by Paoloregel B. Samonte

The local government unit (LGU) of Barangay Batong Malake, in cooperation with UPLB-based organizations Venerable Knight Veterinarians (VKV) Fraternity and Venerable Lady Veterinarians (VLV) Sorority, conducted a free anti-rabies vaccination program last Saturday, July 28 at the Brgy. Batong Malake Barangay Hall.

Over twenty dogs received anti-rabies shots in the vaccination station set up by the project team spearheaded by Mr. Jair Airon Grayal, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student of UPLB and member of the VKV Fraternity. In addition to this station, a separate team was assigned to patrol the barangay vicinity in order to reach more pets in specific areas of concern which included the public market, Lopez Avenue, and the streets of El Danda and Bancal. The anti-rabies injections were funded by the local government unit.

Rabies has continued to be a public concern in the Philippines, a fact evident in the locality as well. Laguna has been named by DOH as one of the ten provinces registering the most number of human rabies cases, with the CALABARZON region one of the regions with the highest incidences of rabies-related human deaths.

Dr. Ross Antonio Banayo, the administering veterinarian and an alumnus of the VKV fraternity and of the UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine, explained that aside from the fact that this practice of securing the welfare of dogs and other animals is related to their profession as veterinarians, the activity also served as a form of public service.

“This activity is held to reinforce preventive measures for rabies. This is, of course, better than doing nothing and waiting until someone suffers. Besides, rabies is fatal once it afflicts individual dogs or humans.” Dr. Banayo added.

This biannual activity served as a continuation of an earlier anti-rabies vaccination project conducted last July 14, in which the principal areas of concern were Forestry, Jamboree, Grove, Demarses, Riverside, and Raymundo.

The Vianneyhan Competition 2012 champion as they made their bow

by Roman A. Moreno

BRGY. CEMBO, MAKATI CITY – As part of the celebration of the Feast of St. John Maria Vianney, patron of the priests, the  second annual Vianneyhan Competition was held on July 21, 2012. It was a chorale competition among the different choirs coming from different universities and parishes in Metro Manila. According to Ms. Arlene P. Cornejo, one of the organizers, it was a battle against the bad weather brought by the remnants of typhoon “Ferdie” that devastated Luzon for the past few days.

Ten out of the 12 invited choirs competed for the championship and after three hours of impressive performances from the contestants and the previous champion St. John Bosco Chorale, the winners were finally announced.

The P.L.M. Student Chorale Society came in third while the Second Chronicle Singers from the Our Lady of Sorrow Parish, Pasay City in second and the champion this year is the P.U.P Bagong Himig Serenata.

Mr. Kelvin DC. Kabagting, the choir master of the Second Chronicle Singers, said that it was their second time winning second place after 13 years and being the last to perform was an advantage since they had ample time to prepare for their performance.

For the P.U.P Bagong Himig Serenata, their choir master Mr. Emil R. Cruz admitted that he never expected to win because he was only able to handle the choir the night before the competition. The winners received cash prizes and gift certificates and consolation prizes were given to others so no choir left empty-handed.

Aside from the competition, it was also a night for honoring Fr. Jaime S. Marquez. The parishioners gave him a surprise tribute for his undying love and support especially that the parish started only as a chapel 11 years ago but now it has grown tremendously with the number of its people.

Despite the bad weather, the program was a success for it was able to start and end well.  Vianneyhan from its root word “Bayanihan” prove its meaning as the people of Cembo were one in faith and action. And as Fr. Jaime said, “The people of this parish are incredible, generous, faithful to the Lord and reliable.”

by  Mary Rose B. Manlangit

To support the need of tables and chairs of public schools and to provide livelihood for the local communities, the Forest Products Research and Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FPRDI-DOST) developed a bamboo flattening machine. The machine was featured during the Syen Saya ‘12 science exhibit held July 18-20, 2012 at Baker Hall, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

Come October 2012, FPRDI will be organizing a stakeholders meeting for different government agencies and for future investors to present the agency’s projects and on-going researches. The stakeholders meeting is part of FPRDI’s celebration of their 55^th year of committed service.

In an interview with FPRDI Public Assistance Coordinator Ronelia O. Lalap, she said that the bamboo flattening machine was a project devised to modify the traditional flattening method of bamboo woods on making wood furniture. “With the use of the machine, bamboo flattening will be a lot easier and less time consuming”, she said.

The said machine was developed by Engr. Dante Pulmano with his co-researchers from DOST, funded by the DOST-TECHNICOM and monitored by the Philippine Council for Industrial Energy Research and Development (PCIERD).

There is a continuing project developments in the different parts of the country where the bamboo propagation is abundant, spearheaded by the technical services division of FPRDI who train the interested investors of the project.

Lalap said that normally the Local Government Units (LGUs) are those who invest in the project as part of their education and livelihood programs on their respective provinces. “In Region I, particularly Alaminos, Pangasinan, we have trained the LGUs and the local farmers on how to use the bamboo flattening machine and now we have heard that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) have funded them to manufacture tables and chairs for public schools in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd)”, she explained.

The technical services division maintains high quality standards for the bamboo furniture production and they have set criteria to make the manufactured products be open for commercialization here and abroad.

The bamboo flattening machine is one of the numerous projects of the FPRDI being mandated to conduct research and development to transfer technology and to render technical assistance when it comes to non-wood and wood products utilization in the country.

Lalap added that the agency provides livelihood among the local people including the farmers, housewives and those who are incapable of earning money in order to initiate development among themselves and in their communities.

by Paoloregel B. Samonte and Clinton C. Ronquillo with reports from Joy Dianne J. Gumatay

Mas Masaya sa Syensya. This was the theme of the 5^th annual Wonderama launched at the Baker Hall in the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The Wonderama is a three-day interactive science learning exhibit that will be open to the public from July 18-20. It is part of SyenSaya, the banner program of the Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc. (LBSCFI) in support of the annual celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) held every second week of July.

SyenSaya features the latest scientific research updates, breakthroughs, and technologies for commercialization. It also aims to increase the awareness of different social sectors like students, teachers, and farmers on the role of science in improving the quality of community life. Over 160 high school and college teachers and students from different schools in the region attended the opening of SyenSaya.

Participating scientific institutions and agencies showcased different agricultural products from root crops, fruit trees, poultry and livestock, and genetically modified organisms developed in the local community.

The event also served as venue for the public to see various mechanical inventions like robots, audio-visual presentations of experiments, and agricultural implements such as animal feeds, Some institutions likewise gave away information brochures to heighten public awareness about scientific researches.

Romae Zen Arganda, a BS Agricultural Engineering student, expressed her amazement with the exhibits and added, “the information on the pamphlets are very helpful in explaining the significance of science in our community.”

Aside from the Wonderama, the UPLB Institute of Cooperative and Bio-Enterprise Development a forum on health, environment and livelihood intended to promote awareness of the member agencies regarding certain issues in the scientific community on July 19.

Under the guidance of Chancellor Grace Javier Alfonso, the University of the Philippines Open University is this year’s organizer. Chancellor Alfonso is also the president of the LBSCFI.

Mr. Florante A. Cruz, a member of the Syensaya Exhibit Committe and a University Researcher from the UPLB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, explained that SyenSaya started way back in 2008 as part of UPLB’s centennial year celebration under the then Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco and was organized by the members of LBSCFI.

LBSCFI also recognized excellent research and development projects conducted by its member agencies gave the Research and Development (R&D) by honoring the agencies with awards in a ceremony held at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Auditorium on July 20 (Friday). The Philippine Agriculture and Resources Research Foundation, Inc. (PARRFI) was awarded the outstanding R&D work in the agriculture, forestry, and environment sectors.

SyenSaya was was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the members of the LBSCFI in cooperation with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI).

ni Earl Gio N. Manuel

Bilang bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Nutrisyon na may temang “Pagkain ng Gulay ay ugaliin. Araw-araw itong ihain”, nagdaos ng isang feeding program sa pangunguna ng Los Baños Group kabalikat ang kanilang mga volunteers na kinabibilangan ng Rotary International-Makiling District, UP Sigma Alpha Nu Sorority, Singles for Christ Los Baños Chapter, at mga Barangay Nutrition Scholars noong nakaraang Hulyo 14 sa Municipal Covered Court.

Katulong ang magulang ng mga bata, deworming o pagpupurga ang unang isinagawa ng mga volunteers.

Ang naturang programa ay pinamagatang “Los Baños Group Feed A Child Program” na may layuning bigyan ng masusustansyang pagkain  ang mga bata sa iba’t ibang barangay ng Los Baños.

Dinaluhan ng 123 na mga bata kabilang ang kanilang mga nanay na nagmula sa sampung barangay kabilang ang Tadlac, Timugan, Lalakay, Maahas, Bambang, Malinta, Putho-Tuntungin, Batong Malake, Baybayin, at  Anos ang feeding program.

Sinimulan ang pagpapakain sa mga bata sa pamamagitan ng isang mga kwentong pambata na pinagunahan ng mga miyembro ng UP Sigma Alpha Nu Sorority na sinundan ng pagpupurga sa mga bata. Matapos nito, isinagawa na ang pagbibigay ng mga pagkain tulad ng lugaw, manok, gatas, tinapay, at juice sa mga batang dumalo sa feeding program.

Ayon kay Mary Jane Corcuera, and Program and Development Chairman ng Los Baños Group, nagsimula ang kanilang samahan na binubuo ng mga mamamayan ng Los Baños noong Agosto 26 lamang ng nakaraang taon. Layunin ng samahang ito na magbigay serbisyo sa kanilang mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng pagsasagawa ng mga programang may kinalaman sa nutrisyon at kalusugan.

Ang mga LB Group volunteers habang inihahanda ang mga pagkaing ipapamahagi sa mga bata.

Bagaman wala pang isang taon ang kanilang samahan, nakapagsagawa na sila ng mga programa tulad ng Linis Lawa at isa pang feeding program na ginanap noong nakaraang Mayo 26.

“Parte lamang ang feeding program na ito ang aming layuning masubaybayan ang kalusugan ng mga malnourished na bata sa Los Baños dahil magsasagawa kami ng six month feeding program upang mas matugunan namin ang pangkalusugang pangangailangan ng mga bata”, dagdag pa ni Corcuera.

Ayon naman kay Municipal Nutrition Action Officer na si Maria Cerezo, “Maganda at masustansya ang kanilang programa na makakatulong sa nutrisyon ng mga bata kahit isang araw lamang ito.”

Masayang pinapakain ng isang ina at kaniyang anak ng pagkain ibinahagi ng LB Group at ng iba pang volunteers.

Sa kabilang dako, nagpahayg din ng opinyon ang isang nanay na nakiisa sa nasabing programa at ayon sa kaniya,”Nagkaroon kami ng ideya para magkaroon ng mabuting kalusugan ang aming mga anak at kung ano ang tamang ipakain sa kanila”, ani Rowena Pamulaklakin, isang maybahay mula sa Brgy. Maahas.

Nagtapos ang programa sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng UP Sigma Alpha NU ng mga sertipiko sa mga Barangay Nutrition Scholars ng mga barangay na dumalo.

Kaugnay nito, magkakaroon din ng iba’t iba pang programa na may kinalaman sa buwan ng nutrisyon tulad ng paligsahan para sa pagluluto, paggawa ng jingle, at sa hardin ng komunidad sa iba’t ibang barangay ng Los Baños.