Engr. Gelvie Lagos is an advocate of helping young people become passionate about electronics engineering.
This week’s topic in Looking Forward, a public affairs program of CPU TV Facebook Channel, is about electronics engineering. Engr. Gelvie Lagos, Faculty at the CPU College of Engineering, Department of Electronics Engineering (the new name for the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering), ably discussed the essential academic pedagogy that could help students in driving towards the future of electronics engineering.
Lagos shared the importance of electronics engineering in today’s age of technology: “It is now the vein that connects to the heart of what most young people and students are interested in.” The independent-traditional methods of teaching using the laboratory, he said, rely on the urgency to learn the skills. “While theories are said and written in front of the students, it is necessary to train them on skills of conceptualization and electronic systems design at the same time,” Lagos explained.
Outputs of Engr. Lagos students in one of his classes.
Lagos lets his students independently explore probabilities and perform tests on developing microprocessors, while progressively learning theories and knowledge in electronics. The demand on the subject of electronics, according to Lagos, has allowed students of Electrical, Mechanical and Computer Engineering to integrate their studies with the Electronics Engineering Class.
He considers the laboratory as the Center of Ideation, Realization and Commercialization (CIRAC). Lagos conducts outreach projects with his department inside the campus and in communities in Iloilo City.
Halalan Na, Kilala Mo Na Ba Sila? encourages Centralians to be informed voters. The said production is a timely reminder to vote wisely in the upcoming CPUR, local and national election.
Even as the country waits for the National Midterm Elections in May this year, everyone in the campus is looking forward to the Student Republic (CPUR) elections 2019 next week. A play entitled Halalan Na, Kilala Mo Na Ba Sila? a production of CPU Teatro, Sining, Atbp. has raised awareness on the current political and social issues.
The story was written by Nestle G. Taala of CPU TV three years ago and was first staged on March 9, 2016 under the direction of Ms. Charity Faith Lozañes. It calls on all voters to know their candidates closely. The restaging was held on Wednesday, March 6 at 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM at the CPU EMC Conference Hall. This year’s director is Taala herself. (With reports from Nestle G. Taala, CPUTV)
Dr. Mario A. Tajanlangit together with his wife Nenita Tajanlangit. Photo Credit: Dr. Mario A. Tajanlangit
On Wednesday, February 13, 2019, the guest in CPUTV’s public affairs program Looking Forward was Dr. Mario A. Tajanlangit, a professor at the CPU School of Graduate Studies.
Dr. Tajanlangit has a doctorate degree in management. He is also a social entrepreneur and a management consultant among several local and international business and enterprises. He is a former Director of the Department of Trade and industry in Guimaras. He also operates some acres of land planted with trees, a lumber enterprise and a diagnostic center in Iloilo City. Moreover, he has foreign partnerships with distributions, export and import companies. These experiences and business ventures enabled him to be proficient in teaching business and management as well as a valuable resource for his students.
He attributes his successful management, entrepreneurship, and teaching careers to how he was educated. “Education is a matter of choice,” he emphasized. He also considers a degree in post graduate education as very important in today’s socio-economic environment. “Many of our students would abandon the idea of proceeding to a [master’s] and [doctorate] degrees after graduating from college,” he added. He further explains that out there, in the search of a good job, an “undergrad” realizes that the first base occupation is good enough to sustain primary needs or financial requirement—until his/her achievement level is no longer competitive for executive or higher positions. Business, as an alternative, requires good family support, wealth and entrepreneurial background. Dr. Tajanlangit reiterated the value of excellence, pursuing higher education as a matter of commitment, “with determination through and through “.
Dr. Tajanlangit also shared some insights on business trends particularly on operating a business abroad. He said that “most of the difficulties in the import-export industry are brought about by barriers in local and international customs.” In addition, Dr. Tajanlangit said, “Foreign trade requires educated and expert entrepreneurs.”
He also suggested that the BPO industry (call center jobs) are, at the moment, the most progressive industry Filipino college graduates can be employed in, but maintained that a rather competitive chance at landing a good job is having a post graduate degree.
Central Philippine University has, among others, a good educational ground for training in post graduate education. He cited the quality of students who enjoys the prospect in career excellence through CPU’s post graduate studies.
Former Department of Agriculture Region 6 Technical Director, Dr. Joyce S. Wendam, expressed admiration for the initiatives of Central Philippine University College of Agriculture, Resources and Environmental Sciences (CPU-CARES) for their outreach and educational extensions related to organic food production.
Dr. Wendam has consistently supported projects that have contributed to the development of agriculture, especially in organic farming, organic vegetable gardening, and agri-business in region 6. She has consistently promoted organic food production and has, for several years, helped CPU in its annual agrifair. The DA has been a partner in the annual regional agrifair held in CPU.
In an interview on CPUTV’s public affairs program Looking Forward on February 12, 2019, Dr. Wendam acknowledged that CPU agriculture students have many opportunities that can prepare them for their future—in agriculture and in business.
Dr. Wendam teaches agro-economics at CPU-CARES and at the CPU Graduate School. She was once the representative of the DA at the Bio Industry Expo in Osong, Korea where Philippine products were being showcased.
To her credit, Dr. Wendam was able to help a rural family in Baranggay Igtuble, Tubungan Iloilo improve their living standards.
“I consider agriculture a big help to all Filipinos in times of food shortage, and in strengthening the family through economic development in agriculture”, Wendam said.
Dr. Rowena M. Libo-on (fifth from right) has made initiatives for CPU to partner with numerous universities around the globe.
Students of CPU Iloilo City and CPU Extension Schools abroad, Myanmar, Vietnam and Japan, among others, are highly satisfied with the quality of education that CPU Graduate School provides. Dean of Graduate Studies and Director of the Office for Transnational Programs, Dr. Rowena M. Libo-on, announced this good news in a recent interview in CPU TV’s public affairs program, Looking Forward.
Moreover, government agencies like the Ministry of Education and Training in Vietnam (MOET) recognizes the quality educational programs that Central Philippine University extends to their country. It is likewise satisfied with the relationship of their students and the well qualified Filipino teachers that CPU sends to their universities.
CPU’s transnational programs and scholarship exchanges, according to Dr. Libo-on, is well-coordinated with the Commission on Higher Education at the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam and with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs in CPU. The program provides good exposure for CPU teachers in other countries.
CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, was particularly mentioned by Dr. Libo-on as very supportive of the transnational programs.
The Office for Transnational Programs caters to the needs of foreign students in CPU. It is also tasked with the recruitment of students from abroad, accommodation, and exchange scholarship programs. Dr. Libo-on facilitates CPU’s services as well as faculty visits to foreign universities.
Dr. Libo-on has been invited as a Foreign Visiting Professor to Fukuoka University in Japan. She delivered lectures on globalization from August 5-15, 2018. Other foreign universities where Dr. Libo-on has served in her capacity as visiting professor are Tom Yong University in Busan, South Korea, Thai Nguyen University of Economics and Business Management in Nguyen, Vietnam and Myanmar Institute of Theology (Liberal Arts Program) at Yangon University in Myanmar.
Atty Salex E. Alibogha shares his plans and goals for the CPU College of Nursing to Mr. Cyrus A. Natividad during an episode of Looking Forward.
The Dean of the College of Nursing, Atty Salex E. Alibogha, was the guest in the CPUTV program “Looking Forward” last Friday, August 31, 2018. After answering several questions about the College of Nursing, Alibogha apprised viewers and alumni about developments of the Nursing Virtual Laboratory. According to the Dean, the laboratory will not only serve CPU nursing students, but allied sciences departments and other schools as well.
“[It] will be a big help for biological research and instructions,” explains the Dean. The project, when it becomes operational, is another achievement for the College of Nursing, which has been recognized as one of the best nursing schools in Western Visayas by Professional Regulation Commission and as one of the top ten nursing schools in the national licensure exams for nursing in the recent years. For example, PRC awarded CPU a Certificate of Recognition as the 6th Top Performing School in the November 2017 Nursing Licensure Examination.
CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles shares his plans, goals and message for the university to Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director, CPU Office of Communications.
The Central Philippine University TV aired its first episode of President’s Time on August 20, 2018. The talk show, hosted by CPU Office of Communications Director, Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, featured University President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles.
The goal of President’s Time is to give the university president the opportunity to share his plans, goals as well as to report the achievements of the University. The program also relays the challenges being faced by the university so that Centralians may also take part in its growth and development.
During the interview, Dr. Robles expressed his appreciation to CPUTV for initiating the said program, “I’m glad that you have initiated this opportunity for the president to communicate with our viewers.”
As the University prepares to celebrate its 113th founding anniversary, Dr. Robles recalls his experience as a CPU student: “I was here under three missionary presidents—Dr. [Almus Oliver] Larsen, Dr. [Joseph Turner] Howard and Dr. [Linnea Agnes] Nelson. And of course, the first Filipino president, Dr. [Rex D.] Drilon I was here until his death. But the following year, my wife and I left the country. And we’re happy to be back. What is important is serving CPU and making sure that its mission is accomplished.”
According to Dr. Robles, being a student under the leadership of the American missionaries taught him about the importance of offering one’s professional career unto the Lord, “Those were the days when you think about people serving not because it’s a job for them, but because they are here on a mission. So I consider my tenure as a mission instead of a job. We believe that they came here purposely for evangelism and for our education. They have accomplished that so eventually they transferred all responsibilities to us Filipinos.”
Through the unanimous vote of the Central Philippine University Board of Trustees and with the affirmation of the CPU Corporation during the annual corporation meeting held on April 20, 2018, Dr. Robles will be extending his term of service as University president for another five years. He will have served the university for 15 years come November 1, 2023.
Now on his third term as university president, Dr. Robles shares the improvement in the collection rate of tuition fees which eventually helped finance many renovations and constructions in the campus. “The first term was basically knowing what has to be done and we found out its lack of monetary resources. The major problem was our collection rate of tuition fees, we started in 2008 with about 85% collection rate and during the first term then we will able to discover the problem and now we have reach a point where we have more than 98% collection rate. With that we were able to save enough to renovate many of our buildings.”
In the last three years, the university invested more than 40, 000, 000 million pesos to improve its facilities. “[We were also able] to construct a new building for the Senior High School, combining all the requirements not just the building but [also] the new facilities, transformers, generators and it will cost us more than 270, 000, 000 and all from our savings. We did not borrow any money or obtain grants from big donors, unlike the previous structures that we built.”
It was also under Dr. Robles term where the university strengthened its national and international linkages particularly with other Asian universities namely: ZhengZhou University of Industrial Technology, Korea University of Media Arts, Tongmyong University, Korea and many others.
CPU also accomplished accreditation feats: The Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Liberal Arts of the College of Arts and Sciences received a Level IV status with validity from April 2017 to 2022. On the other hand, the Masters in Public Administration program received a Level II status effective December 2016 to 2019 while the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry got a Level III status with validity from April 2017 to 2022. The Masters of Arts in Nursing degree offered by the College of Nursing and Allied Sciences received Level III status effective December 2016 to December 2021. The Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and Masters in Business Administration programs of the College of Business and Accountancy got Level IV status with April 2017 to April 2022 validity.
The university ranked no. 1 in Western Visayas for the most number of academic programs hailed as Centers of Development and Centers of Excellence based on the list of the Commission on Higher Education for Academic Year 2016-2017, as ranked by LocalPulse. CPU is the only university from Western Visayas to make it in the Top 20. The list also showed that Central Philippine University ranked no. 18 all over the Philippines with five points earned from designated four academic programs of Central Philippine University, namely, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering and Teachers Education as Centers of Development and two academic programs, namely, Agriculture and Business Administration of the College of Agriculture Resources and Environmental Sciences and College of Business and Management as Centers of Excellence as announced by CHEDRO VI Memorandum No. 001, Series of 2016.
Dr. Robles also highlighted the importance of ISO Accreditations in maintaining the autonomous status of the University. CPU is the only autonomous university in Iloilo City granted by the Commission in Higher Education.
Emphasizing Christ as the cornerstone of the university, Dr. Robles commended the recently finished Christ Emphasis Week. According to them, the said celebration is a testimony of CPU’s commitment as a missionary school: “It is a very important part of student life in the CPU campus. We need our students to understand more what it means to be a Christian. We profess to be a Christian university, but do we really do that? The life of our faculty and staff are basically a good witness for our students. So if we don’t treat our students properly, then that’s not the Christian way. We need to live a life that can be an example to our students, following the teachings of Christ, so that our students can be role models for other universities to emulate. We should practice what we preach.”
Ending the interview, Dr. Robles expressed his desire to accommodate more international students and construct more facilities and classrooms, and for the university to reach greater heights through cooperation and unity.
The CPU TV Studio now offers fresh innovations to cater to the CPU community.
The CPU TV channel studio has undergone remodelling so that it would complement the new programs being filmed and the others that are being planned. The newly refurbished studio is now hosting live programs, such as The President’s Time, Seeds of Faith, Weekly Centralian Link TV, Looking Forward, and Jamming at Central.
The CPUTV Channel studio and office was outfitted with a new backdrop, furniture and equipment. The endeavour was headed by Mr. Dionisio Coronado, CPUTV Personnel, and the rest of the staff and technicians of the CPUTV Channel. On August 23, 2018, Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director, Office of Communications, led his unit and technical staff in dedicating the new office.
The CPUTV studio has long been a laboratory for the CPU Mass Communication students though it mainly served as the University’s means to communicate news and information from the CPU campus to the world.
With all the technological changes of the 21st century, CPUTV Channel and all its programs can now be viewed with one press of a button, even on smart phones. View CPU programs live (and/or on replay) on the CPUTV Facebook Channel, https://www.facebook.com/CentralPhilippineUniversityTV/.
CPU Sustainable Campus Committee pose at Silliman Hall at the Silliman University, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental.
In the December 6, 2014 meeting of the CPU Board of Trustees, a resolution “to accept an Environmental Sustainability Policy presented by the University President” was approved. CPUBOT Resolution No. 24 provided “for the protection, preservation, conservation and restoration of the environment by making the person a responsible steward – thereby advocating widespread use of clean and renewable energy, and efficient use of resources in its operation, instruction and community engagement in local, national and global arena”.
A group of faculty and staff, considered as “stewards of environment,” were called upon by the University President in 2017 to spearhead programs focused on environmental care and protection. This group was called the Sustainable Campus Committee. The committee decided on one “doable” project from among several ideas that came up from the group. As a result of the Board Resolution for Environmental Sustainability Policy, the Conversion of CPU-owned vacant lot(s) to an Eco-Park was proposed.
In an interview on “Looking Forward,” a CPUTV public affairs program, Mr. Prim Vergara III, Sustainable Campus Committee Chairman, clarified that “the Eco Park project will be a consortium of different units, departments and colleges of the University. The pool of ideas and strategic contributions by the committee members and partner units will result to the betterment of the environment.”
“Among the programs conceived by the committee are Tree Planting and Propagation, Botanical Garden, Vegetable Farm, Park Facility Design and Improvement, Park Energy and Facility Resources, Eco Pond and Park Maintenance,” Vergara added.
It was further decided that the Eco Park would be a laboratory facility for the academic departments with related fields or discipline in botany, agriculture, renewable energy and environment; water management, landscape and soil studies; management and marketing; and others.
Among the partner units are the University Campus Grounds and Upkeep Department; College of Agriculture, Resource and Environmental Sciences; Life Science Department; National Service Training Program; College of Nursing and Allied Services; CPU Republic; University students organizations; CPU Alumni Association, Inc.; College of Agriculture Alumni Association, Inc.; and Community Engagement and Service Learning Center.
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