Official Research, Development, and Extension News Vol.4 No.

2
of the University of the Philippines Los Baños April - December 2018
Visit the UPLB RDE Portal at http://ovcre.uplb.edu.ph

UPLB to partner with European universities

on research and academics
by Maria Rowena Beatriz Q. Inzon
UPLB Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez
Jr. together with Vice Chancellor for
Academic Affairs Portia G. Lapitan, Vice
Chancellor for Research and Extension
Rex B. Demafelis, and University
Extension Specialist Maria Rowena
Beatriz Q. Inzon met with officials and
faculty of several universities in Europe
last October to concretize research
and academic collaborations with
international institutions.

The UPLB delegation were able to

initiate talks on partnerships with
the University of Twente in the
Netherlands, Agreenium in Paris, France
and Technische Universität in Berlin,
Germany.

Dr. Tom Loran, Director of International

Initiative, and Dr. Dinand Alkema,
Professor from the Faculty of Geo-
Information Science and Earth
Observation, University of Twente,
discussed their MS programme offerings
with tailor-made specializations for
mid-career professionals. These include UPLB meets Agreenium, the 19-member strong French Agricultural, Veterinary and Forestry Institute. Top L to R: Jean Luc Bosio, Head of International Relations and
Applied Remote Sensing for Earth Languages, Montpellier SupAgro; Dr. Alain Rival, Regional Director for South East Asia Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD); Dr. Jean Christophe Glaszmann, CIRAD
Sciences, Geo-informatics, Land Geneticist; Middle L to R: Dr. Christophe Sodore, Head of International Relations Office, AgroParisTech; Vice Chancellor Rex B. Demafelis; Bottom L to R: Prof. Etienne Saur,
Head of International Relations, Agreenium; Christiane Lennoz-Gratin, Deputy Director, Agreenium, Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr.,Vice Chancellor Portia G. Lapitan, and
Administration, Natural Hazards and University Extension Specialist Maria Rowena Beatriz Q. Inzon. (Photo by ERuibal)
Disaster Risk Reduction, Natural
students’ mobility and collaborative Institute) agreed to sign a Memorandum SupAgro, CIRAD (Agricultural Research
Resources Management, Urban Planning
research collaboration potential in water of Understanding (MOU) with UPLB Centre for International Development)
and Management and Water Resources
footprint analysis as well as in mechanical after the latter’s visit in Agreenium’s office and IRSTEA (National Research
and Environmental Management.
and biomedical engineering. in Paris. Institute of Science and Technology
for Environment and Agriculture) also
UPLB’s interest in the use of geospatial
Technische Universität Berlin, Through Prof. Etienne Saur, Agreenium’s presented their respective academic,
solutions is in pursuit of developing part
represented by Dr. Markus Berger at Head of International Relations, the research and experimental platforms
of the university’s Philippine agricultural
the Department of Environmental UPLB delegation was able to meet with which focused on food production,
research, specifically those which address
Engineering and Helen Merenda of the the officials of some of Agreenium’s 19 natural resources management and
issues and threats to the country’s food
International Scientific Cooperation member higher education institutes. human health.
security.
Team, welcomed the opportunity for Prof. Saur gave an introduction on
possible research collaboration with Agreenium and its remarkable network All in all, the institutional visit did not
The UPLB delegation also met with Dr.
UPLB on life cycle-based solutions of 15 schools and 4 research agencies. only open potential areas for academic
Geert Dewulf, Dean of the Faculty of
for sustainability of product and Officials from four of Agreenium’s higher and research collaboration for UPLB
Engineering Technology, and Chair and
technologies. education member institutes were also and European partners, it also created
Professor in Water Management Dr.
in attendance to present their various the conditions to facilitate knowledge
Arjen Y. Hoekstra. They discussed the
Meanwhile, Agreenium (French academic and research programs. During generation for the promotion of a more
processes by which the two universities
Agricultural, Veterinary and Forestry the meeting, AgroParisTech, Montpellier food-secured, sustainable society. ■
can enhance UPLB MS and PhD

Balik Scientist collaborates with IFST conducts

UPLB and UPM researchers
To help improve data collection and
management practices of researchers in
the Philippines, a Filipino scientist under
the Balik Scientist Program (BSP) of the
Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) is working with the University
of the Philippines Los Baños and Manila
campuses to establish the Research
Electronic Data Capture (REDCap).
The UPLB College of Veterinary
Medicine (UPLB CVM) in cooperation
with the UP Manila Department of
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
(UPM DBMB) hosted a lecture by
Dr. Romulo “Jong” de Castro, a ‘Balik
Scientist’ of DOST.
PAGE 2 ►
livelihood training
by Saubel Ezrael A. Salamat in Batangas
by Claire S. Zubia
The Institute of Food Science and
Technology (IFST) with the Provincial
Science Technology Center (PSTC) –
Batangas of the Department of Science
and Technology Region 4A conducted
a series of livelihood trainings on food
processing in different municipalities of
Batangas from April to May this year.
The learning events were conducted
as a response to requests of different
organizations from the province and to
provide sustainable means of livelihood
to locals.
Dr. Romulo de Castro giving a lecture during the REDCap training workshop in UPLB CVM
(Photo by SA Salamat) PAGE 2 ►
2 RDE Chronicle
ASI, DepEd train teachers on integrating
organic agriculture in curriculum
by Marianne R. de Luna and Blesida M. Calub
Soil sampling was one of the technical skills that the participants learned about during the training. (Photo by MR de Luna)
Thirty-five teachers from seven junior
high schools in Laguna were trained on
integrating organic agriculture in Basic
Education Curriculum (BEC) through
the project “Mobilizing School Teachers
in Integrating Organic Agriculture in the
Basic Education Curriculum for High
Schools,” a collaborative undertaking
between the Department of Education
(DepEd) - Laguna and Agricultural
Systems Institute (ASI).
The training held from July to October
2018 was conducted by DepEd-Laguna
and UPLB ASI to strengthen the capacity
of agriculture teachers in teaching and
integrating organic agriculture in BEC
for high schools.
The training was composed of four
modules, namely, Principles of Organic
Agriculture and Organic Vegetable
Production (Module 1); Organic Pest
and Disease Management (Module 2);
Organic Soil Amendments and Soil
Nutrient Management (Module 3); and
►
PAGE 1
Balik Scientist collaborates...
Dr. de Castro, who helped develop
a biological data repository for the
Sampung Halamang Gamot project of
the UPM DBMB, is also helping in the
creation of an application for DOST’s
BSP and the UnEMR, a free electronic
medical record app for independent
healthcare providers in urban and rural
areas in the Philippines.
His latest project was the establishment
of the Research Electronic Data Capture
(REDCap) which was completed last
June.
REDCap is a secure web-based
application designed to create data
collection tools and manage collected
data in a database. It was created by the
Vanderbilt University and was licensed
to non-profit organizations worldwide
through the REDCap Consortium.
Originally designed for clinical trials,
REDCap has been transformed so that
it can be used with any type of data,
Organic Chicken Production (Module
4). Aside from providing technical
coordination, resource speakers, and
expertise on organic agriculture, the
ASI coordinated with the Technical
Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) so that the
participants can take the National
Certificate-II (NC-II) or Certificate
of Competency (CoC) on Organic
Agriculture (OA).
The NC-II on OA is a requirement
before high school teachers can teach
OA. Hence, a Pre-Assessment Training,
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and
Orientation for Trainer’s Methodology
1 were conducted at TESDA-Quezon
National Agricultural School in Pagbilao,
Quezon last 29-30 August.
The participating schools were Cavinti
Integrated National High School in
Cavinti, Laguna; Galalan Integrated
National High School in Pangil,
Laguna; Gov. FT San Luis National
ranging from biological data to those
in the engineering, social sciences, and
physical sciences.
During his stay in the Philippines as
Balik Scientist, Dr. de Castro was able
to license REDCap to UPLB CVM and
helped set it up at the college.
He also established a team in UPLB
and UP Manila to operate and
maintaim REDCap. He also trained
them on creating data collection tools
and managing the resulting database
generated by these tools.
Dr. de Castro also developed a
Data Governance document (a data
management policy document) for
the applications and databases created
and/or managed by the UPLB CVM,
as well as the REDCap Use and User
Responsibility Agreement specific for
REDCap. The UPLB REDCap team
managed to create several data collection
tools for research and administration
Agro-Industrial Integrated High School
in Brgy. Kapatalan, Siniloan, Laguna;
Nicolas L. Galvez Memorial Integrated
National High School in Bay, Laguna;
San Francisco Integrated National High
School in Victoria, Laguna; Sta. Catalina
Integrated National High School
in Majayjay, Laguna; and Siniloan
Integrated National High School in
Siniloan, Laguna.
A two-day writeshop was also held last
11-12 October 2018 at ASI where
teachers prepared lesson plans that
integrated organic agriculture into the
DepEd BEC for Edukasyong Pantahanan
at Pangkabuhayan/Technology and
Livelihood Education (EPP/TLE).
The draft lesson plans for Grades 7-10
were presented through demonstration
teaching by selected teachers, and is
subject to further review and approval by
the DepEd. ■
purposes, such as Institutional Animal
Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
approval tool, a parasite-collection
specimen database, an archive for theses,
and a farm sampling data collection and
geo-location tool.
Meanwhile, the UP Manila team created
several data collection tools such as
for protocol conditions recording,
Fresh Frozen Plasma inventory, and an
Institutional Regulatory Board Approval
dashboard.
Both UPLB and UP Manila teams plan
to expand the use of REDCap to the rest
of the UP constituent units and other
government, academic, service, and
research units.
They are also planning to establish a
Philippine REDCap consortium with
the end-goal of reaching sustainability
through collaboration and/or
institutionalization.■
►
PAGE 1
IFST conducts
livelihood...
The training focused on commodities
that are abundant in the different
localities of Batangas. The first training
on processing coconut-based products
was held last 5-6 April in Lobo,
Batangas. Participants came from the
Kababaihan women’s organization of the
Lobo Municipal Women Coordinating
Council from Brgy. Bignay and Brgy.
Lagadlarin. They were taught the
standard processing protocols for
buko yema, coco jam, buko in syrup,
pakumbo, and buko juice. Mr. Romel
M. Felismino, Mr. Joel P. Rivadeneira,
and Ms. Claire S. Zubia, served as
members of the training team.
The second training, conducted last
26-27 April, was on tamarind wine
production. Members of the Kababaihan
Sama-sama sa Kaunlaran (KASAMAKA)
were taught winemaking and techniques
to produce high-quality wine.
Another training on mango processing
was conducted last 8 May. The
participants were members of the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
(4Ps) of Brgy. Namunga. End products
included mango jam, mango nectar, and
mango flan.
To help revive the tablea industry in the
municipality of Mabini, the IFST team
demonstrated the processing of various
tablea-based products such as tablea-chip
cookies, tablea flan, tablea powder drink,
tablea spread, tablea caramel candy, and
tablea nut.
The event was held last 21-22 May, and
attended by members of the Mabini
Tablea Food Producers (MABLEA), a
newly-formed women’s organization
adopted by Soroptimist International
Mabini.
Basic good manufacturing practices,
food safety principles, product costing,
shelf-life, packaging, and labeling were
also discussed. The participants also used
simple equipment to measure processing
parameters. ■
One Health and
Biosensors
discussed in
seminar
by Ruth M. Almario
Dr. Jhalique Jane Fojas, a Filipino
scientist from the University of
Cambridge, visited the University of the
Philippines Los Baños and presented her
recent undertakings on nanotechnology
and neuroscience last 12 November 2018
at the Office of the Vice Chancellor
for Research and Extension (OVCRE)
Conference Room, UPLB.
Around 30 faculty and staff, graduate
students, and members of the UPLB
Interdisciplinary Studies Center on
Biosensors for One Health attended the
event organized by the OVCRE.
PAGE 5 ►
 April - December 2018 3
Proposed REPS Personnel and Fellowships Committee,
REPS Welfare Council and REPS Development Fund
approved by BOR
by Maria Rowena Beatriz Q. Inzon

UPLB Research, Extension, and Professional Staff (REPS) together with UP officials during the consultation with the UP System REPS Committee last 11 September 2018. (Photo by AS Palma)

After a series of consultations, the
Board of Regents (BOR), in its 1340th
meeting, approved the proposals on
Research, Extension, and Professional
Staff’s (REPS) welfare and concern last
03 December 2018.
Through the hard work of the Ad Hoc
REPS Committee, the REPS sector
achieved a feat in the approval of the
CU REPS Personnel and Fellowships
Committee (RPFC); CU and System
REPS Welfare Councils; and the CU
REPS Development Fund.
The approval meant more work, but
it was also a sweet culmination to the
efforts in putting forward long-standing
REPS’ concerns.
One of these efforts include the
consultation with the UPLB REPS last
11 September 2018. Hon. Francis C.
Laurel of the BOR, and Dr. Patricia B.
Arinto, Faculty Regent and Chair of
the Ad Hoc Committee, showed their
support to the REPS sector during the
event attended by around 400 UPLB
REPS.
Themed “Updates on Policy Reforms
for Progressive UP REPS Governance”
the Ad Hoc Committee reported their
progress in reviewing REPS’ concerns
and in recommending policies.
REPS from all CUs also gathered last 18-
19 October 2018 during a systemwide
conference to discuss the various
contributions of REPS to knowledge
generation and public service, REPS’
participation in university governance,
and the proposed career path for REPS.
■

CVM holds workshop to kickstart poultry project

by Saubel Ezrael A. Salamat

To kickstart the project “Rapid The discussions during the four-day

Diagnostics and Control Strategies for
Enteric Bacterial Pathogens in Backyard
and Commercial Poultry Production
in Thailand and the Philippines,” the
College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)
in the University of the Philippines Los
Baños (UPLB) conducted a workshop
last 17-20 July at the SEARCA
Guesthouse in UPLB.
The project, which is a collaboration
of scientists from several academic
and research institutions from the
Philippines, United Kingdom (UK), and
Thailand, aims to uplift the Philippine’s
backyard and Thailand’s commercial
poultry by characterizing the indigenous
Philippine breeds of chicken through
the use of genomics, resistomics, and
microbiomics; genetically characterizing
local Salmonella and Campylobacter
strains infecting chickens; assessing
candidate probiotics for backyard
poultry; and developing a low-cost
point-of-care diagnostic test for Avian
Salmonellosis.
Representing the UPLB CVM in the
workshop were Dr. Loinda Baldrias, Mr.
Ezrael Salamat, Dr. Reuel Marte, Dr.
Lotis Balala, as well as two undergraduate
students who will be working for the
Philippines’ portion of the project. It was
also attended by four scientists from UK
and three more from Thailand.
During the four-day event, each of the
project’s co-investigators led discussions
on their designated study or experiment
by introducing the objectives and
workflows initially placed in the project
proposal.
workshop were led by Professor Julian
Ketley of the Department of Genetics,
University of Leicester in UK. He also
serves as a co-investigator of the project.
The team discussed possible amendments
in the workflows in accordance to
matters which has come up since the
proposal writing.
Meanwhile, Dr. Baldrias and the Filipino
participants also discussed the current
status and farming practices of backyard
poultry in the Philippines, as well as the
current capabilities of the UPLB CVM
laboratories. The team also discussed the The workshop was attended by professors, researchers, and students from the participating
logistics of materials and equipment and institutions in the Philippines, UK, and Thailand (Photo by SA Salamat)
the protocol for communication and
sharing of data.
Mr. Michael Viccil B. Junsay of the
UPLB Technology Transfer and Business
Development Office (TTBDO) also
discussed rules and regulations in
managing UPLB’s intellectual property.
This is part of the preparation for one of
the project’s objective--to develop and
commercialize a low-cost kit for Avian
Salmonellosis.
The project team also visited the Bureau
of Animal Industry - National Swine
and Poultry Research and Development
Center to look at the various breeds of
poultry raised in the Philippines. They
also visited backyard poultry farms in BAI-NSPRDC supervising agriculturist Dr. Marivic de Vera (far left), discusses the local poultry farm
Los Baños, Laguna to understand local setup with the UK team of researchers led by Professor Julian Ketley (center) (Photo by SA Salamat)
caging setups and farming practices.
the current project to a wider audience. Sciences Research Council through the
Key members of the team will meet again The Rapid Diagnostics project is Newton Fund, and the National Science
in Beijing, China within the year for the jointly funded by the Department of and Technology Development Agency in
Newton Fund Swine and Poultry Kick- Agriculture Bureau of Agricultural Thailand. ■
Off Workshop. They will be presenting Research, Biotechnology and Biological
4 RDE Chronicle
TTBDO brings UPLB techs to major science exhibits
Research projects turned technologies
developed in the University of the
Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) were
again displayed at major science
exhibits through the lead of the UPLB
Technology Transfer and Business
Development Office (TTBDO).
UPLB participated during the 2018
National Science and Technology
Week (NSTW) exhibition, an annual
celebration of the contributions of
science, technology, and innovation
(STI) to national development organized
by the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST).
Held last 17-21 July 2018 at the World
Trade Center, this year’s exhibit carried
the theme “Science for the People:
Innovation for Collective Prosperity.”
The exhibit displays were divided into
three clusters: innovations at home,
school, and workplace.
Some of the UPLB technologies
displayed at the NSTW exhibit were
those from the Institute of Plant
Gender Center culminates 10th anniversary with
new director and logo
Gender Center staff with their new director, Atty. Eric Paul D. Peralta (center) poses for a photo. (Photo by AS Palma)
The University of the Philippines
Los Baños Gender Center (UPLB
GC) culminated its 10th anniversary
celebration with the launch of their new
logo and the official turnover of the
center’s directorship from Dr. Bella C.
Cruzana to Atty. Eric Paul D. Peralta
on 31 July 2018 at the Obdulia F. Sison
Hall, UPLB.
Mr. Glenn S. Lubuguin, Assistant
to the Vice Chancellor for Research
and Extension, opened the program
by congratulating the GC for their
anniversary celebration. This was
followed by a message from Dr. Portia G.
Lapitan, Vice Chancellor for Academic
Affairs, who was very positive that Atty.
Peralta’s background would help in
addressing gender issues at UPLB.
Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez Jr. then
highlighted the event’s theme “Roadmap
and Pathways: UPLB GC in the Next
Years Towards a Gender Responsive
University” in his inspirational message.
According to him, the center can achieve
its plans with “a solid mission and
by Ana Margarita S. Palma
Breeding: seeds of various vegetable
varieties, Simple Nutrition Addition
Program (SNAP) Hydroponics, and
the open-pollinated variety IPB QPM
Var 6 corn grits. Biofertilizers and
Virgin Coconut Oil products from the
National Institute of Microbiology and
Biotechnology (BIOTECH) were also
featured.
UPLB also participated in the 14th
Agriculture and Fisheries Technology
Forum and Product Exhibition at the
Department of Agriculture – Bureau of
Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) held
last 30 August–1 September 2018 at
SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
UPLB projects funded by DA-BAR were
displayed: Abra Glutinous rice, local
corn varieties with nutritional benefits,
banana stalk and water lily as feed for
dairy cattle, improved propagation of
Katmon trees, organic seed production
system, and waste onion leaves for food
applications.
Finally, UPLB hosted the 10th year
celebration of SyenSaya which was held
by Ana Margarita S. Palma
strategic planning” by its management
staff and eventually become a “national,
and even potentially, an international
hub for gender studies in Southeast
Asia.”
Former GC director and now director
of the University Publications Office Dr.
Cruzana gave a message and officially
turned over the office to new Director
Atty. Peralta.
In his acceptance speech, Atty. Peralta
laid out his vision for the GC to be more
visible in national and international
fora and conferences when it comes to
gender development. He also wishes
to retain the staple activities that they
have, conduct more capacity building
programs and establish new policies on
anti-sexual harassment. He also pointed
out the roles of men against gender-based
violence and hopes to accomplish his
plans with the help of UPLB GC staff
and coordinators.
Another highlight of the event was
the launching of the center’s new logo
designed by UPLB GC University
Some of the UPLB products displayed during the 14th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and
Product Exhibition by the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Agricultural Research. (Photos by RC
Ongkiko)
from 7-9 November 2018 at the Baker
Hall in UPLB with the theme “Science
for the People: Innovation for Collective
Prosperity.”
One of the most awaited highlights
of SyenSaya, the Wonderama exhibit
Research Associate I Sairah Mae R.
Saipudin. The logo symbolizes the
combined efforts of feminists, gender
advocates, allies of the LGBTQ+
community, with UPLB in the forefront
towards the achievement of “gender,
gender-inclusive development and the
ending of gender-based violence.”
During the event, officers of UPLB
MOVE (Men Opposed to Violence
against women Everywhere) also took
their oaths. MOVE is an all-male group
composed of members from different
UPLB units which was formed through
the initiative of the GC to end violence
against women and to ensure gender
equality in the university.
UPLB GC Committee members were
also introduced during the event,
followed by the presentation of UPLB
GC’s research and thesis grant program
recipients.
The program was closed by Dr. Teri
Marie Laude, coordinator of the
Reproductive Health Office. ■
featured different products and
technologies from the Los Baños science
community.
Syensaya is annually organized by the Los
Baños Science Community Foundation,
Inc. ■
UPLB mounts
biodiversity exhibit
by Jerry R. Yapo
With the theme “Art in Biodiversity,” a
select group of painters, sculptors, and
mixed media artists opened an exhibit on
ecological conservation last 8 October at
the Sining Makiling Gallery, DL Umali
Hall in UPLB.
Featuring a wide range of media, styles,
and techniques, the exhibit was a fitting
tribute to UPLB on its 100th Loyalty
celebration, last October 2018. Many of
the artworks highlighted flora and fauna
that are peculiar in the country and the
southeast asian region. Endemicity, one
of the hallmarks of biodiversity, was also
a major theme of the exhibit.
A few artists, however, dared to trek
another equally important aspect of
biodiversity -- endangerment. The
organizers hoped that the exhibit would
succeed not only in creating a platform
for the celebration of biodiversity, but
also in stirring public consciousness on
endangerment.
The “Art in Biodiversity” exhibit will run
until December 2018. ■

AnSci student and aProf win
Best Young Researchers award
WINNING SMILES. 18th AAAP attended by professors and researchers from the Institute of Animal Science: (L-R) Mr. Deneb V. Arriesgado, M.Sc., Ms.
Hazel Grace D. Masilungan, M.Sc., Dr. Consuelo Amor S. Estrella, Dr. Noel B. Lumbo, Dr. Veneranda A. Magpantay, Prof. Krystalene S. Decena, Dr.
Rommel C. Sulabo, Ms. Marie Fe M. Iranzo, Dr. Rhona Niña R. Reyes, Mr. Yron Joseph Y. Manaig, M.Sc., and Dr. Joveth L. Vicenal (Photo from KS
Decena)
A MS graduate student and an assistant
professor at the Institute of Animal
Science (IAS) in the University of the
Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) won
Best Young Researchers Award during
the 2018 Asian-Australasian Animal
Production (AAAP) Congress held at
Kuching, Malaysia from 1-3 August.
Dr. Joveth L. Vicenal’s paper, titled
“Effect of Full Fat Soybean Meal
and Supplemental Fat Source on
Reproductive and Progeny Performance
of Multiparous Sows,” won the Best
Young Researcher presentation in the
oral session. He is currently an MS
Animal Scient student and research
assistant under the supervision of Dr.
Rommel C. Sulabo, Professor at the IAS.
On the other hand, aProf. Krystalene
S. Decena’s paper on the “Effect of
NCPC, OVCRE, AGHAM, UEP, and farmer groups investigate
crop infestations in Northern Samar
To assist the farmers of Northern Samar
in their battle against abaca infestation,
UPLB conducted an Environmental
Investigative Mission (EIM).
The UPLB team from the National Crop
Protection Center (NCPC) and OVCRE
together with members of the Advocates
of Science & Technology for the People
(AGHAM), University of Eastern
Philippines Environmental Science
Department, Samar Small Farmers’
Association (NSSFA), and People Surge-
NS conducted field investigations, key
informant interviews, and focused group
discussions in some upland and remote
areas of Las Navas, Catarman, Northern
Samar namely Brgy. Epaw, Brgy. Dap
Dap, and Brgy. San Francisco last 25-28
May 2018.
According to the NSSFA, the infestation
occurred way back in 2014 and has now
resulted to as close to 100 percent loss in
by Krystalene S. Decena
Standardized Ileal Digestible Amino
Acids in Diets containing Increasing
Levels of Copra Expellers on Growth
Performance, Diarrhea Occurrence
and Efficiency of Nitrogen Utilization
in Nursery Pigs” won Best Young
Researcher in the poster presentation
category.
Their winning papers were among the
18 submitted to the AAAP Congress
by IAS-UPLB. Of these, only five were
accepted for oral presentation and the
remaining were accepted for poster
presentation.
The Malaysian Society of Animal
Production presided by Prof. Loh Teck
Chwen hosted the 2018 AAAP Congress.
The Philippines, through the Philippine
Carabao Center headed by Dr. Arnel
by Jose Elmo H. Azores
yield of abaca in their area. They added
that the infestation increased because the
national and provincial government were
negligent on the infestations, and that
they received little to no support at all.
Dr. Bonifacio F. Cayabyab of NCPC said
that the massive loss of abaca is mainly
caused by the abaca bunchy top virus,
which is mostly transferred by vectors.
Aside from abaca, bacterial leaf blight,
rice grain bugs, and rice black bugs
were seen in rice. Beetles, and mites that
causes damage to coconuts were also
present.
The activity ended with an open forum
held in UEP. Farmers from the different
communities of Northern Samar
gathered and attended the forum. The
EIM team presented their findings and
conducted short lectures on managing
PAGE 7 ►
April - December 2018
N. Del Barrio, will host the 19th AAAP
Congress in 2020.
The AAAP is a consortium of animal
science societies that was founded
in 1980 with eight charter members
representing the animal production
societies of Australia, Indonesia,
Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand,
Philippines, and Thailand. Later, Taiwan,
Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, India,
Vietnam, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan,
Iran, Sri Lanka, and China joined as
member countries.
Hence, the AAAP congress, which is
a biennial event, is an avenue where
the largest number of animal scientists
and professionals meet to discuss
current advances in animal sciences and
technology. ■
Farmers from different communities in Northern Samar attended the forum. (Photo by JH Azores)
5
►
PAGE 2
One Health...
The University of Cambridge has one
of the most advanced laboratories
in the world and is committed to
support research in the field of medical
engineering and neuroscience. In sharing
her experiences as a teaching supervisor
and researcher, Dr. Fojas discussed the
use of sensors in medical sciences. She
is currently working on developing an
integrated micro fluidic-nano sensor
system for neuro-functional imaging and
neurotransmission detection.
She also shared tips on how to access
funding from different UK research
institutions and committed to assist
in the establishment of collaboration
between UPLB and UK. Moreover, she
also encouraged UPLB students to apply
for internship programs to gain advanced
knowledge and new techniques in this
field.
Dr. Fojas is currently pursuing
a Master of Medical Sciences in
Clinical Investigation (Neurology and
Neuropsychiatry) at Harvard University.
During her recent short stay in the
Philippines, Dr Fojas was involved in
various medical missions and closely
worked with the Department of Health
for the promotion of non-invasive
treatment for drug addiction. Dr.
Fojas is an alumna of the Department
of Chemical Engineering, College
of Engineering and Agro-industrial
Technology, UPLB and previously
served as faculty at the department.
Furthermore, she has already completed
her PhD in Nanoscience and
Nanotechnology (Neurophysics) from
Cambridge University in the United
Kingdom.
With her passion to share the benefits
of new technologies, she, together with
other Filipino scientists, would like to
give back the knowledge they gained
from different research centers outside
the Philippines. ■
6 RDE Chronicle
UPLB researchers
pitch technologies
during TTBDO’s
Kapihan Series
by Ana Margarita S. Palma
Selected researchers from the University
of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)
pitched their respective technologies to
prospective agriculture industry partners
during the UPLB Technology Transfer
and Business Development Office
(TTBDO)’s “Kapihan Series 2018” held
6 April 2018 at the Institute of Plant
Breeding (IPB) Conference Room.
With the theme, “Academe-industry
Collaborations through Technology
Pitching,” the activity aimed to entice
private entities to help develop and
commercialize UPLB technologies with
market potential.
“In commercializing technologies, it
takes two to tango,” TTBDO Director
Glenn N. Baticados during the event’s
opening program, referring to the roles
of the academe and industry. He believed
that industry players are vital to turn
“research into revenues.”
The TTBDO incorporated the concept
of “speed dating” to the pitching activity.
Small tables were set up where TTBDO
staff and researchers sat on one side,
while the industry players move from
one table to another after each round
until they had hear all the pitches.
Each researcher was accompanied by a
TTBDO staff when they pitched their
respective technology. Each round lasted
up to five minutes.
PAGE 7 ►
UPLB TTBDO holds Tech
Transfer Day, unveils new
name and logo
by Ana Margarita S. Palma
In a bid to create more and better spaces
for more academe-industry collaboration,
the UPLB TTBDO, formerly known
as the Center for Technology Transfer
and Entrepreneurship (CTTE), held
its Technology Transfer Day on 22
November 2018 at the CTTE Building,
Science and Technology Park, UPLB.
Carrying the theme “Creating Spaces
for Collaborations,” the Tech Transfer
Day gathered UPLB researchers from
different units and colleges, students,
industry partners, entrepreneurs, and
technology transfer officers to share their
experiences and insights on the state of
technology transfer in the country, and
to form new research collaborations.
New name, new logo, same endeavor
One of the event’s highlights was the
unveiling of the new name and logo of
UPLB’s technology transfer office.
The office’s name “Center for Technology
Transfer and Entrepreneurship” was
changed to UPLB Technology Transfer
and Business Development Office
(UPLB TTBDO) in accordance to the
One UP System policy. UPLB TTBDO
Director Glenn N. Baticados said that
OVCRE organizes capacity building training
series for UPLB Information Officers
To strengthen information dissemination
and management in UPLB, from August
to October, the Office of the Vice
Chancellor for Research and Extension –
Information Officers Network (OVCRE-
ION) held five capacity-building
workshops on content creation and
management, with information officers
in the University of the Philippines Los
Baños (UPLB) as focal participants.
The first training on Intellectual Property
(IP) guidelines and Data Privacy Act,
was held last 13 August 2018. Staff from
the UPLB Technology Transfer and
Business Development Office (TTBDO)
discussed the proper disclosure of
research results, as well as protection
and commercialization of mature
technologies. They also gave an overview
on the UP Visual Identity Guidebook,
which prescribes the proper use of the
UP logo and trademarks. Collection and
processing of personal data was discussed
as mandated by the Data Privacy Act.
On 17 August 2018, a workshop on
building e-Portfolio using Google Sites
was conducted. Participants were able to
create their own portfolio sites through
hands-on practice. Mr. Florante A.
Cruz of the UPLB Museum of Natural
History facilitated the workshop. A
second batch of participants was taught
last 08 October.
A two-day workshop on “Building
a Gender Sensitive Community of
Practice” was then conducted from
6-7 September 2018 at Lima Park
Hotel, Malvar, Batangas City. This was
he hopes that with the new name, the
office will become more significant
to UPLB’s researchers, the university,
and the public. The TTBDO name is
also adopted by UP constituent units,
namely, UP Manila, UP Mindanao, and
UP Cebu, and UP Visayas.
From tech innovation to adaptation
Meanwhile, to encourage researchers to
pursue technology transfer, Dr. Raul V.
Destura of UP Manila spoke and shared
his insights on “the Philippine landscape
from biomedical innovations to industry
adaptation.”
Dr. Destura is known for his pioneering
work called “Lab-in-Mug” technology,
a portable multi-infectious disease
detection device the size of a mug.
The technology paved the way for the
establishment of Dr. Destura’s spin-off
company named Manila HealthTek, Inc.
In his message, he said that “the driver
of economic growth, proven globally
and repeatedly, is the S&T sector,”
citing Singapore’s experience on how it
became a technology giant through the
development of science and technology.
He hopes to improve technology transfer
by Ana Margarita S. Palma
Participants composed of information officers from various UPLB units with Assistant to the Vice
Chancellor for Research and Extension Mr. Glenn S. Lubuguin during the two-day workshop “Building
a Gender Sensitive Community of Practice (Photo by AS Palma)
attended by information officers from
various UPLB units who produce print
and online publications and other IEC
materials.
Aside from learning about writing,
photojournalism, and lay-outing, the
workshop became a venue where best
practices were shared among information
officers, while learning gender sensitivity
in media. The workshop was in
coordination with the UPLB Gender
Center, a supervised unit of OVCRE.
The last workshop in OVCRE’s third
training series was on managing photos
offline and online. Participants were
in the Philippines through the assistance
of important stakeholders.
Creating spaces for collaborations
The TTBDO also invited several
researchers and industry partners whom
they had the chance to work with on
technology transfer.
One of them was Dr. Virginia M. Padilla,
the developer of Nutrio, a biofertilizer
for eggplant and sugarcane. Last year, Dr.
Padilla underwent a spin-off agreement
with UPLB through the TTBDO to
establish her own corporation to market
her own invention. Dr. Padilla is now
conducting marketing, technology
validation, and building of a production
area for Nutrio.
Dr. Dexter Difuntorum of the East-
West Seed (EWS) then talked about
their partnership with UPLB for the
commercialization of Sinta Papaya seeds.
EWS is also known to have partnerships
with other UPLB units.
taught to organize a large collection of
images using Google photos and XnView
software, which is an offline system for
managing photos. It was held last 8
October 2018.
The OVCRE ION regularly holds
workshops and training events primarily
to improve their skills and collaboration
with other information officers in the
university.
Its creation is an initiative of the
Information Management and
Technology Utilization Section of the
OVCRE. ■
Another industry partner who spoke was
from the agrochemical-based company
TagChem Dragon Distribution, Inc.
under the leadership of Mr. Theo Angelo
Garcia. They raised a few research areas
that they hope to be addressed by UPLB
researchers. TagChem is planning to get
a license to commercialize the UPLB
technologies, HiYeast, Bio-N, WiltCure,
and MicroMix.
Recognizing a significant man
Dr. Enrico P. Supangco, former
director of then CTTE, was also given
recognition by Director Baticados for
his work to establish the innovation
ecosystem in UPLB. Dr. Supangco
received a trophy called “Sibol” that
was designed by a National Artist. Dr.
Supangco’s message was read by his
daughter, Assistant Professor Elizabeth E.
Supangco. In his message, Dr. Supangco
recalled how CTTE began as an idea in
2005 when he was appointed by then
UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco
as the Vice Chancellor for Research and
PAGE 7 ►

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture in ASEAN region
discussed at int’l conference
Experts and officials from the academe,
government, and non-government
organization sectors of ASEAN countries
recently convened in Tagaytay City
last 7-10 November 2018 to discuss
nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) in
the region.
NSA is an approach adopted by
development organizations which
emphasizes the role of agriculture to
nutrition in overcoming malnutrition to
achieve food security.
The International Conference on
Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Food
Systems which gathered researchers and
officials from Philippine state universities
and colleges and delegates from
Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia, was
organized by the UPLB Interdisciplinary
Studies Center on Food & Nutrition
Security (UPLB ISC-FaNS).
The conference aimed to discuss existing
NSA programs and policies in Southeast
Asia with the hope of reaching a wider
audience.
In his welcome remarks, UPLB
Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez Jr.
said that for decades, agriculture and
nutrition were considered as “separate
domains,” albeit being two of the most
pressing and oldest development issues
in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
He emphasized the need to have an
interdisciplinary approach to address
agriculture and nutrition with the help of
different sectors.
He added that NSA “can help
sustainably meet the food needs of
people by ensuring the production and
the equitable distribution of a variety
of affordable, nutritious, culturally-
appropriate safe foods of adequate
quantity and good quality.”
NCPC and CropLife Philippines lead IRM
capacity building and workshop
by Joedel G. Padilla
The National Crop Protection Center
(NCPC) and CropLife Philippines,
Inc. spearheaded the Insect/Insecticide
Resistance Management (IRM) Capacity
Building and Workshop in corn,
cabbage, eggplant, and mango for 90
representatives of different government
offices and private companies.
The workshop was held last 13-15 June
at the Training Center for Tropical
Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability
inside the University of the Philippines
Los Baños (UPLB) campus.
The three-day activity aimed to empower
key individuals who are involved in
identifying challenges and opportunities
in formulating and implementing IRM
strategies of selected crops.
NCPC Director Gil L. Magsino and
CropLife Philippines, Inc. Executive
Director Edilberto M. de Luna
welcomed the participants on the first
day. They highlighted proper stewardship
of the use of seeds and crop protection
by Ana Margarita S. Palma
Participants and organizers of the International Conference on Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and
Food Systems pose for a photo after the event’s opening program. (Photo by AS Palma)
High-ranking government officials
also attended the opening program.
One of them was Sen. Cynthia Villar,
chair of the Senate Committee on
Agriculture, who was visibly happy with
the conference’s agenda as it coincide
with her advocacies on food security,
sustainable food production, and good
nutrition. She mentioned during her
talk of the possibility of food gardening
in urban areas as a way to address
malnutrition.
The four-day conference was packed
with plenary and parallel sessions
tackling NSA in Southeast Asia; case
studies of NSA in Thailand, Cambodia,
and Indonesia; nutrition-sensitive food
systems (from food production to cross-
cutting issues); and opportunities and
challenges in implementing NSA.
On the last day, workshops were
conducted to identify strategies in
integrating nutrition in agriculture
products. They also challenged
participants to develop a workable action
plan for delayed development of insects’
resistance to pesticides.
Mr. Wildfredo C. Roldan, executive
director of the Fertilizer and Pesticide
Authority (FPA), then emphasized the
importance of the four pillars of IRM
(stakeholders, academe, farmers, and
FPA) in serving the Filipinos.
On the second day, resource speakers
discussed theories, principles, issues, and
strategies for IRM focusing on selected
crops. A workshop on formulating action
plans for identified challenges in the
IRM of Bt crops, issues on Bt corn seeds,
information dissemination related to
pesticide use, resistance development of
insecticide due to misuse, and other crop
protection practices was also conducted.
On the last day of the training, the
participants had a field tour at farmers’
fields planted with mango and Bt corn in
Nueva Ecija. ■
April - December 2018
programs. Participants were divided into
three groups based on their expertise.
They discussed strategies and challenges
involved from food production to
cross-cutting issues, such as gender and
empowerment and nutrition-sensitive
value chain. The workshop results are
expected to shape policies that can help
address food security in the Philippines.
The event was in partnership with Cavite
State University, Food and Agriculture
Organization in the Philippines, and
the Southeast Asian Regional Center
for Graduate Study and Research in
Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture –
Bureau of Agricultural Research,
Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Aquatic and Natural Resources
Research and Development, Jollibee
Group Foundation, UPLB Office of
International Linkages, UPLB, and UP
System sponsored the event. ■
►
PAGE 5
NCPC, OVCRE,
AGHAM, UEP, and
farmer groups...
the pests affecting their major crops.
Aside from good pest management
practice, introduction of virus-resistant
abaca varieties were recommended.
According to Director Glenn S.
Lubuguin of the UPLB Ugnayan ng
Pahinungod, with the farmers’ main
source of livelihood drastically dying,
the Pahinungod, with the help of the
UPLB community may extend their help
to create programs to help the farmer
communities in Northern Samar.
This activity was a part of the NCPC’s
Quick Response program which UPLB
is now exploring options for sustained
assistance to farmers of Northern Samar.
The UPLB team is looking further in
providing more technical assistance on
agriculture and food security among
others, for the farmer communities in
Northern Samar. ■
7
►
PAGE 6
UPLB TTBO holds...
Extension. Back then, the administration
recognized that “UPLB needed to
have an office that would centralize
the activities related to technology
commercialization.”
Therefore, he pushed for the creation of
CTTE (comprised of the UPLB Science
and Technology Park, Intellectual
Property Rights Office and APEC Center
for Technology Exchange and Training
for Small and Medium Enterprises)--now
known as the TTBDO.
Since then, the TTBO has been
instrumental in making UPLB’s
discoveries and inventions commercially
protected, and in providing benefits to
licensees, inventors, and the university
alike. ■
►
PAGE 6
UPLB researchers
pitch technologies...
According to TTBDO, the “speed
dating” concept was used to pique
the interest of participating industry
players and private individuals. From
there, TTBDO hopes to set initial
meetings between researchers and
partners to kickstart licensing talks for
the technology’s commercialization or
further development.
The event was composed of two sessions.
The morning session featured the Simple
Nutrient Addition Program (SNAP)
solution, Abaca genetic markers, IPB
QPM Var 6, and several varieties of sweet
potato, abaca, and hibiscus.
Notable industry players who listened to
the pitches are from Syngenta, Abraham
Holdings, Inc., Dow AgroSciences,
Pilmico, East-West Seed, and TagChem
Dragon Distribution Inc.
Meanwhile, the afternoon session
displayed technologies from the National
Institute of Molecular Biology and
Biotechnology, College of Engineering
and Agro-Industrial Technology, and
the College of Agriculture and Food
Science. These were WiltCure, Hi-Yeast,
Micromix, Bio-N, Nanosilica Powder,
and Kakawate Inoculant.
Private companies who attended
were Allied Botanical Corp, Monarch
Agricultural Products, Inc., Abraham
Holdings, Inc., Dizon Farms, TagChem
Dragon Distribution, Inc. and Northern
Foods Corp.
Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for
Research and Extension Mr. Glenn
S. Lubuguin closed the event by
recognizing the shared public service
goals of UPLB and its industry partners.
“We hope to underscore a greater
objective. UPLB wants to matter in the
lives of Filipinos. We want to change
lives and we believe our industry
partners do so too. So when we recognize
you as our partners, we are not just
recognizing your capabilities but also
your commitment to that aspiration,” he
said. ■
8 RDE Chronicle

ACROSS DOWN

1. recognizable symbol adopted by

organizations to identify themselves and
their products
3. composed of Southeast Asian nations
8. analytical device that detects chemical times, have physical and economic
substance
10. overseas Filipino scientists who
return to the Philippines to share their
expertise
15. brand name
17. non-binding agreement between two technology
parties
18. legume known for its edible bean
2. socially constructed definition of men
and women Relax with this crossword puzzle!
by Ana Margarita S. Palma
4. study of extremely small things
5. condition in which all people, at all
access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious
food
6. all-male group formed to end violence
against women and ensure gender
equality
7. process of deriving income from a
9. independent business technology
taker

19. encompasses all living organisms on 11. yeast-based bio control agent
Earth developed in the UPLB National Institute
of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
20. Domestic fowls, such as chickens,
turkeys, ducks, or geese, raised for meat 12. plants that grow in still or slowly
or eggs. moving water

13. biopesticide that can control

Fusarium Wilt

14. web-based application designed to

create data collection tools and manage
Answers to Crossword Puzzle collected data in a secure database
(Aug 2017 to Mar 2018 issue)
16. fruit-bearing tree that is endemic to
the Philippines and is known for its sour
ACROSS
fruits
2. hybrid; 3. livestock; 7. ruminants; 9.
anemia; 12. ethanol; 15. biodiesel; 17.
nymph; 19. LCA; 20. neuter

DOWN
1. pyroclast; 4. senior; 5. sustainable;
6. curator; 8. patent; 10. museum;
11. milking; 13. blight; 14. lahar; 16. lava;
18. nano

Geeky Comics
by Ozzy Boy S. Nicopior

The RDE Chronicle

Official Research, Development, and Extension News
of the University of the Philippines Los Baños

managing editor
Maria Rowena Beatriz Q. Inzon
The RDE Chronicle is published by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and
writers / photographers / contributors Extension (OVCRE), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). It contains news and updates on the various
layout RDE endeavours of the university.
Regina Mae C. Ongkiko
Ruth M. Almario Regina Mae C. Ongkiko Contributions related to research and extension from UPLB faculty and staff are welcome. Please send articles,
production/ circulation Jose Elmo H. Azores Rey B. Oronan artwork, digital photographs, and literary pieces via email: ovcre.uplb@up.edu.ph. Comments on the published
Jose Elmo H. Azores Herald Nygel F. Bautista Joedel G. Padilla content can also be sent through the same email address. Requests for use of content for publication should be
Alex C. Genil addressed to the Editors.
Blesilda M. Calub Eduardo Ruibal
Reynaldo T. Magsino Krystalene S. Decena Ana Margarita S. Palma For inquiries, please contact us at: Information Management and Technology Utilization Section
Michael B. Biguelme
Marianne R. de Luna Saubel Ezrael A. Salamat OVCRE, 3F UPLB Main Library, UPLB, College, Laguna 4031 Philippines
Kamla Zyra G. Lavadia Jerry R. Yapo Tel. No. (63) 49 536-2354 , Local VOIP: 1515, Email: ovcre.uplb@up.edu.ph.
editorial consultant
Florante A. Cruz Maria Rowena Beatriz Q. Inzon Claire S. Zubia
Ozzyboy S. Nicopior
advisers
Vice Chancellor Rex B. Demafelis
Assistant to the Vice Chancellor
Glenn S. Lubuguin