What is incontrovertible proof that ‘TEAM’ as a slogan-acronym for “Together everyone achieves more,” is not mere sloganeering but a coming together of forces sharing a deep-seated desire to see that no one gets left behind?

It is most certainly a project led by the Learning Resource Center or LRC, which they dub as “Team-Up with #TeamLRC: a subject tutorial series for currently enrolled UPLB students.”

Team-Up with #TeamLRC is a series of online tutorials that aims to provide students with academic support to help them cope with some of their subjects in the current semester that they find difficult and challenging.

The Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) has forged partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman for the bench-scale production, safety assessment and market research of halal cosmetics and toiletries.

DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the ITDI signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with UP Diliman for the implementation of the project from May 17 to October 31, 2021.

The first session of SARAi “e.skwela sa CARAGA” was successfully held last July 2, 2021 via Zoom. Several agriculturists from City Agriculture Office of Bayugan and Municipal Agriculture Office of Las Nieves, and technical staff from DOST-CARAGA and Regional DA-ATI attended the event.

The said training started with a hearty welcome message from Mr. Ricardo N. Varela, Assistant Regional Director for Field Operations Division of the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. XIII (DOST-CARAGA). 

In line with the Teacher Development agenda, Open Education Week 2021 was held last 1 to 5 March 2021. To celebrate, UPOU lined up activities such as OPEN Talk, the new magazine program that was launched last 3 March 2021. OPEN Talk is broadcasted real-time over the UPOU Networks website and UPOU Networks Facebook page every other Wednesday at 6-7 PM. Another activity that was highlighted during the Open Education Week 2021 was the promotion of the availability of the Open Educational Resources (OER) available via the UPOU Networks as well. Both programs and activities are free of charge for the public viewership. 

The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao and Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) held on 21 May 2021 an online Presentation of Outputs and Virtual Turnover of Maps of their project,“Vulnerability Assessment of Coastal Areas in Davao Gulf to Climate-related Hazards” for the funding agency, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) under its DARE TO (Discovery-Applied Research and Extension for Trans/Inter-disciplinary Opportunities) Program.

Project Leader and UP Mindanao Professor Annabelle Novero presented the Project Overview and Summary of Accomplishments, naming the cities and municipalities involved, the trainings provided, the maps and publications produced, to CHED Senior Research Grants Officer Jamie Sese and local government officials who attended online.

For Rara, who is an animal lover, the program also aims “to change perspectives and attitudes towards campus animals.”

“Dati kasi (Before), they were rounded up and then brought to the pound. They were considered as pests. But now, people can see they have a role in the community. They can be therapy dogs… Now, we have a K9 unit to help during emergencies,” she said.

UPLB Agapay, the disaster response task force of UPLB, was officially launched at an online benefit concert with the theme, “Sama-sama, tulong-tulong, patungo sa makabagong panahon.” 

Umalohokan, UPLB Writer’s Club, UPLB Silakbo, UPLB Street Jazz Dance Company, and the  UPLB Choral Ensemble performed in the concert that was held to raise funds for community pantry initiative and to purchase COVID-19 kits, hygiene kit essentials, and prepare relief packs for affected UPLB communities, students, and staff. 

“There are still many laws that need to be enacted and still many provisions of existing laws that need to be revised because there are provisions in existing laws that are discriminatory to women. But when we talk about gender, we don’t only refer to women,” said Ms. Africa-Verceles, emphasizing that gender equality includes the rights of the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning) community.