Rina Marie Guzman joins IT&E as its IT director for Guam and CNMI. (IT&E)
IT&E announced yesterday the addition of Rina Marie Guzman to its team as IT director for Guam and CNMI. Guzman has a total of 16 years of experience in the technology industry in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region, most recently as board director and transformation leader–customer experience of Cisco Philippines.
“We are excited to announce Rina’s appointment to lead our IT department. She has a stellar record in the technology industry in the region and brings a forward-thinking mindset as an accomplished transformation leader and strategic program manager. The entire company is eager to support her as she leads her team to greater success,” said Jim Oehlerking, CEO of IT&E.
During her three years at Cisco, Guzman also served as program manager for Governance and Transformation advisory. Previously, Guzman served as country chief information officer and business design consultant for IBM, Asia Pacific for three years.
A champion of women’s leadership development, Guzman held various positions at Intel from 2006 to 2014, where she was the first Filipino and female technologist, as well as the first female and senior technical leader on the company’s senior management team. She holds two invention disclosure submissions in the Intel Patent Office.
For a short time, she led a newly formed division to support digital transformation at the Bank of the Philippine Islands as division head and business technology leader (vice president).
In addition to her corporate positions, Guzman has held leadership positions in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations engineering community, including past board chairman for Young Engineers ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations, country representative for the Philippines, and external affairs director. She is also the first Filipino awardee in the ASEAN Engineer Register.
Guzman is author of Set Me Ablaze, an inspirational guide for young professionals navigating their career journey.
Guzman holds a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of the Philippines – Diliman and Project Management Professional certification, among other certifications.
UP Mindanao faculty members and their respective researches were among those selected for the 2022 Australian Award Philippines.
Glory Dee A. Romo and Jon Marx P. Sarmiento of the School of Management, Prof. Isidoro R. Malaque of the Dept. of Architecture, and Senior Lecturer Jayson Ibañez of the Dept. of Biological Science and Environmental Studies, and their respective research proposals, were selected for support under the 2022 Australia Alumni COVID-19 Response Grants Scheme.
Professors Romo and Sarmiento will study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of resources in a community in Maguindanao Province, Philippines. Architect Malaque, for his part, will use Placemaking to collaborate with communities for a more inclusive post-pandemic recovery. Lecturer and conservation biologist Ibañez will build an indigenous peoples coalition and stakeholder partnership for human and biodiversity wellbeing within the Mt. Apo and Pantaron key biodiversity areas.
The Upsilon Sigma Phi congratulates Department of Justice Philippines Secretary 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻 “𝗕𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴” 𝗖. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮 ‘𝟳𝟵, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗚. 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗲𝘇 ‘𝟴𝟱, and University of the Philippines President 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗼 𝗟. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻 ‘𝟴𝟵 for being included in the “100 Most Powerful People in the Philippines” by Esquire Philippines.
The individuals included in this list are recognized for their power and influence in their respective professions. The list is divided into three categories: Government and Spiritual Leaders, Titans of Industry, Media, and Academia, and Wielders of Soft Power.
DOJ Secretary Boying was Chief of Staff under former Senator Loi Ejercito-Estrada from 2001 to 2004. He was then elected for two terms as Congressman of the 3rd District of Cavite from 2004 to 2010. Boying was subsequently elected Congressman of the 7th District of Cavite from 2010 to 2013. He then served as Governor of Cavite from 2016 to 2019. Boying was later elected for two more terms as Congressman of the 7th District of Cavite from 2019 to 2022.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UP Diliman in 1983. He then obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the UP College of Law in 1987.
House Speaker Martin presently serves as Congressman of the 1st District of Leyte. Prior to becoming Speaker, he was Majority Floor Leader of the House from 2019 to 2022. Martin was also Chairman of the Board for Equitable PCI Bank and Director for various other companies such as the Philippine Commercial International Bank and Equitable Card Network. He concurrently works as Director of the CARPA Realty Development Corporation and Trustee of the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Cornell University in 1985. Martin then obtained a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University in 1988. He subsequently completed his Bachelor of Laws degree at the UP College of Law in 1992.
UP President Danilo was an Associate Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from 1996 to 2000. He was then President of De La Salle Araneta University from 2000 to 2002. Danilo later worked as Associate Dean of the UP College of Law from 2002 to 2006. He subsequently served as Dean of the UP College of Law from 2011 to 2018.
He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from De La Salle Araneta University in 1979. Danilo then graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the UP College of Law in 1983. He subsequently obtained his Master of Laws degree from the University of London in 1986.
THE Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has announced that 2,955 examinees hurdled the licensure examination for social workers held this September 2022 out of the 4,723 who took it.
Gian Paul Salanio from the University of the Philippines Diliman led the new batch of social workers after garnering a score of 88.20.
Eight schools were hailed as top-performing with at least 10 or more examinees and with at least an 80 percent passing rate after posting a 100 percent passing rate.
These are the Asian Social Institute (all 10 examinees passed); Ateneo de Davao University (all 20 examinees passed); Bicol University-Tabaco (all 25 examinees passed); Caraga State University Butuan City (all 85 examinees passed); La Verdad Christian College (all 13 examinees passed); Leyte Normal University (all 67 examinees passed); Norte Dame of Marbel University (all 13 examinees passed); and University of the Philippines Diliman (all 19 examinees passed).
The list of successful examinees may be viewed on the PRC website at prc.gov.ph.
The September 2022 licensure examination for social workers was held in Manila, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Koronadal, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Rosales, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga, and the results of the examination were released three working days after the last day of examination.
Members of the Board of Social Workers who gave the licensure test were Chairman Lorna Gabad, Rosetta Palma, Fe Sinsona and Ely Acosta.
The newly licensed social workers are reminded to register online for the issuance of their Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration. PRC said the schedule/s for the online registration will be announced at a later date.
Similarly, the board passers should also personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.
“The date and venue for the oath taking ceremony of the new successful examinees in the said examination will be announced later,” the commission added.
Regina ‘Ging’ Reyes, head of ABS-CBN Integrated News
MANILA — ABS-CBN News chief Regina “Ging” Reyes has been recognized by a global network of news publishers for her “exceptional contribution to the newsroom, editorial integrity, and outstanding leadership.”
Reyes was named the 2022 Southeast Asia Laureate for Women in News Editorial Leadership by the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) on Thursday, September 29 in Zaragoza, Spain.
The Women in News Editorial Leadership Award recognizes “the exemplary contribution of a leader to her newsroom, and under her leadership, her media organization’s contribution to society.” One “exceptional” editorial leader each from Africa, the Arab Region, and Southeast Asia is named Laureate, annually.
The 74-year-old WAN-IFRA is an organization whose members represent news organizations across 120 countries and whose mission is to uphold the rights of journalists worldwide.
Along with Reyes, Zimbabwe Independent’s first woman editor Faith Zaba and Diana Moukalled, co-founder of independent media platform Daraj.com, were also named Laureates for 2022.
“Equality and inclusion in the media are essential for a healthy and representative society. We are happy to welcome our 2022 laureates, Zaba, Moukalled and Reyes, to the group of media leaders who play an exceptional role in making a difference in media while contributing to these fundamental ideals.,” WAN-IFRA CEO Vincent Peyregne said in his congratulatory message during the awarding of the 2022 Laureates.
Reyes was awarded on the second day of the 2022 World News Media Congress, an annual gathering of global news leaders, in Zaragoza.
King Felipe VI of Spain attended the Congress where he also led the awarding of the 2022 Golden Pen of Freedom, an annual press freedom award, to Polish media outfit Gazeta Wyborcza Foundation for its contribution in safeguarding independent journalism.
In her speech during the awarding ceremony, Reyes highlighted the need for journalists to continue doing the work amid attacks on press freedom across the world.
“A fellow journalist recently told me that ‘we are an endangered species.’ I couldn’t help but feel sad and old. Some of our colleagues have taken a step back from journalism and are pursuing different career paths out of frustration, disappointment and uncertainty,” Reyes said.
“We’ve been disrupted and we need to keep and regain the trust of our public. But we cannot give up on this profession. I feel a sense of urgency in the need to help our young journalists stay true to our mission. Even as we seek new ways of reaching audiences, the role of journalists in a democracy, the practice of truth-telling and the values that enable it, must be constant.”
Reyes, 59, is the longest-serving news chief of media company ABS-CBN starting in 2010. Previously, she served as the organization’s North America Bureau chief from 2002-2010, founding bureau operations from the ground up.
Reyes began her news career in ABS-CBN as a production assistant in 1986, as the country was regaining its democracy after years under martial law, and as the organization relaunched its operations after it was ordered shuttered by the government. She climbed the ranks, eventually becoming one the newsroom’s top editors and producers. She became the executive producer of the country’s longest running newscast, The World Tonight.
In her leadership posts, Reyes ushered the newsroom’s transition into digital and multi-platform reporting as well as integrated news operations. She has mentored many young news producers and working journalists.
In 2020, Reyes was the news head when ABS-CBN was once again ordered by the government to shut down its free-to-air broadcast operations after the company’s legislative franchise expired. During congressional hearings to renew the franchise, Reyes defended the importance of press freedom and the role of journalists in a free society. Lawmakers, however, ultimately revoked the application to renew the license.
After ABS-CBN was removed from free-to-air television, activists and media observers described the order as one of the “worst attacks on press freedom” under the Duterte administration.
The order resulted in ABS-CBN downsizing its operations but continued to report news on digital and cable platforms. Under her leadership, ABS-CBN remains one of the top news organizations in the country.
During the ceremony, Reyes dedicated the award to the ABS-CBN newsroom.
“This honor comes at a time when our news organization continues to be severely challenged on many fronts. I am deeply moved and humbled to receive this recognition on behalf of my entire news team, most especially the women in our newsroom and in the field. They are at the forefront of our battle to defend media freedom in our country and preserve the values of our profession. And I am here only because of their collective hard work and sacrifice,” Reyes said.
UPLB emerged as the top performing school in the recent licensure examination for agricultural and biosystems engineering (ABE) held on Sept. 15-16.
All 31 examinees from UPLB passed the exam, garnering a 100% passing rate for the University. Landing in the top ten examinees is Vincent Dioshua A. Yambao who ranked seventh with a rating of 83.66%.
The exam had an overall passing rate of 42.28%, with 832 passers from a total of 1,968 exam takers.
The BS ABE program of UPLB integrates engineering sciences with applied biological, environmental, and agricultural sciences. It has four specialization areas: agricultural food and bioprocess engineering; agribiosystem machinery and power engineering; land and water resources engineering; and agrometeorology, biostructure and environment. (Jessa Jael S. Arana, with information from prc.gov.ph)
Former undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Dr Rowena Cristina L. Guevara has been designated as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of state-run National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), the entity that also serves as fund administrator of the feed-in-tariff (FIT) incentives to renewable energy (RE) developers.
In a media announcement, TransCo said the appointment of Guevara as its president and CEO was approved by its board on Friday, Sept. 23.
Guevara, an engineer by profession and a graduate of the University of the Philippines, emerged as the first female official to occupy TransCo’s top post since this entity was spun off from the National Power Corporation two decades ago.
During her stint at the DOST in the Duterte administration, Guevara was undersecretary for research and development. She also served as executive director of the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD). Prior to that, Guevara was dean of the UP-College of Engineering.
TransCo is the entity-owner of the country’s power transmission assets that had been placed on a 25-year concession deal with private firm National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) via a privatization exercise in 2009.
This early, it is being closely watched if Guevara will have a more harmonious working relationship with concessionaire-firm NGCP, given that relationship had been a “tension-filled” during the time of her predecessor.
TransCo has an oversight mandate on the country’s power transmission assets and its help is needed by NGCP in right-of-way acquisition for its expansion projects.
A crucial mandate bestowed on TransCo is its administration of the FIT fund for qualified RE developers. This role has been reinforced with the additional RE capacity award under the yearly green energy auction program (GEAP) being administered by the Department of Energy.
The company is also in-charge of filing petitions with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the yearly feed-in-tariff allowance (FIT-All) to be reflected in the electric bills of all Filipino consumers. Collections from the tariff allowance will, in turn, be used to settle the FIT claims of RE project-sponsors.
An intensified role of TransCo is also anticipated in the “energy transition pathway” being proposed by the country’s policymakers as the auction of RE capacity will be increasing in the years ahead in compliance with the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) rule of the Renewable Energy Act.
With the RPS policy in place, it is anticipated that there will be investment influx in the RE sector moving forward, and their entry will be included in the subsidy scheme that TransCo will be collecting via the FIT-All charge passed on to all ratepayers.
By Mia N. Judicpa & Gabrielle A. Abrahan, MSI Contributors
UP MSI Scientist Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz and fellow conotoxin researchers have been awarded the 2022 Golden Goose Award, a United States award that celebrates the initially dubious research ventures that have turned out to be major breakthroughs. The award was presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) during the 11th annual Golden Goose Award ceremony on September 14, 2022.
Another internationally renowned Filipino biochemist, Dr. Baldomero “Toto” Olivera, received the award alongside Dr. Cruz. Other members of the lauded conotoxin team are the late Craig Clark and Dr. Michael McIntosh.
Not just a wild chasee
The Golden Goose Awards has an interesting history. It was conceived as a response to the Golden Fleece Award, which was US Senator William Proxmire’s approach to calling attention to what was deemed ‘superfluous’ or ‘reckless’ spending of government money. It was given 168 times from 1975–1988, subjecting many misunderstood federally-funded scientific projects to undue ridicule.
Nine organizations, including the AAAS, came together in 2012 to present the first set of Golden Goose Awards. Since then, it has recognized 33 major projects in medicine, psychology, the physical sciences, computing, and biology.
Conotoxin research efforts have been funded by the US Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health. The other two recipients of the award this year are the teams behind the Foldscope and bladeless LASIK, respectively.
A new perspective on toxins
Conotoxins are a class of neurotoxic compounds isolated from cone snail venom. Intrigued by how the sting selectively affects neuromuscular activity, Dr. Cruz and her colleagues explored its biochemical applications.
The work began in the 70s when Dr. Cruz was Assistant Professor in the University of the Philippines Manila. Together with Dr. William Gray and Dr. Olivera, Dr. Cruz published a paper on the biochemical characterization of ɑ-conotoxin GI isolated from Conus geographus venom. This 1978 paper was succeeded by publications describing the μ-conotoxins, which block the sodium channels of our tissues.
Since then, research has expanded to include the ω-conotoxins that impede synaptic transmissions, and the conotoxins have been established as reliable reagents for neuroscience and medicine.
Dr. Cruz’s contributions to biochemistry and biomedical research have earned her many accolades, but her advocacies are what set her apart. For Dr. Cruz, science always had a purpose.
This recognition serves as encouragement for other Filipino scientists to continue their passionate work in the basic sciences.
All 12 examinees from the UP School of Library and Information Studies (UP SLIS) passed the September 2022 Librarian Licensure Examination (LLE) held last September 12-13, 2022. UP SLIS is once again hailed as the top-performing school in the exam, which it held consistently for more than a decade.
Eight of UP SLIS’s graduates garnered a spot in the Top 10, with Marzo Meco Bagayaua Alfonso achieving Rank 1 with a rating of 88.20%. The rest of the topnotchers are as follows:
Rank 2 – August Emmanuel Napoles Florese (87.75%)
Rank 3 – Paul Martin Perit Jequinto (87.65%)
Rank 4 – John Arjude Calilap Gerona (87.60%)
Rank 5 – Beatrice Bernardin Go Tan (87.00%)
Rank 7 – Ces Archae Dominado Buenavista (86.45%)
Rank 8 – Raymond Mendoza Reyes (85.90%)
Rank 10 – Sammy Siazon Lagas II (85.40%)
The Professional Regulation Commission reported a 39.43% passing rate (250 passers out of 634) who took the LLE in 12 locations across the Philippines. Mandated by Republic Act No. 9246, librarianship is a regulated profession in the country, with the LLE as a requirement for registration.
With this feat, the UP SLIS continues to lead in LIS education as the CHED Center of Excellence in Library and Information Science. Congratulations to our new registered librarians!
Source: https://upslis.info/article/100-passing-for-up-slis-in-the-2022-lle
Several graduates from the University of the Philippines – Diliman made it to the list of topnotchers of the September 2022 Librarian Licensure Examination, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Friday evening.
UP-Diliman graduate Marzo Meco Bagayaua Alfonso is the first placer gaining a percentage of 88.20, besting 250 examinees who successfully hurdled the exams.
The rest of the graduates who made it to the Top Ten list are the following:
The top performing schools with more than six examinees and with at least 80 percent passing percentage are: University of the Philippines – Diliman and Saint Paul University – Surigao
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