112th

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—Ma’am, maybe you need to set the post to public. Malamang po naka-set siya ngayon sa friends only.

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—Good evening, Ma’am. Missed your call, but if it’s for an update: I’ve been in contact with all but one of them. Working on condensing their statements into an 8-minute speech. Doable, I think.

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12 STATEMENTS IN ORDER OF MENTION

MS. MARIA V. JAVIER
Outstanding Administrative Aide (Blue Collar)
National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Magandang umaga po. Una po, taos puso ang aking pasasalamat sa Poong Maykapal  sa pag kakaron ng ganitong parangal. Isa pong malaking karangalan ang mapabilang  sa ganitong pagkilala.  Lubos po ang aking pasasalamat mula sa aming Direktor,  sa aking Boss sa Agriculture Program, mga kasamahan at sa mga taong nagtiwalala sa aking kakayahan, at sa aking pamilya na nagsilbing inspirasyon.  Ang aking pangako na patuloy kong maglilikod ng buong katapatan at kahusayan sa abot ng aking kakayahan.

Muli, maraming maraming Salamat po.  Mabuhay po Tayong Lahat!

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MR. RICHARD A. EDUARTE
Outstanding Administrative Personnel (Field Supervisor)
University Planning and Maintenance Office

Ikinagagalak ko pong mahirang bilang Outstanding Field Supervisor sa taong 2020. Sa 31 taong paglilingkod ko sa Unibersidad, maliban sa aking sahod, overtime pay at palit-araw, ni minsan ay hindi ako humingi ng kahit anong kapalit sa mga oras at araw na dapat sana ay kasama ko ang aking pamilya ngunit ako ay nasa unibersidad at naglilingkod. Bilang isa sa mga foreman ng mga tubero at pump operator, likas na sa akin ang mga pagkakataong ako ay inaabot ng madaling-araw sa trabaho at pumapasok ng sabado, linggo at holiday. At sa mga pagkakataong ito, ni minsan ay hindi sumama ang aking loob dahil mahal ko ang aking trabaho at ipinagmamalaki ko ito. Ngayong panahon ng pandemya, ipinapangako ko na sa kabila ng aking edad at mga nararamdaman sa katawan, imbis na panghinaan ako ng loob, ay pagbubutihan ko pa aking trabaho may award man o wala.

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ENGR. DONNY REY D. CAMUS OF UPMO
Outstanding Administrative Personnel (Professional)
University Planning and Maintenance Office

During this very crucial time brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving the Outstanding Professional Award makes me feel humbled and flattered and at the same time challenged and nervous. Humbled and flattered because all I knew is that all along, I was only doing my job as a public servant giving all I’ve got – my little knowledge, my short experience and my totality as an individual. In the same manner, I am also challenged and nervous because I know for a fact that we still need to accomplish so much to attain the goal of a future-proofed UPLB and accepting this award is tantamount to accepting the challenges the future brings and promising to do better every single day. I acknowledge that I can only do so little and I am still a work in progress but the fire in me to keep doing better never withers. As of the moment, I can’t find enough words to express how grateful I am.

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MS. DELFINA S. IRINGAN
Outstanding Laboratory Technician (Craftsman)
National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my Institution, the UPLB-National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, under Dr. Marilyn B. Brown’s administration – and to all previous Directors of BIOTECH for shaping me into a fulfilled Laboratory Technician for 34 years. To my previous and current Immediate Supervisors Dr. Reynaldo E. de la Cruz and Dr. Nelly Aggangan, respectively, and my co-workers at BIOTECH, especially the Mykovam Laboratory people who supported me in all ways; to the Awards Committee, for the confidence you had given me as the 2021 UPLB Outstanding Technician/Craftsman category; and to UPLB, and above all, to our Almighty God who made me a better person as an employee. It is truly an honor to be part of this momentous event -the  112th UPLB Foundation Day. We at the MYKOVAM laboratory  are consistently serving UPLB to  produce  an environment-friendly technology that cater the need  of agricultural and private sectors. Truly, in this time of difficulties, due to the global coronavirus outbreak that almost paralyzed the Philippine economy, the Mycorrhizal biofertilizers that we developed in BIOTECH can be one of the most effective technologies to achieve food security and better environment. Once again, thank you very much.

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PROJECT SARAI
(Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines)
Outstanding Research Team
as represented by Dr. Maria Victoria O. Espaldon

In behalf of SARAI or Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines, I would like to express our gratitude to the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) in recognizing what SARAi has achieved in the last 6 years.  SARAI is a testament of the capacity and strength of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach to research and development. The SARAI Research Team, which is almost as big as a research institute, and spread across the country through our partner SUCs and select NGAs, has proven that,  when we put and commit our sciences together, we can push the boundary of what S&T can offer to the agriculture sector in the Philippines. We are indeed ecstatic that this kind of effort has been recognized by the university.  We are now more inspired to go forward and ensure that SARAI advances in agricultural precision technologies will find its niche  on the ground and among our farming communities.

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MR. DARLON V. LANTICAN
Outstanding Researcher (Junior REPS/ Natural Sciences)
Institute of Plant Breeding

I am humbled and grateful to the University to be chosen as this year’s Outstanding Researcher (Junior REPS category)!  I am with the rest of the Genetics Lab-IPB family, and our collaborators from various units in the University, who provided me with opportunities thereby honing my research skills to continue striving for excellence amidst some challenges. Given an enabling research environment, I will continue making the University proud and represent the REPS sector to the best that I could. Mentorship and Equality—these two factors are my driving force to strive for honor and excellence in research. I value all my mentors in the University, from my academic professors, research supervisors and project leaders. They honed my interests in research in so many ways — from setting up experimental designs to research management. However, one must be prepared to graduate from being a mentee and become a good mentor to continue the mentorship cycle. Everyone should learn how to step out from anyone’s shadows and be ready to search for one’s own niche to become the best that they can be. I also want to inspire early career researchers like me that being young is not a hindrance to learn advanced technologies and lead your own team. Being a member of the REPS sector, it is hard not to feel that we are a second class citizen of the University. Recognition, promotion process and opportunities are hardly earned by our sector within UP. However, instead of being consumed by the system, I take this as a personal challenge to achieve research excellence and further contribute to the University. I am doing it to raise our flag, become relevant and appreciate my efforts as a young REPS in making a difference for the agriculture industry. This is rather an award I dedicate to those who worked hard and pushed for my nomination (Genetics Lab, the insitute, and CAFS). This is a huge milestone that I will cherish as I fulfill my commitment as a scientist.

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DR. MARK ANGELO O. BALENDRES
Outstanding Researcher (Senior REPS/ Natural Sciences)
Institute of Plant Breeding

I thank the university for recognizing our work. I hope that the university will continue to inspire its faculty, researchers, extensionists, artists, and staff by continuing the tradition of acknowledging those who have shown excellent work and noteworthy performance. We shall strengthen our mentoring capacity and enhance our skills and values worthy of emulation by those who are ahead of us, our peers, and those who would follow.

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DR. MARIA ANA T. QUIMBO
Outstanding Researcher (Senior Faculty/Social Sciences)
Institute for Governance and Rural Development

I would say I will not be in my place right now without the support of my generous and gracious mentors, my research collaborators, and my research teams. Because of this positive impact in my professional career, I have been mentoring other researchers and even junior colleagues within and outside the University. I have also been an advocate of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research and I believe that us, in the Social Sciences field, provide equally important contribution in various dialogues in any field of discourse. With this, I believe that what we need in the University is to nurture the culture of mentoring and collaborative work. The various interdisciplinary studies centers that we now have (I am also a member of the Interdisciplinary Studies Center on Food and Nutrition Security) provide a clear direction toward this goal. What we need is an effective culture of mentoring, one that is working, functional, and with deliberate intents for the common good.

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DR. VACHEL GAY V. PALLER
Outstanding Researcher (Senior Faculty/Natural Sciences)
Institute of Biological Sciences

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincerest gratitude to the UPLB administration for supporting our academic and research endeavors. This award is a symbol of hard work, passion, and perseverance despite the obstacles and challenges. Research is a platform for extension works for we cannot afford to sit down in our comfort zone while we know that many Filipinos are in dire need of research-based community programs and policies to improve quality of life. There is no turning back once we engage in research as one would discover more problems than solutions to societal issues. Thus, we continue to take the extra mile by conducting research, mentoring budding researchers, improving curriculum for outcome-based education to enhance research skills, and strengthening interdisciplinary and interagency collaborations and institutional partnerships.  UPLB, therefore, should continue its vision to provide an enabling environment for research through improved facilities and ease research procurement processes as these approaches would allow us to futureproof our institution and the nation as a whole. Yes, we continue to be committed and keep on dreaming for UPLB so that we can be a channel of hope for others even if it means embracing the difficult path, for service is an act of courage.

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DR. CELIA dR. MEDINA
Outstanding Extension Personnel
Institute of Weed Science, Entomology, and Plant Pathology

I am humbled and honored by this award for doing what I love.  Wanting to see my research used beneficially got me to engage with farmers, technicians, and almost every agent in the agricultural industry.  What I learn from this rewarding cycle of mutual interest helps me focus my research thereby achieving collaborative successes through extension. I cherish this award with the hope that it will inspire others to see the value of extension in helping to create valuable research for the communities we serve.

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MS. SHERYL B. POSADAS
Outstanding Administrative Office Personnel
International Student Relations

I am so grateful being chosen for the award. This award will serve as an inspiration for me to continue serving with confidence, honesty and with a heart to our clients particularly sa pinagsisilbihan nating Iskolar ng Bayan. Nakita naman po din natin lalo na po noong panahon ng pandemya na marami po sa atin ang mga bayaning maituturing, mga nagboluntaryo maliit o malaki man ang kanilang kontribusyon. Sana po ay maging lalo po tayong maging handa sa anumang possibleng dumating pa sa bansa natin at dito sa universidad, future-proof ika nga.