Leah C. Salterio
MANILA — With no luxury liner cruising on the high seas during the COVID-19 pandemic, singer Reuben Laurente, who was a headliner on international cruise ships, rediscovered another profitable, career-making turn by using his palette and paint brushes.
Although Laurente started painting when he was only 11 years old after he joined art contests in school, his talent had been in the back burner for a long time.
It was undoubtedly through singing where Laurente made a name for himself. He joined a singing contest and landed a stint with the gospel group, Papuri Singers.
A bigger exposure came when he joined The CompanY, a vocal sextet that gave him a chance to be on the entertainment spotlight.
However, Laurente became scarce on the local front when he ventured in performing on the high seas. But when he returned home three years ago because of the pandemic, Laurente went back to painting.
“Every visual artist has a goal set for himself to be able to stage and showcase an exhibit,” Laurente told ABS-CBN News. “I know that in the grand scheme of things, the Lord gave me that passion to work during the pandemic years.”
In July last year, Laurente felt that desire to look for an exhibit grant so he could showcase his paintings.
“I just typed ‘exhibit grant in the Philippines,’ lo and behold! The National Commission for Culture and the Arts [NCCA] announcement for exhibit grant popped out,” he shared.
“The commission was looking for 20 exhibitors/art proponents and the deadline was August 15, 2022 to come up with your exhibit proposal. I submitted right then and there and prayed that I’d make the cut.
“They finally announced the grantees, thoroughly screened from quite a number of applicants and I made it. I can only thank God for this favor.
“I have been painting since the middle of 2020, so after I was announced as one of the grantees, I had already come up with a decent number of works to display.”
In the exhibit “Pilipino Ako, Ito ang Aking Lahi,” which opened on April 6 and runs until April 30 at the NCCA Gallery in Intramuros, Laurente will have 44 artworks on display.
“I will be exhibiting from my body of works dating 2013 and my works during the pandemic years from 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023,” Laurente said. “There are 18 works already bought by friends, mostly from the industry and art patrons, and 26 more that will be on sale.
“The challenge which I deliberately inflicted on myself was coming up with more pieces to suffice each category that I created for the exhibit.
“I prayed for this exhibit and I believe that now is God’s perfect time for this. Back in 2001, I joined a group exhibit, ‘Tindero, Tienda, Tindera,’ at the ArtSpace, produced by Heritage Arts and Antiquities. ‘Pilipino Ako, Ito ang Aking Lahi’ is my first solo exhibit.”
The artist reception on April 12 will have National Artist for Music, maestro Ryan Cayabyab, as guest of honor who will cut the ceremonial ribbon. Speaker will be Floy Quintos.
The CompanY will show their support to Laurente by rendering their brand of good music, with the husband and wife tandem of cellist Kiko Llorin and violinist Corinna Llorin, who will play some classic tunes and will accompany Laurente in his song number.
Former Channel 9 news anchor and Far East Broadcasting Company Philippines’ outgoing managing director, Dan Andrew Cura, will host the artist reception.
Laurente’s art pieces are divided into four categories: “Ang Babaeng Pilipino (The Filipino Woman),” “Kwentong Bayan at Iba Pa (Folk Tales and Others),” “Mwebles (Furniture Pieces)” and “Pagdiriwang (Celebration).”
Undoubtedly, Laurente gets a different kind of fulfillment seeing his finished art work on canvass. He evidently showcases the country’s rich cultural and historical heritage in his paintings.
“There is an immense feeling of artistic fulfillment that comes from painting,” he maintained. “Aside from that, painting was my saving grace every time challenges arise.
“I have experienced picking up my brushes and acrylic paints and painting while I had a vocal health condition on board a ship, where I was doing a contract as a production cast singer.
“The other time was during this pandemic, where it helped even out my mental state. It takes a great deal of patience and will power in order for you to endure the process little by little and persevere to finish the race.”
Laurente’s father Dominador Laurente was the original artist in the family and the one who encouraged him to draw his first portrait when he was merely five. It was a sketch of a neighbor who eventually became a popular Christian broadcaster and gospel singer, Maru Cepeda-Javier.
“I was five when my father, who was a graphic artist then at Philippine Crusades, a Philippine mission-focused entity founded by American missionaries, started bringing home scratch papers for me to doodle on,” Laurente recalled.
“He was the first man who encouraged that I could draw and even if I could only draw stick faces and astonished men in action then, which only your own father can say ‘beautiful’ to. He believed in me. Eventually, I also started believing in myself.
“He was constant reminder to continue to do good to all and not just to a select few people. He was an inspiration because he walked his talk and he showed me God’s love by how he led his life.”
Laurente finished Bachelor in Interior Design at the University of the Philippines. “I first wanted to become a doctor, then an architect, but both my parents were my reality check and totoo lang kami.
“We don’t have the resources and I barely passed my advanced college algebra in high school. I was also a working student, so I took up Interior Design.”
Not surprisingly, being a painter complements Laurente’s musical career. “I am flattered honestly knowing not too many people can both sing and paint well,” he said. “I believe I fall under that category.
“Well, I’d say I’d be able to showcase my works and make a concept show about my being a proud Filipino, not just showing slides of obra maestras of Filipino masters, but my own masterpieces.
“I really pray for God’s perfect timing that I’d be able to do that in this lifetime and how about being accompanied by a full orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines? Word is power, most especially if you declare it with faith and confidence in the Lord.
“Though we love being validated as artists, I am now on that stage where I really couldn’t care less, because all I want to give is my personal best and my excellence in every field that I tackle.”
Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/04/07/23/singer-reuben-laurente-holds-his-first-solo-exhibit
Alumni Milestones
UP alumni conferred Accountancy Centenary Awards of Excellence and Recognition Awards
Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta
Alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) were proclaimed recipients of “Centenary Awards of Excellence” and “Recognition Awards for the Board of Accountancy Members” during the celebration of the Centenary Year of the Accountancy Profession in the Philippines, led by the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
The awardees were announced on March 6, 2023, by the PRC Accountancy Board, with awarding ceremonies held during the Grand Centenary Celebration on March 17 at the Manila Hotel. Nominations were made by the different sectors of the Accountancy profession—the public practice, commerce and industry, education, and government sectors. Following recommendations by the Screening Committee, the PRC Board approved the official list of “Centenary Awardees for Excellence,” recognizing their “unquestionable integrity, exemplified by their outstanding contributions and unparalleled dedication in advancing the Accountancy profession and remarkable participation in national development.”
The UP alumni, both living and deceased, who have been named among the 100 Accountancy “Centenary Awardees of Excellence” are:
- Estelita Caleon Aguirre, first and only female President of the Asian Federation of Accountants; former Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue; former Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Executive Director;
- Manuel S. Alba, former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary;
- +Emilia T. Boncodin, former DBM Secretary;
- + Vicente F. Fabella, educator, economist, civic leader, and the first Filipino certified public accountant;
- Aurora D. Geotina-Garcia, President of Mageo Consulting Inc.;
- Jaime C. Laya, former Minister of Education, Culture and Sports; former DBM Secretary; former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor;
- Conchita L. Manabat, founder and first woman Chair of the Deloitte practice in the Philippines; President of the Development Center for Finance;
- Felipe M. Medalla, former Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); incumbent BSP Governor;
- Raul C. Pagdanganan, President and CEO of Cardinal Santos Medical Center; member of the UP Board of Regents;
- Josefe C. Sorrera-Ty, former PICPA National President; Commissioner of Legal Education Board Philippines;
- Joel L. Tan-Torres, a former member of the Board of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Chair, Board of Accountancy; BIR Commissioner;
- Maria Gracia M. Pulido-Tan, first woman Chairperson (equivalent to Auditor-General) of the Philippine Commission on Audit’s 115-year history;
- Manuel (Manny) B. Villar, House Speaker and then President of the Senate, the first Filipino to hold both posts;
- Guillermo E. Torres, Sr.;
- Rosario Sevilla Santiago-Bernaldo;
- Herminio V. Dagohoy;
- Carlota G. Piczon-Valenzuela;
- + Belen E. Gutierrez;
- + Washington Z. Sycip was conferred a Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, by UP Diliman in 2001.
UP alumni members of the Board of Accountancy, past and present, who received “Recognition Awards” are:
- + Antonio P. Ferrer;
- Lucila C. Tarriela;
- Betty C. Siy-Yap
- Carmelita G. Salgado;
- Clemente Q. Uson;
- Luis A. Cañete;
- + Ruperto P. Somera;
- Elvira P. Pacis-Atanacio;
- Luis C. Liwanag II;
- Jose V. Ramos;
- +Filadelfo M. Inocentes;
- Gregorio G. Centeno;
- Isagani O. Santiago
The conferment of the Accountancy “Centenary Awards of Excellence” and “Recognition Awards for the Board of Accountancy Members” marks the culmination of the year-long celebration of the Centenary Year of the Accountancy Profession in the Philippines, which was declared by then President Rodrigo Duterte through Proclamation No. 1333.
With reports by the UP Office of Alumni Relations.
Source: https://up.edu.ph/up-alumni-conferred-accountancy-centenary-awards-of-excellence-and-recognition-awards/
UPCM prof emeritus and former dean conferred award for contributions to kidney care
“As a nephrologist, I continued to serve our society through the lens of a teacher, an internist. I set my eyes on the future of our profession as I watched students “get set” at their starting blocks. Looking back, I was fortunate to be with these junior nephrologists – learning need not always be inspired by the sublime, even these young fellows could be sources of wisdom.”
UP College of Medicine Professor Emeritus and former dean Dr. Agnes D. Mejia is one of eight recipients of the International Society of Nephrology Pioneer Award for outstanding contributions to kidney care.
The award recognizes exceptional and long-standing efforts in promoting kidney care in developing regions worldwide.
Dr. Mejia graduated from the UPCM in 1977 and completed her internal medicine residency at the Philippine General Hospital. She underwent three-year fellowships in nephrology and hypertension under Dr. Victor Pollack and Dr. Stevo Julius at the University of Cincinnati and University of Michigan, respectively. She joined the PGH Department of Medicine Division of Nephrology in 1990 and served as UPCM dean from 2012 to 2018.
Dr. Mejia has made significant contributions to medical research and published numerous papers on various topics in medicine. Throughout her career, she has received several academic and community-service distinctions, including the A-One Award conferred by the Philippine Society of Nephrology. This recognition highlights her significant contributions to the medical field and further cements her status as a distinguished leader in nephrology.
As an ISN Pioneer awardee, she asserts: “As a nephrologist, I continued to serve our society through the lens of a teacher, an internist. I set my eyes on the future of our profession as I watched students “get set” at their starting blocks. Looking back, I was fortunate to be with these junior nephrologists – learning need not always be inspired by the sublime, even these young fellows could be sources of wisdom.”
Other recipients of the 2023 ISN Pioneer Award arre Professor Emeritus Adewale Akinsola (Nigeria), Professor Goce Spasovski (Macedonia), Dr. Juan Abraham Bermúdez (Mexico), Mohammad Ali Ghnaimat (Jordan), Irma Tchokhonelidze (Georgia), Merle L. Clarke (Saint Lucia), and Mohan M. Rajapurkar (India).
The winners will be honored at regional gatherings throughout the year and will be recognized at the ISN World Congress of Nephrology 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand, from March 30 to April 2, 2023.
Sources:
Outstanding Contributions to Kidney Care: Discover the Winners of the 2023 ISN Pioneer Awards – International Society of Nephrology (theisn.org)
https://www.upmas.org/feature/outstanding-contributions-to-kidney-care-discover-the-winners-of-the-2023-isn-pioneer-awards
Agnes Dominguez-Mejia – 37th Annual PSN Convention (sched.com)
News Source: https://www.upm.edu.ph/node/4193
National Scientist Emil Javier receives Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Achievement Award
Congratulations, National Scientist Emil Q. Javier for being the Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Achievement Awardee for Agricultural Science!
He is recognized for his outstanding contribution to the Philippine and Southeast Asian agriculture and rural development by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, UP Chapter.
Sir EQJ, your IPB family is proud of you! 💚💛
Source: UPLB CAFS Institute of Plant Breeding Facebook
UP CPH congratulates the passers of the March 2023 Medical Technology board exam
Congratulations to the passers of the 2023 medical technology board exam!
Source: College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Facebook
UP College of Medicine congratulates passers and topnotchers of the March 2023 Physician Licensure Examination
Congratulations to the UPCM successful examinees and topnotchers in the recent March 2023 Physician Licensure Examination!
Padayon mga bagong doktor ng bayan! 🩺
See the results here: https://www.prcboard.com/ple-results-march-2023…/
Source: UP College of Medicine Facebook
Rappler’s Bonz Magsambol chosen for journalism ethics fellowship in Europe
MANILA, Philippines – The New York-based Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE) chose Rappler multimedia reporter Bonz Magsambol as one of 14 fellows of its 2023 journalism program.
Magsambol, who joined Rappler as social media producer in 2016, is currently the social news network’s health and education reporter. He is also a part-time journalism instructor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, where he finished college.
At the FASPE fellowship, Magsambol and the other fellows will attend a two-week study program in professional ethics and ethical leadership, focusing on how journalists enabled Nazi policies during World War II. The fellowship will take place in Germany and Poland from June 24 to July 7.
The 2023 program will be co-taught by Mark Lukasiewicz, dean of the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University, and Sarah Stillman, staff writer of The New Yorker.
“FASPE Journalism challenges its fellows to recognize their responsibility to act as ethical leaders in their careers in journalism and the media. FASPE begins by examining the actions and choices of German and international journalists in covering and supporting Nazi policies,” FASPE wrote on its website.
Fellows will visit key sites of Nazi history and participate in lectures and discussions led by specialized faculty.
Applicants went through “competitive process, with a large, impressive group of candidates vying for 14 fellowships.”
“FASPE selects its Fellows on the basis of their academic background, personal and professional experiences, capacity for leadership and ability to contribute to the program and the alumni community,” it said.
FASPE, now in its 13th year, also gathers professionals for programs in business, law, design and technology, medicine, and seminary. – Rappler.com
Source: https://www.rappler.com/about/bonz-magsambol-chosen-journalism-fellowship-auschwitz-professional-ethics-europe
Legendary writer Paz Marquez-Benitez honored with Google Doodle on 129th Birthday
Dolly Dy-Zulueta – Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — On what could have been her 129th birthday last March 3, 2023, legendary Filipina writer Paz Marquez-Benitez was honored with her very own Google Doodle for her pioneering work in literature.
The Google Doodle shows a caricature or illustration of Marquez-Benitez against a field of shining stars, which refers to the title of her most important literary work, “Dead Stars.”
“Dead Stars” is Marquez-Benitez’s most famous work. It is the first ever modern short story in English from the Philippines. It gave birth to modern Philippine writing in English when it was released in 1925 because English was still a very young language at that time.
The novel is a somber and melancholic love story of lawyer Alfredo Salazar, a gentleman in his 30s engaged to his fiancée Esperanza. They have been together for four years and are about to get married when he meets the young and charming Julia Salas. From there, he struggles between the two women, between doing what is right and just and choosing the desire of his heart. In the end, he decides to marry Esperanza and part ways with Julia.
More than just a love story, though, “Dead Stars” is an allegory critical of the American occupation existing at that time and its effect on local culture and social norms.
Marquez-Benitez would go on to become a popular writing professor at the University of the Philippines until she retired in 1951. The work and tutelage that she started at UP inspired other writers to pursue their passion and write significant literature over the decades.
Besides this accomplishment, she is also credited for founding Philippine Women’s University along with six other women Francisca Tirona Benitez, Clara Aragon, Concepcion Aragon, Carolina Ocampo Palma, Mercedes Rivera, and Socorro Marquez Zaballero in 1919, exclusively to female students back then. It was initially known as Philippine Women’s College, with Marquez-Benitez serving as its first president. In 1932, when the college won university status, it also received recognition for being the first for-women university in Asia founded by Asians.
“Google Philippines is proud to honor an important figure in Philippine literature, Paz Marquez-Benitez. Our rich literary heritage would definitely not be the same today without Marquez-Benitez’s impactful contributions, not only with her creations, but also with her valuable mentorship of a long line of writers in the country,” said Mervin Wenke, head of Communications and Public Affairs for Google Philippines.
Source: https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/2023/03/12/2250408/legendary-writer-paz-marquez-benitez-honored-google-doodle-129th-birthday
Two UP alumni awarded for exemplary government service
Written by Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta
Two alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) were recognized for their exemplary government service by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. at the awarding ceremony for the recipients of the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) Presidential Lingkod Bayan, Pagasa, and Dangal ng Bayan Awards for 2022. The awarding ceremony was held on 8 March 2023 in Malacañang.
Among the six Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardees for 2022, recognized for having made significant strides in the nation’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, is Dr. Cynthia P. Saloma Executive Director of the UP Philippine Genome Center (UP PCG), and UP Professor.
According to the CSC’s press release, Dr. Saloma was recognized for laying the infrastructure for genomics research in the country and the foundation by which genomic biosurveillance is now part of the arsenal for pandemic preparedness. With her leadership, the UP PGC was able to provide the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases with science-based genomics data critical to the whole-of-nation approach management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Saloma earned her Bachelor of Science in Fisheries degree from UP Visayas, magna cum laude.
Among the six CSC Pagasa awardees, on the other hand, is Professor Emeritus Edward A. Barlaan of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), North Cotabato. A Master of Science in Agronomy graduate of the UP Los Baños Graduate School, Dr. Barlaan was recognized for his exemplary efforts and outstanding output as an academician, administrator, researcher, scientist, and extension worker. Besides being a professor in undergraduate and graduate courses, he also served as Vice-President for Research, Development, and Extension (RDE) of USM from June 2020 to April 2022, providing improvements in RDE systems in the university.
The CSC’s Presidential Lingkod Bayan (PLB) Award is conferred on an individual or group for exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest, security, and patrimony. The Pagasa Award, on the other hand, is conferred to an individual or group for outstanding contribution/s resulting from an idea or performance that directly benefit more than one department of the government.
With reports from the UP Office of Alumni Relations.
Source: https://up.edu.ph/two-up-alumni-awarded-for-exemplary-government-service/
UP-Min prof develops AI tech to help farmers
A PROFESSOR from the University of the Philippines in Mindanao has developed a technology using artificial intelligence (AI) to maintain banana plantation and help detect diseases that could affect them.
Dr. Jose Ildefonso Rubrico, UPMin professor and Autonomous Societally Inspired Mission Oriented Vehicles (Asimov) program leader said in a press conference that they are currently developing AI-powered vehicles for maintaining banana plantations.
Rubrico said these types of vehicles are ”first of its kind in the Philippines”.
“Usually kasi, [kapag] mag-dedeploy ka ng mga manual [labor] (Usually if we deploy manual labor), it will take at least two weeks to get the whole 100 hectares [of maintaining the banana plantations],” Rubrico added.
Currently, UPMin developed one aerial drone called unmanned automated vehicles (UAVs) and a land vehicle called Robot for Optimized and Autonomous Mission Enhancement Response (ROAMER) for the Asimov program. UPMin plans to add one more for each vehicle variety as soon as they can.
Rubrico said AI-powered vehicles will be a big help to farmers especially if they will be deployed to use pesticides and survey plantations, keeping humans away from dangerous chemicals.
He added that these vehicles can also record more accurate data which can be helpful to farmers and stakeholders alike for easier management and control of the yield.
“Importante din kasi siya sa (These are important for our) stakeholders so that [through this technological advancement] they have a quick idea how much yield will be,” Rubrico said.
“If you use, let’s say aerial vehicles that can be tapped down very quickly, then you will get an accurate picture much much quicker and you can make decisions based on the current data,” he added.
The AI-powered vehicles were presented during the 1st Artificial Intelligence Pinas R&D Conference and Workshop 2023, dated March 14 to 15. The vehicle is also being developed to be used for search and rescue, updating maps, and traffic monitoring.
These vehicles are funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). ICE
Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1956080/davao/local-news/up-min-prof-develops-ai-tech-to-help-farmers