Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Development (OVCRD)

Philippine Engineering Journal Centennial Issue Launched

The College of Engineering (COE) of the University of the Philippines-Diliman launched the Philippine Engineering Journal Centennial Issue at the Beta Epsilon Multimedia Room, Melchor Hall of the UP College last December 14, 2010.

Dr. Mark H. Zarco, managing editor, gave the opening remarks. He said that the journal was a compilation of outstanding articles published in the PEJ since 1980. The editorial board selected the 10 articles to be included in this two-part issue.

On behalf of Dr. Aura C. Matias, Dean of COE, Dr. Rhodora M. Gonzales, Associate Editor, explained the process of their search for the old articles representing the best of what COE faculty have been doing in the college. The two-part issue demonstrates the pioneering works that set the trend in technology development. She also said that reprinting landmark articles reminds the present of the past. The researches are relevant until today as we continue to search for knowledge, for better ways of doing things, and for sustaining life in our planet. “We are reminded that we have to pursue here, we have to carry on, there’s much to be done. Kung nagawa natin noon, dapat mas magawa natin ngayon” challenged Dr. Gonzales.

Dr. Zarco acknowledged the authors and COE guests who attended the event. He distributed complimentary copies to Dr. Guevarra, Dean at the time the centennial issue of PEJ was conceived, Dr. Ibarra Cruz, Dr. Ruben Garcia, Prof. Cedrik (on behalf of Prof. Teodorico Festin), Dean Manolo Mena, Dr. Karl Vergel, Dr. Gonzales, Dr. Peranan, Assoc. Dean for Institution & Research, and Dr. Nieves, Associate Editor for EEE. Copies were likewise given to the associate editors, the college secretary, and representatives from the main library.

Dr. Leonardo Q. Liongson, PEJ editor-in-chief, delivered the closing remarks. He reiterated the reasons for the significance of the latest issue: (1) to celebrate the centennial of the college (2) to celebrate some of the best written works of the faculty, and (3) to encourage more readers. He also acknowledged the efforts of the associate editors and managing editor for coming up with the issue.

Dr. Mark Zarco, managing editor, gives the opening remarks.

Dr. Zarco introduces Dr. Rhodora Gonzales, Associate Editor of Geodetic Engineering, for an inspirational talk.

Dr. Leonardo Liongson, Editor-in-Chief, tells the stories behind the PEJ journals.

Dr. Zarco and Dr. Liongson with Associate Editors, Dr. de Leon and Dr. Soriano.

By Luis Jayceel Novio

January 4, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post

Call for Nominations for the 2011 Gawad Chanselor sa NATATANGING REPS

Click HERE for the nomination guidelines.
Click HERE for the nomination form.

For further inquiries, contact Dulce Barraca at tel. number 981-85-00 loc. 4046.

December 3, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Dulaang UP Presents Floy Quintos’ Isang Panaginip na Fili in November

After “Orozman at Zafira” and “Shock Value”, Dulaang UP continues its 35th Theatre Season with Isang Panaginip na Fili. This production is Dulaang UP’s prelude to the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal, and is written by Floy Quintos and with original music composed by Ceejay Manuel Javier.

A scene from the world premier of Isang Panaginip Na Fili of 2008 to be restaged by Dulaang UP in November this Year

Isang Panaginip na Fili is a radical reworking of Rizal’s El Filibusterismo. For one, Jose Rizal himself is a central character in the musical. Set in 1891, Rizal is writing El Filibusterismo in a seedy hotel room in Paris. His roommate is Tunying Ibañez, an Ilustrado who is living a profligate life in the said city. Little by little, Tunying is drawn into the mystery of Rizal’s novel, as well as into Rizal’s haunted dreams. The play is about the idea of transformation: Ibarra’s transformation from reformist to filibustero is the very crux of the novel, and is echoed by Kabesang Tales’ morphing into Matang Lawin, Basilio into a disillusioned rebel, and Juli, from a faithful lass to a sexual plaything. Even Maria Clara transforms from the chaste inamorata to Salvi’s secret whore. The new libretto makes explicitly clear the transformations only hinted at in Rizal’s novel.Reprising the role of Pepe Rizal is Franco Laurel, for which he won an Aliw Award in 2009. Alternating for the role is Red Conception, who was last seen in Repertory Philippines’ Equus. Alternating as Tunying are Reuben Uy, OJ Mariano, and Nazer Salcedo. Floyd Tena and Inno Martin are alternating for the role of Basilio, Greg De Leon and Dondi Ong for Kabesang Tales, Mica Pineda and Janine Santos for Juli and Ces Quesada and Emlyn Santos for the role of Donya Victorina. The production will be supported by the Dulaang UP Ensemble.

Comprising the artistic team are Musical Director/Composer CeeJay Javier, Onyl Torres, who played Tunying in the original run, is now the Choral Director, Choreographer Dexter Santos, Set Designer Tuxqs Rutaquio, Technical Director Ohm David, Lights Designer Luther Gumia, Sounds Designer Jethro Joaquin, Video Master and Designer Winter David, and Stylist Jomari Jose.

Isang Panaginip na Fili will run from November 24-28, and on December 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City, from Wednesdays to Fridays at 7pm, and at 10am and 3pm on weekends. For tickets, please contact Cherry at 09177500107, or the Dulaang UP Office at 926-1349, 981-8500 local 2449 or 433-7840.

November 26, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Immemorial: Reaching Back Beyond Memory

The University of the Philippines Jorge B. Vargas Museum in cooperation with Green Papaya Art Projects and 24HR Art Australia opens “Immemorial“. Installation pieces, video and sculpture are housed at the West Wing, Basement and the Third Floor South Wing galleries of the Vargas.Immemorial brings together Filipino and Australian artists in dialogues that explore intersections between cultures and understanding of identity. Striving to identify convergences, the works in the exhibition explore journeys, displacements, and ancestral histories across time and geographical divides. Identity is framed as contingent yet rests on shared strands of knowing.

Exhibit runs until 02 December 2010. This event receives support from the Australian Council for the Arts and the Australian Embassy Manila.

For information, contact the Vargas Museum at (+632) 928-19-27, email vargasmuseum@gmail.com or visit www.vargasmuseum.org.

November 3, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Antonioni, Visconti, Fellini and Pasolini: Straddling Cinema and Literature

Here are the videos of the lecture and the Q&A:

October 28, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Latest Issue of Social Science Diliman Available Soon!

Watch out for the forthcoming issue of Social Science Diliman Vol. 6 No. 1, January-June 2010 issue. Contents will be available soon!

October 22, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Latest Issue of Science Diliman Now Available Online!

The latest issue of Science Diliman Vol. 21, No. 2 (June-December 2009) is now available online!

You may view this at: http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/sciencediliman.

October 22, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

The Future of the Book: Digital Publishing

The first Philippine digital publishing conference with the theme “The Future of the Book” was held at the UP-Ayala TechnoHub from September 13-14, 2010.During the two-day conference, publishing professionals and industry leaders discussed the business aspect of digital publishing and its being an exciting business opportunity for existing and prospective publishers in the Philippines.

One of the speakers was the Executive Director of the German Book Association, Mr. Johannes Scherer who discussed the “New Dynamics of Publishing.” He talked about the E-book market where he said the digital content will overtake the classic book trade within 10 years. He also mentioned the following advantages of an e-book. It makes possible full text searches, a wide variety of contents, font size selection, and play of MP3 formats. According to Scherer, work with digital text has become easier and more productive than before. There are enhanced e-books which contain multimedia functions. He also explained the concept of self-publishing like Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Nobles, Lulu.com, Scribd. Self-publishing is the publication of any book or other media by the author of the work, without the involvement of an established third-party publisher, vanity presses, or print on demand (POD). It is generally entirely done at the expense of the author (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-publishing).

“Alice in Wonderland” in I-Pad

The Espresso Book Machine which can print a hard copy of a book in 5 minutes

Scherer likewise talked about the risks of digital publishing where around 1 million books can be freely accessed by all users online; from 50,000 to 100,000 websites offer illegal content.

On the other hand, the head of the social content strategy for Yahoo Southeast Asia, Mr. Joey Alarilla discussed “The Future of Books in the Age of Social Reading”. He mentioned that the “now” generation is also the “share” generation where a book should be a shared experience, and reading is never a solitary experience.

By Gracious Romero

October 22, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

One (1) Slot of Outright Research Grant Available

One (1) Outright Research Grant (thesis) in the amount of P30,000 is available. UP Diliman Faculty members and employees who are enrolled in Graduate programs in any degree-granting unit in UPD may apply. Guidelines and application forms can be downloaded from this site.

RG-04 Outright Research Grant CV Format as of 2005
RG-03 Outright Grant Application Form Proposal Format.Application Form and Proposal Format for OVCRD Outright Research
RG-02 Outright Research Grant Instructions. Instructions in applying for OVCRD Outright Research Grant
RG-01 Outright Research Grant Guidelines. OVCRD Outright Research Grant Basic Guidelines for Submission of Research Proposals

October 22, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

UPD ChE Conducts Research Planning Workshop

The Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD-ChE) held their Research Planning Workshop on October 18-19, 2010 at the Meralco Development Center.According to Dr. Rizalinda de Leon, the Chair of the ChE department, the Department aims to align its goals with the National R&D Priorities for 2010-2016 provided by the Presidential Coordinating Council on Research and Development (PCCRD). By so doing, the Department hopes to have a niche in the Chemical Engineering research and development sector.

Chemical Engineering Department Chair Rizalinda L. de Leon leading a group of UPD-ChE faculty members during the break-out session.

In line with this goal, the Department conducted break-out sessions where the faculty members brainstormed possible solutions to problems encountered in the field of Chemical Engineering. These solutions were then presented to the entire department. The faculty then discussed whether these could actually be pursued.Aside from the brainstorming session, the Department also discussed ways of transforming their ideas to marketable products, identifying collaborators, producing a research culture, and writing effective grant proposals.

To learn about these skill sets, various resources speakers were tapped. Engr. Nestor Felicio, Vice-President for Strategic Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management of United Laboratories Inc, described the skills needed by researchers to collaborate efficiently with industry, especially in the field of pharmaceuticals and chemical production. He also discussed the trends of global pharmaceutical research such as the opportunities in the research and production for natural and organic materials. Dr. Luis Sison, Vice Chancellor for Research and Development discussed the process of innovation. Innovation involves a balance between the consumers’ needs or the “market pull” and the inventions developed by the research and development institutions or the “technology push”. The Technology Transfer Officers (TTO) of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD) also discussed technology transfer or the process by which an idea is transformed into a commercializable product or service. They likewise explained how the OVCRD can assist ChE faculty in commercializing their research initiatives. Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering discussed how to create a research culture within the department. Dr. Henry Ramos, the Director of the Project Management and Resource Generation of the OVCRD, presented effective means of writing proposals for obtaining research grants from funding agencies.