Official Newsletter of the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of TechnologyGazette

Vol 9. No. 31 April 2015

Christine F. Godinez-OrtegaEditor-in-Chief

Rex G. OrtegaAssociate Editor

Maria Theresa B. PanzoManaging Editor

John Daniel O. EnriquezLay-Out Artist

Mark Jezreel T. OrbePhotographer and Graphic

Designer

Fatimah Joy S. AlmarezArnold B. Alamon

Sarah Elizabeth N. AllenSherry Ann R. Bollozos

Jun Karren CaparosoHoneylet E. Dumoran

Steven Patrick C. Fernandez Amado C. Guinto, Jr.

Ian EmbraduraEphrime B. Metillo

Louis Mark N. Plaza Contributors

Hernenigildo M. Dico, Jr.Finance Manager

Editorial BoardGazette The Gazette is the official newsletter of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT)

Published by the Office of Publication and Information (OPI) with an office on the second floor, above the Office of the Chancellor’s office, Tibanga, Iligan City. Tel: + 63 (63) 222 8769

Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Editors or the Institute Administration.Contributions are welcome. Send articles written in simple, correct English; photos with captions to: opi@g.msuiit.edu.ph

Photos and captions must be separated from the text. The Editors reserve the right to choose the articles and photos that appear in Gazette.

Vol. 9 No. 31April 2015

Vera Mae F. Cabataña Cherly S. Adlawan Circulation Consultant

MSUS officials present during the 26th Commencement Exercises of MSU-Naawan on April 17 (l-r): former Regent Eduardito C. Maruhom, MSU-IIT Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol, MSU-Naawan Chancellor Dr. Proserpina Gomez Roxas, Commencement Speaker Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor “Leni” Gerona Robredo, Secretary to the University and of the Board of Regents Dr. Mary Joyce Z. Guinto-Sali, Student Regent Datu Esma Mikee P. Maruhom, and Alumni Regent Dr. Datumanong A. Sarangani. (background) Executive Vice President Emmanuel M. Lagare and TCTO Chancellor Atty. Lorenzo R. Reyes (partly hidden). Photo Credit: Leni Robredo (facebook)

opi@g.msuiit.edu.ph

45th Commencement Exercises in photosphotos by: Mark Jezreel T. Orbe

Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte during the “Listening Tour” on Federalism at the COE Amphitheater on April 7, 2015

The cover: The jubilant class of 2015

DAVAO CITY MAYOR Rodrigo R. Duterte was the guest speaker during the Institute’s 45th

Commencement Exercises held at the MSU-IIT Gymnasium on April 7, 2015. Duterte arrived by helicopter from Davao City landing at the Iligan City National High School grounds. He was met by an MSU-IIT official party led by former BOR regent and Protocol Officer Eduardito C. Maruhom, Rex G. Ortega of the Office of the Chancellor, and former Iligan City Mayor Franklin M. Quijano. After signing autographs and posing with some of his admirers who were on hand to greet him at the high school grounds, Duterte, wearing a plaid, polo shirt and jeans then proceeded to the MSU-IIT with police escorts. MSU-IIT Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol and top officials, as well as the incumbent Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia were among those who greeted Duterte upon his arrival at the MSU-IIT where he was again mobbed by an adoring crowd. After he changed into the academic gown, everyone went post haste to the Gymnasium for the graduation ceremony. Setting aside his prepared speech, the Mayor spoke extemporaneously tracing first the country’s history leading to the Mamasapano killings. He began when the Spaniards stayed in the country for 400 years imposing her religion, Christianity, and her attempts to convert Muslims to Christianity hence, the Muslim resistance; and the coming of the Americans who stayed for 50 years imposing treaties with so-called “parity rights” but in reality, he said, it was anything but “parity or equal”; and, America’s influence to this day has resulted in inequities in the sharing of income and resources by today’s politicians or today’s elite who are based in Manila who decide on who will receive and how much share is given to certain groups when, ironically, Mindanao contributes about 54 percent of its income from agricultural products to the national coffers. He then lamented what all Mindanaoans already know that Mindanao gets only, in return, a small share of the nation’s wealth. In Duterte’s historical meanderings, he explained that the Mamasapano killings happened because, like the colonizers who did not ask permission from the country’s inhabitants to stay in the country, he said, the “bright boys among the Police” went into Mamasapano territory violating the ceasefire agreement. Duterte later had a luncheon meeting at the Institute Boardroom with local businessmen led by

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Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is 45th Commencement Speaker

by Christine F. Godinez-Ortega

Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte

Photo by: Mark Jezreel Orbe

his former dormmate at the San Beda College’s Law School, Benny Badelles. After this, Duterte left for the College of Engineering (COE) Amphitheatre where a multi-sector crowd gathered for his “Listening Tour” on Federalism organized by Quijano. The forum opened with a power point presentation on federalism by Chancellor Tanggol based on his own book on federalism. Federalism simply means a system of government where there are two levels of distribution of power within a given territory. Today, the Philippines runs a unitary form of government where the central government holds all the powers to chart the country’s present and future, including the local concerns of cities and provinces. In his extemporaneous speech again at the COE Amphitheatre, Duterte mentioned the newspaper article from The Philippine Daily where Peace Secretary Teresita “Ging” Quintos Deles warned of ‘bloodshed’ if the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is not passed. Duterte agreed about this prediction but elaborated that the battleground will be in Mindanao and not elsewhere. However, Duterte reiterated his allegiance to the country as a Filipino and asserted that he is for peace. He also talked about the unspoken differences between tribal groups and the less known fact that is common knowledge among Mindanaoans of the gap between the tribal groups. For example, he said, the Tausug cannot like the Maranaos and vice versa,

and if the central government deals with the Maguindanaos through the BBL, then it must deal with Nur Misuari, a Tausug, as well as the Yakans and the Sama de Laut. A lawyer who finished his Law degree from San Beda College, Duterte has been Mayor of Davao City for 23 years and is serving his seventh term as Mayor. He was also a one-time Vice Mayor and Congressman. A son of a provincial governor of a once unified Davao, Duterte is known to have cleansed Davao of rebels, and criminal elements, an achievement all peoples of Mindanao acknowledge. Most of all, Duterte is known as a Mayor with the common touch. He is said to never turn away anyone who wants to see him. He accommodates everybody and is not time conscious of his appointments making some MSU-IIT students to remark, since he was already running late for the MSU-IIT Commencement Exercises, “he is worth waiting for.” And this is borne out of present realities. Minutes after the MSU-IIT official Facebook (FB) page announced that he, Duterte is this year’s commencement speaker, 200 gave positive comments and shared the post and 1,000 likes were posted. Called alternately as “idol”, and “hero”, Iligan residents turned out to greet him despite the noon day heat. His commencement speech was livestreamed by the MSU-IIT Center for E-Learning (Micel) because only about 4,000-5,000 could be accommodated in the MSU-IIT Gymnasium at any one time.

This year’s graduating class of 1,612 hung on to Duterte’s every word during his speech before the MSU-IIT Class 2015 that had 35 magna cum laudes; 261 cum laudes for the degree courses; 15 With Honors in the three-year Diploma courses, and five (5) for the two-year Diploma courses. The 2015 class was led by Class Valedictorian Rachel Anne O. Monteclaro, a BS Biology graduate major in Zoology, summa cum laude with a GPA of 1.19848. The School of Engineering Technology (SET) posted the highest number of graduates at 320 followed by 229 from the College of Business Administration & Accountancy; 224 from the College of Arts and Social Sciences; 211 from the College of Education; 199 from the College of Engineering; 182 from the College of Science & Mathematics; 117 from the School of Computer Studies; 84 from the College of Nursing; and, 33 from the School of Graduate Studies. Thirteen more joined the graduating class that brought the total number of graduates this year to 1,612. The MSUS President Macapado Muslim was represented by MSUS Executive Vice President Dr. Emmanuel M. Lagare during the two-hour graduation ceremony. Lagare conferred the various titles and degrees on the 2015 Graduating Class in the presence of BOR regents, Chancellors of the different MSUS units, and the MSU-IIT Chancellor Tanggol.

Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol and Executive Vice President Emmanuel M. Lagare present a Maranao sungka-an to Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte

EVERY ENGINEERING STUDENT knows there are tough hurdles to encounter

before becoming a full-fledged ‘engineer.’ After roughing it out for five years (longer for the not-so-in-a-hurry) with many a school work such as problem solving, laboratory experiments, and theses presentations in the university, only an incredible few join the sweet march to graduation to claim their distinguished diplomas. But probably the most public acclaim of shame or fame comes with the announcement of board exam passers

every year. Either their names appear on the list or not and for the exasperated, it’s all that matters. This year, for April 30, MSU-IIT’s Electrical Engineering department has successfully produced 100% board exam passers when out of 1,886 test takers throughout the country, only 884 passed (46.8%). The lucky seven Electrical Engineering (EE) students who passed the licensure test are, Karl Rebnar Gonzalez, Noel George Paqueo, Eli Joshua Maravillas, Ian Lester Romero, Joubert Abian,

Daphnee Lapitan, and Michael Gabrinez. MSU-IIT is indeed proud that the College of Engineering – Electrical Engineering Department has been quite consistent through the years in producing a great number of licensed engineers, including the 100% EE graduate passers last September 2014. In the previous years, they have had board exam top-notchers as well. What was it like? Let’s hear from the passers. They might be able to give some tips from their experience.

Sustaining Excellence: EE posts 100% passing rateby Sarah Elizabeth N. Allen

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“I drew inspiration from Proverbs 21:31 which I memorized and constantly recalled during the board exam, ‘The horse is made ready for the day of the battle but victory rests in the Lord.’”

These are now professional engineers whose careers are just beginning.

Noel Paqueo

“The math portion of the exam was so hard but what truly helped me was the hard training of solving problems during college. Thus, I was able to manage solving the items given to us during the review and especially during the exam.”

Michael Gabrinez

“During the board exam, I really felt nervous. Especially because I am a product of MSU-IIT, there were a lot of expectations. During the board exam your number one enemy is yourself. I kept myself calm and I never forgot to pray for wisdom from God.”

“I never felt anxious or nervous during the exam. The exam, by average was not that hard. It was ok. One could definitely answer the questions though there were a few items that were truly hard. But sometimes the nerves got in the way and what seemed familiar at first became faint from memory. So one has to watch out for those memory glitches.”

Ian Lest Romero

Joubert Romanillos Abian

6 | Gazette

ON APRIL 22 AND 23, the Department of English hosted “Kulukabildo 2015:

Constellating Language and Literature” at the College of Arts and Social Sciences’ CASSalida Theatre. The event was graced by Albert E. Alejo, S.J., John Bengan, Sorhaila Latip-Yusoph, and Rebekah Alawi as plenary speakers. The two-day seminar which began as a class project under Prof. Lynnie Ann Deocampo’s English 190 (Special Topics) featured presenters from the faculty of the Department of English and from Xavier University. Graduates and current students of the Institute’s AB English program presented papers from Prof. Michelle Caracut’s English 101 (The Grammar of English) and Prof. Honeylet Dumoran’s English 30 (Descriptive Linguistics) classes. Conversations Sponsored by the Department of English, Kulukabildo got its name from the Sebuano “kulokabildo” or “kukabildo” which means “conversations” or “the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas.” The word was suggested by Kimberly Jhie Alejandrino, a graduate of the AB English program of the Institute. The seminar meant to bring together

Language and Literature enthusiasts around Mindanao to discuss about current trends and significant developments in these fields and the interdisciplinary quality to many of the discussions we are actually having in the present about these areas of study. “This event is an attempt to make better known the nature and extent of research which promises new insights into a whole range of phenomena in language, literature, and culture.” Lynrose Jane Genon, AB English graduate, remarked.

Recreate Possibilities “We need people who are able to recreate possibilities,” commented Fr. Albert E. Alejo, S.J. He reiterated the need for people—writers, who used their words for social change. “In the midst of war, where are the poets? Where are those who are entrusted with words and what are they doing with their words?” he queried. “Paring Bert” as Fr. Alejo prefers to be called, is a cross between the Tagalog words “pare” (short for “kumpadre” or simply, a male friend) and “pari” (priest). Formerly based at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, he has been author to a number of books such as Generating Energies

in Mount Apo: Cultural Politics in a Contested Environment, Ehemplo: Spirituality of Shared Integrity in Philippine Church and Society, Tao Po! Tuloy! Isang Landas ng Pag-unawa sa Loob ng Tao, and Sanayan lang ang Pagpatay, among others. One of his notable projects has been the Sikami'n Lumad: Bagong Panitikan ng Katutubong Mindanao where he compiled literary works for a particular Lumad community in Davao. Paring Bert is both a poet and anthropologist. He finished his Ph.D. in Social Anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He has an upcoming book of translations entitled Nabighani: Mga Saling Tula ng Kapwa Nilikha where he has translated poems by different Filipino and non-Filipino poets. He quoted Mikael de Lara Co “…tungkulin ng tula na hindi maubusan ng salita…” before he proceeded to talk about the poem’s significance in our lives, in adding dimensions, and experiences to our personal realities. He performed his poem “Sanayan Lang Ang Pagpatay”, which he later told this writer is his signature poem, in front of an audience intently listening, watching especially as he delivered these last lines:

Constellating Language and Literature in 2015 by Floraime O. Pantaleta

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Constellating Language and Literature in 2015 by Floraime O. Pantaleta

At may paraan ng pagpuksa ng buhay. Ganyang lang talaga ang pagpatay: Kung hindi ako ay iba naman ang babanat; Kung hindi ngayon ay sa iba namang oras. Subalit ang higit na nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob Ay ang malalim nating pagsasamahan: Habang ako'y pumapatay, kayo nama'y nanonood.

---the poem as consternation, as sigh, as mourning, as rumination, as celebration, as prayer, as dream. He read his translations of the poems of Grace R. Monte de Ramos, Jelaluddin Rumi, Salomon de la Selva, Mikael de Lara Co, Retchor “Etto” Umpan, St. Francis of Assisi, Yannis Ritsos, and Rabindranath Tagore. Besides Poetry, Paring Bert persuaded everyone—even kneeling in front of the audience, to write and sing lullabies again. His presentation began with a video of “Meme na Mindanaw”, a lullaby which he wrote about putting the children of Mindanao to peaceful sleep and hushing gunfire and bombings that might disturb this peace. He tells the tale of how a man who has known so much violence in his life had been brought back to that primordial state of being a child in the arms of his mother. He encouraged everyone to write more lullabies so we, the audience, can remember as that man had.

The Search for Equivalence John Bengan, Professor of Creative Writing, Literature, and Translation and the Chairperson of the Department of Humanities in the University of the Philippines - Mindanao, presented his paper entitled “The Role of Translation in Writing Philippine Fiction in English” which he had previously presented at the 6th Asian Translations and Traditions Conference at the University of the Philippines - Diliman. Prof. Bengan talked about his short story “Armor” which won the 1st prize for Fiction in the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature and the choices he has made from the early stages of writing to the process of revising the story. He explained that writing is a process of translation as well that involves finding correspondence not only between words but correspondence between cultures. He shared about “foreignness” his colleagues from The New School in New York City (where he took his MFA in Creative Writing) found in his story and how they did not and could not truly understand it because of its many allusions to Filipino life. A member of the audience of the seminar said during the open forum that the story

was discussed in one of their classes and that they found his story “Very Filipino” noting especially that part of the story where a girl takes the dress in the ukay-ukay “using a long stick with a hooked end.” In his presentation at the ATT6 in UP Diliman, Prof. Bengan said that, ”With certain words or phrases, equivalence may be obtained, but what of the character’s behavior, decisions, emotions, ideals, all of which are shaped by culture? Equivalence is certainly not always the best option. In this case, I rely on description and narration. Readers are seduced, not coddled. They are spoken with, not talked down to. Thus, I describe for those who have the capacity to imagine well.” His works have been published in the Philippines Free Press, Davao Harvest 2, Likhaan Journal 6: The Journal of Contemporary Philippines Literature, Hoard of Thunder, and The Brooklyn Rail. He has also won prizes from the Philippines Free Press Literary Awards.

Language, Media, Identity The second day’s first plenary speaker was Prof. Sorhaila Latip-Yusoph from the Communication and Media Studies Department of the Mindanao State University-Main Campus in Marawi City. She talked about Language and Media. Prof. Latip-Yusoph, who also writes as a columnist for the SUNSTAR Cagayan de Oro Newspaper, began by saying that television cannot be imagined without language. She took her Master of Science in Development Communication in the University of the Philippines at Los Baños and her MA in Language and Communication Research at Cardiff University in Wales, United Kingdom. She told the audience how lucky the present generation

is because doing research is relatively easier given the expansion of media and the development of technology in the past few years. The audience was able to learn from her discussion of the register and style of language in Media and the issues that are always involved when you delve into its world such as privacy and truthfulness, to name a few. In the last plenary talk, Prof. Rebekah Marohombsar Alawi built up from the previous speakers. Her talk on Language and Identity began with questions that alluded to discussions with the previous speakers. Notable questions from the audience were, “What are the Filipino roots?” and “What is Filipino authentic identity?” These questions later became the focal point of the discussions during the open forum. Dr. Nelia G. Balgoa of the Department of English asked if she would agree with Franz Fanon when he said that Nationalism might be a kind of or might lead to a kind of extremism as might be observed now with the appearance of groups such as the ISIS. Another member of the audience asked about what she thinks can unite the peoples of the Philippines. Dr. Alawi reiterated the virtue in acceptance of each other’s differences and in the end, encouraged everyone to cultivate our talents as Filipinos. April Al Ian T. Jacob, an incoming senior in the AB English program said that Kulukabildo 2015 has inspired him “to be passionate about [his] research endeavors because there is so much about language to be researched about.” He added that as a research student, he learned about “the principles and rudiments of research by sitting in the plenary and parallel sessions.”

Kulukabildo

Christine Godinez-Ortega, Lynnie Ann Deocampo, Sorhaila Yusoph and Rebekah Marohombsar Alawi at the CASSalida Theatre photo credits: facebook.com/trends.iit

THE OUTSTANDING YOUNG Scientists of the Philippines, Inc. (OYSI), National Academy of Science and Technology, and MSU-

IIT OVCRE co-hosted a two-day Training-Workshop on Writing and Presenting Proposals Towards Building Science Culture in the Northern Mindanao Region fromApril 23-24 at the MSU-IIT Boardroom. Forty participants from Northern Mindanao Higher Education Institutions and the Mindanao State University System listen to talks on Building a Culture of Research in the Region; Priority R&D Agenda of Funding Agencies and Proposal Evaluation; Research Proposal Preparation, Developing the Methodology, Gantt Chart and Budget; Presenting the Research Proposal; and R & D Insights.

Participants presented individual research proposal outputs on Day 2 after a thorough and close-in mentoring by trainers. Resource speakers and trainers are all Outstanding Young Scientist of the Philippines awardees, including the current OYSI President Dr. Maribel Sese (UP Los Banos), and OYSI Officers and Board Members Dr. Ephrime B. Metillo (MSU-IIT), Dr. Antonio Alfonso (Director of PhilRice Crop Biotech Center), Dr. Alan Soriano (Mapua Institute of Technology), Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos (National Fisheries Research and Development Institute), Dr. Merlyn Mendioro (UP Los Banos), and Dr. Thomas Edison E. Dela Cruz (Univ. of Sto. Tomas).

OYSI, NAST, and IIT co-host Training-Workshop

UNDERGRADUATE BIOLOGY STUDENTS of the Department of

Biological Sciences once more won the top awards in the 24th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium of the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (BCSP) held at the University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Samar on April 14-17. Marco Luis E. Lumontod won the Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation Award for his thesis entitled "Distribution and Habitat Preferences of Restricted- Range Bird Species in Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP), Negros Occidental, Philippines" while this writer won third place for his study entitled

"Abundance and Habitat Requirements of Philippine Tube-nosed Fruit Bat Nyctimene rabori (Heaney and Peterson, 1984) in Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP), Negros Occidental." For the poster category, Salih Mahathir A. Amer won the Best Undergraduate Poster Presentation Award for his thesis entitled "Diversity and Abundance of Canopy Birds in Northern Negros Natural Park, Negros Occidental" while Dearly Mae Maricar M. Barrot won second place for her study entitled "Distribution, Diversity and Abundance of Amphibians in Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP), Negros Occidental." All winning papers were products

of the collaborative partnership between MSU-IIT and the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI). Prof. Dennis A. Warguez is the adviser of these researches while Godfrey Philip C. Jakosalem and Lisa Marie J. Paguntalan of PBCFI are the external advisers. MSU-IIT garnered the most awards in the said contest which was participated by ten schools including the University of the Philippines – Diliman and the University of Santo Tomas. With this victory, MSU – IIT has dominated the competition for 3 consecutive years and has set higher standards for future aspiring contenders.

Biology students win again in National Biodiversity Symposiumby Nathaniel C. Patdu

8 | Gazette

(left to right) PBCFI Head of In Situ Conservation Programme Godfrey Philip C. Jakosalem, Salih A. Mahathir Amir, Dearly Maricar Mae M. Barrot, Thesis Adviser Dennis A. Warguez, Marco Luis E. Lumontod, Nathaniel C. Patdu and PBCFI Executive Director Lisa Marie J. Paguntalan

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TWO FACULTY MEMBERS and three students from the Department of Political Science of this Institute presented papers

during the annual Philippine Political Science (PPSA) International Conference held at the Dipolog Medical Center (DMC) College Foundation, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte on April 10-11, 2015. This year’s theme, “Heroes and Villains” explored the issues surrounding the concepts of Heroes and Villains in a transdiciplinary

perspective. This conference is a venue where the PPSA provided key insights on a variety of political issues concerning the Philippines and the region. It was participated in by around 150 delegates comprising of Political scientists, scholars, students, NGO practitioners, and researchers from different Universities and institutions mostly from the Asia-Pacific region. The Department presented three (3) papers in the conference. These were: (1) “Local Leaders’ Risk Reduction Strategies for Dengue Based on Climate Information: A Case in Communities in Baybay, Leyte” by Prof. Enrique Batara and Mr. Ronnie Emmanuel Gravoso; (2) “Maranao-Higaonon Inter-Ethnic Conflict Resolution in Barangay Rogongon, Iligan City” by Dr. Marilou F. S. Nanaman and Mr. Khalidbinwalid D. Moner; and (3) “The Empowerment of Maranao Women in Barangay Mandulog, Iligan City” by Dr. Nanaman and Ms. Shinette Salazar. In addition, Dr. Nanaman is among the newly-elected PPSA Board of Directors (2015-2017). Aside from the paper presenters, delegates from MSU-IIT included this writer and 3rd year Political Science majors namely: Queenie Pearl Tomaro, Elika Er Bienes, Justine Jay Lorca, and Jefferson Payusan. The 2015 PPSA International Conference was held in partnership with the DMC College Foundation, Dipolog City.

Political Science faculty and students present papers in the 2015 Philippine Political Science (PPSA) International Conference

by Yasmira P. Moner

AS PART OF the thrust of the government to provide industry-endorsed training programs for engineers and future engineers,

three faculty members of the College of Engineering (COE) were sent to different parts of the country earlier this year to lecture on the “Introduction to Analog Integrated Circuits (IC) Design” and “Miller Operational Transconductance Amplifier Design”. The lectures were part of a training-workshop organized by the Philippine Institute for Integrated Circuits (PIIC), a joint project of University of the Philippines – Diliman and the Department of Science and Technology. The thrust of the PIIC is to position the Philippines as a powerhouse for IC design. It develops courses suited for the local IC design companies such as in Layout Fundamentals, Analog/Digital IC Design Analysis and HDL Design Methodology. The PIIC invited Prof. Olga Joy Labajo-Gerasta, Prof. Jefferson A. Hora, and this writer from the Electronics Engineering program of the Electrical / Electronics / Computer Engineering Department of the COE to lecture at the training-workshop that was held in different parts of the country. Gerasta gave her lectures at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities in Tanauan City, Batangas on April 13-17; Hora had his lectures at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City on April 20-24, while this writer delivered his lectures at the Holy Angel

University in Angeles City, Pampanga on April 27 – May 01. The latter, delivered the same lectures at the University of Baguio on January 7-9. The three obtained their Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degrees major in Integrated Circuits Design at the National Taipei University, New Taipei City, Taiwan. They were also recipients of the Industrial R&D Master’s Program of Integrated Circuit Design for International Students offered by the Ministry of Education and Economic Affairs of Taiwan, Republic of China.

Engineering faculty lecture in Pampanga, Batangas, and Cebuby Allenn dela Cerna Lowaton

Khalidbinwalid D. Moner

10 | Gazette

THE CITY JAIL of Iligan is situated in Barangay Tipanoy, one of the 44

barangays of the city. It is maintained by a City Jail Warden as provided for under RA 6975. The law, RA 6975 created the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to address the jail management and penology problem of the country. BJMP is mandated to take operational and administrative control over all city, district, and municipal jails. Based on information provided by an officer in the City Jail, there are currently 460 inmates detained at the BJMP of Iligan City. It is with this information in mind that the students of selected CWTS sections collected and donated toiletries (a pack of bath soap, shampoo and toothpaste) for the inmates as part of the Jail Visitation Program of the Department of Political Science and NSTP. The Jail Visitation Program was created for both Political Science and NSTP-CWTS students, for them to be grounded on human rights values. This is the reason why the jail visitation activity is provided in the CWTS2 syllabus to strengthen the student’s awareness of the detainees’ conditions inside the jail as well as the student’s appreciation of the rights of the accused. In our 5th year of jail visitation, this writer and the students celebrated with the world the International Women’s Day at the City Jail on March 8, 2015. There were 150

CWTS students together with selected faculty members of the Departments of Political Science and English, all of whom teach CWTS. We brought another batch of CWTS students t he following Sunday, March 15. This time around 170 students came in contact with the detainees. In our fifth year, the usual happy and welcoming faces of the inmates when our students arrived are not new to us, the CWTS instructors. But what usually amazed and amused me in particular were the reactions of the students before meeting the detainees. They were fearful and nervous. But after 15-20 minutes of talking with the inmates, most of them did not want to leave the BJMP anymore. To quote my students on their impressions of their jail visit experience:

“The jail visit made me value life more in a way that no matter what happens, we should be high spirited. With the different faces I’ve seen, I felt their hope that someday, somehow things would get better and I’ve realized that mistakes should not define us. It was a great experience for it shows us what really life is all about---SURVIVING.”

“The visitation in the jail was scary at first, seeing those people reaching their hands out stressed everyone. However, after getting to know them inside the jail, I’ve realized that

I should be more open-minded to the real information, especially in things that many considered dangerous despite the fact that they lacked enthusiasm and understanding. Despite their mistakes in life, it would be unjustifiable to label them merely on what they had done, but everyone has a chance to grow and change. Overall, it made me realize that every choice we make, we live through its consequences. After all, we are all just humans, created with flaws and crafted with imperfections, but we don’t have the right to discriminate people immediately just by their mistakes.” As a CWTS instructor, I would like to inculcate in my students not only to value human rights but most importantly, to respect the dignity of a person, despite the mistakes or wrong choices they have made. Last year, I asked one of my students how he would assess his jail visit experience. He surprised me with his answer. “Those who have undergone a horrifying experience with a criminal should not be placed in a situation where he or she needs to face a person who may have done the same,” he said. It took me a while to have an answer to this. Despite this response from a student, I learned not to make this activity compulsory. I also learned why this activity is very important. I want my students to learn the value of looking at things in a different perspective and understand the other side of the story.

Jail Visitation Program: Teaching Compassion and Human Rights

by: Lorigen M. Paterno

The author (seated in front row, fourth from the left) with CWTS students

THE MSU-IIT ULTIMATE Titans edged host school Silliman University (SU),

15-14 to capture the championship in the 1st Ultimate Collegiate League (UCL). The tournament, held on April 6-8, was organized by the Silliman Student Government and Negros Oriental Ultimate Players Association. It had attracted 12 participating colleges and universities all over the country including University of San Carlos (Cebu), Xavier

University (CDO), University of St. La Salle (Bacolod), and Andres Bonifacio College (Dipolog). The Titans started strongly in the tournament gaining a 10-1 standing, with their only loss against SU. They grabbed the 2nd place in the second round and maintained their position until the Championship round, without losing a game. The Titans are expected to

participate in the National Ultimate Collegiate Championships (NUCC) which will be held at Sta. Rosa, Laguna and organized by the University of the Philippines – Diliman Ultimate Organization. Expected participants will include teams from De La Salle University (DLSU), University of Sto. Tomas (UST), UP, and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU).

MSU-IIT Titans win frisbee tournamentby James Adrian Galarpe Andog

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The eight-session Improvised Explosive Devices awareness seminar was conducted by the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army on March 10-13 to the different Colleges of the Institute at the Gymnasium.

The Institute celebrated Earth Day on April 22, 2015. Some of the activities included Treeplanting at the Bayug Island, a visit at the Hinaplanon property community based hatchery, MRF demonstration, and the closing program at the flagpole area fronting the Administration building.

In Photo is Dr. Feliciano B. Alagao, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Develpment.

The Titans with Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol

OCTOBER1. Angeline Pama-Dinoro (Faculty) “Reduplication in Meranao Language: Exploring Morphological Connection at the 2014 International Conference on Applied Linguistics and Language Education held at the Henry Sy Jr. Hall, De La Salle University Manila on October 16-18, 2014

DECEMBER2. Jamail A. Kamlian (Faculty) “Pagsanda in Sulu: Informal Credit and Conflict Risks in the Southern Philippines” at the 1st Southeast Asian Studies in Asia Conference held in Kyoto, Japan on December 12-13, 2015

FEBRUARY3. Rosario B.Dizon (Faculty) “Glottochronological Relationship of Tausug and Higaonon Languages (Oral); History in Literature: The Salient of Language of The Legend of the Maria Cristina Falls” at the 4th International Conference on Multidiscplinary Research held in Bacolod City on February 5, 2015

4. Muhmin Michael F. Manting (Faculty) “Differentiated Instruction-oriented Module: Effects on Students’ Thinking Skills and Performance in Algebra” at the 2nd International Teacher Education Conference held at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, Cebu City, February 6-7, 2015

5. Arlene Ramos-Alcopra (CED ) “Effects of Information Communication Technology (ICT) Integrated Personal and Social Counseling on Emotional Distress and Behavioral Difficulties Among MSU-IIT Student Victims of Calamities” at the 2nd International Teacher Education/Student Conference held in Cebu City on February 7, 2015

6. Elizalde D. Bana (Faculty) “Cryopreserved and Lyophillized Amniotic Fluids Using Levine’s

Conservation Model: A Breakthrough in the Process of Wound Healing” held at Liceo de Cagayan University, CDO on February 28, 2015

MARCH7. Faith B. Amorado (Faculty) Poster Paper at the Philippine Society of Parasitology Scientific Meeting in Manila on March 6-7, 2015

8. Joel G. Opon (Faculty) “Design and Behavior Analysis of Prefabricated Modular Ferrocement Floor Slab Syatem for Interior Application” at the International Conference on Civil, Environment and Medical Engineering (ICEME) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on March 14, 2015

9. Ralf Ruffel M. Abarca (Faculty) “Effects of Upflow Velocity on Nutrient Recovery from Swine Wastewater by Fluidized Bed Struvite Crystallization” at the 29th ACS National Meeting and Exposition held in Denver, Colorado, USA on March 22-26, 2015

APRIL10. Mark Anthony J. Torres (Faculty) “The GPH-MILF Peace Process: Emerging Topics in Mindanao Studies at the University of Hawaii, USA on April 9-10, 2015

11. Juvanni A. Caballero (Faculty) “Peacebuilding and the Mindanao Peace Processes: Implications to the Philippine Studies and National Development” at the University of Hawaii, USA on April 9-10, 2015

12. Enrique B. Batara (Faculty) “Local Leaders’ Risk Reduction Strategies for Dengue Based on Climate Information: A Case in Communities in Baybay, Leyte” at the 2015 Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) International Conference held in Dipolog City on April 10-11, 2015

13. Ma.Cecilia V. Almeda “Soil and Streamwater Quality Along Digkila-an and Dodiongan Tributaries of Mandulog Watershed, Iligan City, Philippines” at the 30th Philippine Chemistry Congress held in Davao City on April 15-17, 2015

14. Christopher E. Ambe (Faculty) “Time- resolved Investigation of the Triplet Exciton and Trapped Carrier Interaction in Donor-acceptor Blend Films” at the 30th Philippine Chemistry Congress held in Davao City on April 15-17, 2015

15. Anelyn P. Bendoy “An In Vitro investigation of the Anhelmintic Activities of the Decoction and the Hexane soluble Extracts and Its Fractions from the Aerial Part of Cyperus Brevifolius” at the 30th Philippine Chemistry Congress held in Davao City on April 15-17, 2015

16. Kirstin Rhys A. Pueblos “Determination of Pesticidal Activity of Decoctions and Crude Ethanol Extracts from Rhizomes of Zingiber officinale, Stems of Tinaspora rumphili B., and Leaves of Gliricidia septium Against Maize Weevil, Red Flour Beetle and Mosquito Larvae” at the 30th Philippine Chemistry Congress held in Davao City on April 15-17, 2015

17. Mark Tristan J. Quimque “Optimization of the Adsorption of Manganese Ions Onto Extracted Chitin” at the 30th Philippine Chemistry Congress held in Davao City on April 15-17, 2015

18. Alexander O. Mosqueda (Faculty) “Synthesis of Clay-based Ceramic/ Carbon Composite by Starch Consolidation Casting and Reductive Sintering” at the 3rd International Conference on Emerging Trends in Scientific Research in Malaysia, on April 25-26, 2015

Paper Presentations The List of Papers and Presentations from October to April

Compiled By: Vera Mae F. Cabataña