October 2024

Kelly John Robillos, CESS Senator, Mindanao State University at Naawan student, and IIigan City youth leader, represented the Philippines at the Global Youth Economic Opportunities Summit in Washington DC as a member of Opportunity 2.0 Youth. The summit focused on the importance of green skills and the green economy for a sustainable and progressive world. Kelly presented the Local Labor Market Assessment (LLMA) and the Youth Development Alliance in the Philippines, emphasizing their role in creating opportunities and aligning skills training with green sector needs. The USAID Opportunity 2.0 Program’s LLMA, conducted by the Education Development Center in 15 Philippine cities, is a three-step process. First, youth champions from various sectors collect information about the local economy. Second, youth leaders gather data from fellow youth about their interests, goals, and training, employment, and livelihood needs. Finally, both groups analyze the collected data to identify top sectors, markets, and skills training programs for out-of-school youth. With the growing demand for green sector skills, out-of-school youth can play a vital role with proper training and information. The LLMA ensures that youth voices are central to the process through focused group discussions and sensemaking workshops. Youth can influence the sectors and training prioritized, as well as the design and delivery of skills training programs. The LLMA also recognizes youth’s role in disseminating information through communication materials distributed in various channels. By putting youth interests and voices at the forefront, the LLMA ensures that programs are responsive to their needs and context while fostering youth ownership.

The Mindanao State University at Naawan (MSUN) Function House buzzed with excitement as distinguished faculty members and researchers from various colleges presented their latest studies and innovations at the annual 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒖𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒔, a highlight of the 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐏𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: 𝐌𝐒𝐔 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤. The event, moderated by Ms. Serpolette V. Bohol (morning) and Ms. Jovelyn L. Cabanatan (afternoon), opened with warm words from Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Asst. Prof. Gergie A. Ambato, who expressed her excitement and sincere gratitude to the panel of evaluators and the presenters for taking the challenge. Evaluating the presentations was a distinguished panel of experts, including: -𝐃𝐫. 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐓. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐥, Professor of Metallurgical Engineering, KTTO Director, and ITSO General Manager at MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology -𝐃𝐫. 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐉. 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞, MSUN Professor Emeritus and a recognized leader in research and academic excellence -𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐘. 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐧, expert in socio-economics research, resource appraisal, and impact assessment with decades of experience in both fieldwork and academia and a retired professor of MSUN Dr. Ruby C. Gonzales, Research Director, formally introduced the evaluators, who brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the event, ensuring rigorous and insightful feedback for the participants. Thirteen presenters proudly represented their respective colleges, showcasing the diversity and depth of expertise at MSUN. The event featured lively intellectual discussions as presenters shared their dissertation and thesis outcomes. They eloquently responded to questions from the evaluators and captivated the audience with their work. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝: From the 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: -Mr. Kean Roe F. Mazo – “DNA and leaf geomorphometrics analyses of Saurauia Willd. (Actinidiaceae) in Zamboanga del Norte: Including new discovery and rediscoveries” -Mr. Christian Fel S. Batoctoy – “Effectiveness of the KAANIB Enterprise Development Project (KEDP) Community/ Household–Level Coconut Processing Project (CHLCPP) component in Bukidnon: The case of Kibawe and Damulog” -Ms. Jolibe Llido – “Above and belowground response of rice genotypes to pH change in the rhizosphere attributed by nitrogen nutrition” -Ms. Rochelle A. Paculba – “Productive performance of 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯 X Jersey Cows fed with high and low protein levels in a commercial farm” From the 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲: -Ms. Estherlina Jr D. Pontioso – “Employability and academic performance of financial management students vis-à-vis industry skill set preference” -Ms. Maria Leah E. Suazo – “The influence of economic challenges and strategies on the resilience of micro food enterprises” From the 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬: -Mr. Erniel Ghrizcer G. Ecle – “Development and utilization of AVL with OLS: Its effects on students’ conceptual understanding and common misconceptions” -Ms. Rebecca T. Matados – “Socioscientific issue-based instruction on pre-service science teachers’ academic performance and attitude” From the 𝐌𝐒𝐔𝐍-𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥: -Ms. Charry G. Altamia – “Designing a framework for sociolinguistic profiles and translation proficiency: Reading comprehension implications” From the 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬: -Dr. Trilbe Lizann E. Vasquez – “Mass formula for self-dual codes over GR(p³, r)” -Mr. Edwin E. Dumalagan Jr. – “Spatial variability in benthic assemblage structure in shallow and upper mesophotic ecosystems in the Philippines” From the 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲: -Ms. Rowelyn M. Sargadillos – “Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon profile of microplastic-contaminated smoked Bali Sardinella, 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘶 (Bleeker, 1853), and the potential food safety risk” -Mr. Emmanuel S. Delloro Jr. – “Some aspects of reproductive biology and morphology of 𝘐𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 caught by baby otter trawl in Carles, Iloilo, Philippines” The colloquium concluded with an air of anticipation, as the winners of the Best Paper, Best Presentation, Best Poster, Best Proposal (Project Pitching), and Best Booth/Stall categories were announced during the Closing Ceremony and Awarding, which immediately followed the event.