” at Room 206, Engineering Building, January 26, 2017.

Engr. Quitnoviera, Centralian Alumna lectures share best practices with CPU faculty, staff and students.

Engr. Nelyn Equiña Quitnoviera, Centralian Alumna and the Senior Chemist of the Metropolitan Water District, La Verne, California lectured on the topic. Engr. Quitnoviera shared best practices in the field of chemical engineering. She also inspired students to pursue chemical engineering as a profession.

Engr. Quitnoviera accepts Certificate of Appreciation for being guest speaker.

Sugar is free!

By Cyrus A. Natividad

The last call for a free physical exam  for all employees in the University (last week) happened to be my first call for awareness of the so-called sugar syndrome — actually a result of negligence in sugar consumption. It’s one item indicated in the P.E. sheet. The result of my physical exam was negative in all, except with sugar. That’s about a notch above the normal which I have been enjoying over the years until that “other day.”

Not all of the sweets are identified with the tablespoon of sugar you put in your coffee. I was reminded of glucose, sucrose, and fructose in fruits. In other words – they’re everywhere! How do we know how much sugar is there in our favorite pandesal…boiled camote….peanuts? Oh, no!  Now I doubt if there is sugar in ampalaya.
It creeps; there were some sleepless moments at night…and the consciousness just got the better of me (thanks to people at home and at work who never let me touch a cookie in the jar and denied me the only sachet of my favorite coffee.  Oh, I wanted to accuse them of feeding my mind with everything “bawal!” The “feel-safe”action I did afterwards was to crush 7 calamansi fruits and gulped it without sugar.

On the other hand, some people got to enjoy their clean bill of health (or their results –minus the sugar). Others, for not being totally clear, has a need to call for ambulance – with their “all time high” B.P.! At least torturing my mind with the scientific term (whatever) about the “sugar result was their kind of consolation.” So I will just send this article to my boss, because this morning again I need to recover my lost sleep last night.

On our next issue:  The sweetness of sugar

Beauty Queens: Tubelleja & Medina

By Cyrus A. Natividad and Keziah G. Huelar

Sizzling and sensational! That’s how we look at the universal phenomenon brought about by the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant at the Mall of Asia on Monday – January 30. Just like any Pacquiao fight, there was a standstill – about an hour or longer, when people needed to stop from what they’re doing to hear and see who’s in, who’s out of the finals. That was not about witnessing history, but winning the crown with Miss Philippines Maxine Medina.

And the winner is…

Centralian Beauty and Ms Iloilo Dinagyang 2017 Iloilo City, Merry Grace Tubelleja (Photo by Prima Luce Photography )

Medina didn’t win the Miss Universe title nor was she included in the 3 finalist for the crown. For whatever it was that made her lose the crown, she has only succeeded in winning the hearts of the Filipino people. The determination to overcome the challenges, and being cheerful in accepting fate in the contest, makes her an amiable figure for every Filipina dreamer to become a beauty pageant candidate.

The Dinagyang Festival brings us another Centralian beauty among the final round in the Miss Dinagyang Beauty Pageant 2017 held in Iloilo City.
Merry Grace R. Tubelleja is a “Centrallian Beauty” who exuded grace under pressure as she competed for Ms. Iloilo Dinagyang 2017.

Her achievements as the First Runner-Up in the Search for Miss Central Philippine University 2016, and having been the Miss Silka previously; plus her dedicated practice for professional development made her a reasonable Miss Dinagyang Winner.

During the pageant night, Tubelleja garnered the Best in Swimwear, Best in Production Number and Best in Long Gown together with 7 Corporate awards. Before the night ended, she was adjudged as Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2017 Iloilo City. Congratulations Merry Grace! Mabuhay Centralians!/CENTRALPOST