Rod (right) enjoying the party after the awards ceremony on June 19, 2009. Joining him are (to his left) Forester Renato A. De Rueda, president of the National Council of the Society of Filipino Foresters, and Forester Joey Austria (Montreal '76), the Council's vice-president.

Rodrigo "Rod" Fuentes (Montreal '76) is the recipient of the 2009 Most Outstanding Professional in Forestry by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) in the Philippines. In its citation, the PRC highlighted, among others, Rod's " exempliying professional competence of the highest degree with integrity in over 20 years of practice of his profession as a sustainable development and urban and regional planning specialist in planning, policy advisory, program design, implementation and management of environment and sustainable development initiatives, natural resource and urban development projects."

Rod is currently the Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity based in Los Baños, Laguna.

Congratulations to the following Varrons who are recipients of prestigious awards as part of the centennial celebration of the University of the Philippines Los Baños:

• Forester Julieta Abellar-Anarna (Montreal '76) - UPLB's outstanding extensionist for 2009
• Dr. Portia Gamboa-Lapitan (Friends '72) and her team [includes Forester Rebecca Eleazar-Mariano (Friends '72)] involved in the Dampalit Agroforestry Program - UPLB's outstanding extension program
• Engr. Teodulfo Delgado (Honorary Member '02) - UPLB's Outstanding Administrative Personnel - Supervisory Category
• Prof. Teresita Harina-Borromeo (Rodeo '74) - UPLBCA's Outstanding Teacher

Juliet Anarna	Poy Delgado	Vicky Mariano	Pot Lapitan	Tess Borromeo

Will freeze just for graduate school!!!

Imelda “Aymeeh” Diaz-Mendoza (Thorn Among the Roses ’84) has recently started her master’s studies in Environmental Science at the Institute for Water Education at UNESCO in Delft, The Netherlands. Out of more than 3,000 applicants from 55 countries, Aymeeh is one of the 170 students (three coming from the Philippines) who were selected to receive financial support from the Netherlands Fellowship Program under NUFFIC (the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education). She is on sabbatical from the Natural Resources Development Corp. until 2010.

Warmest congratulations to Ramon "Mon" Razal (Skylove '73) who was recognized as one of the Outstanding Alumni on October 9, 2008 as part of 90th Loyalty Day celebration of the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Mon graduated cum laude in 1978 from the College of Forestry. He recently finished his two terms as Dean of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources at UP Los Baños.

He received the award from Dr. Luis Rey Velasco, Chancellor of UP Los Baños (to his left in the photo) and from the president of the UPLB Alumni Association.

On August 30, 2008, the UP Varrons capped their celebration of their 46th Anniversary with a simple party that was held in the Narra Hall, College of Forestry and Natural Resources. Guillermo "Gil" Mendoza (Dirty Dozen '69), now a Professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, was the guest of honor. Adelina "Lina" Adato-Barrion (Batch '69), a Professor at the Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, was given the Varrons Award in Teaching. Emerson "Emer" Jacinto (ESQ '80), Executive Director of the Appropriate Technology Center for Rural Development, was given the Varrons Community Service Award. Miguel "Mike" Marave (Skylove '73) was given the Varrons Business and Industry Award. Manuel "Doc" Bonita (Magnificent Seven '67) was honored with the Varrons Lifetime Achievement Award. In their absence, Ramon "Mon" Razal (Skylove '73) received the award on behalf of Mike while Gil received the plaque on behalf of Doc.

Induction ceremony for new Varrons, the members of the Star Gazers batch, was also held.

Lina Barrion received the Varrons Award for Teaching from Cion Karganilla-Raymundo and Gil Mendoza.	Emer Jacinto received the Varrons Award for Community Service from Caloy Tomboc (21st BCT '67) and Gil.
The Star Gazers '08 batch. From left: Bernie Magtalas (BS Electrical Engineering), Lovella Luzette Villones (BS Forestry), Maria Luisa S. Regodon (BS Forestry), Khay Ann Jessa M. Fernandez (BS Biology), Gemma Sharmaine Aguinaldo (BS Applied Math), Mabelle Cejes (BS Chemistry), Lizette Adame (Certificate in Forestry), and Mary Joy Buitre (BS Forestry).

Congratulations to Erin Kimberley Pobjie who graduated from the University of Melbourne last April 5, 2008, with double degrees, Bachelor of Laws (with Honours, H2A) and Bachelor of Arts (Dean’s List). She majored in International Law and Development. As part of her studies, she spent 6 months each in Mexico and Chile as an exchange student. Erin Kimberley is the only daughter of Peter Diete and Tessie Tumaneng-Diete (Watergate '74). Tessie is the Principal Policy Officer of Water Economics at the Strategic Water Initiatives, Department of Natural Resources and Water in Brisbane, Australia.

Below: Susan with daughter Reinzi and son Kreisler, a system administrator in Singapore.

Kudos goes to Reinzi Luz Soliven Bautista who is graduating magna cum laude at the University of the Philippines with a bachelor's degree in Biology on April 18, 2008. She is the daughter of Susan Soliven (Survivors '78). Both Reinzi’s parents are alumni of UP Los Baños, College of Forestry. Reinzi’s brother, Kreisler, is a BS Computer Science graduate of UPLB.

Reinzi grew up with exposure to various environments, thus learning many valuable lessons along the way. Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in July 1988, she finished her early years of study in the Garden International School. Upon returning to the Philippines, she finished her elementary years in Miriam College Grade School. She went on to complete her high school education at the Philippine Science High School, where she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the school paper. At UP, she excelled academically and always remained either a College or University scholar. She also garnered numerous awards including the Best Speaker in Undergraduate Seminar and second place in Best Thesis in BS Biology. While in college, she became the Vice President for Special Projects of Quod Erat Demonstrandum, an academic organization at UP Manila. Through this organization, she participated in numerous environmental, charitable, and academic projects. She also joined various interscholastic competitions and had the distinction of getting high marks in many of them.

She is one of the 15 students graduating with great honors in UP Manila’s Class of 2008. She was accepted in the prestigious University of the Philippines College of Medicine, the first step in fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor.

Congratulations goes to Ryan Jaranilla (Batch '84). He was accepted as the Executive Chef of the Olympics in Beijing. Ryan is currently the Executive Chef of the University of California Irvine cafeteria through the Aramark Corporation. See Ryan's business ad in the Varrons' Marketplace page. More on Ryan in the In Focus section of Tudla.

The UP Varrons participated in the 89th Loyalty Day Parade held at the UP Los Baños playground last October 27. The occassion was participated by the different constituencies of the university. See more Varrons photos in the gallery page.

Bert served as coach to two of the business entries to the BiD Challenge Finals: (1) processing of malunggay as source of health supplement (top) and (2) coco-based products (above).

The Business in Development (BiD) Challenge Finals was held on October 22, 2007 at the SGV Conference Hall of the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center.

For this year, Roberto "Bert" Alaban Jr. (Batch ‘79) served as one of the 18 business plan screeners and also as coach to two business entries. Bert is a two-year veteran of this competition. He was one of the six filipino finalists in BiD Challenge in 2005 and the only filipino finalists in 2006 where he received a distinguished award as belonging to the top 25 worldwide. Both final rounds were held in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

BiD Challenge is a worldwide business plan competition that promotes poverty reduction program through profit in developing countries. Started in 2004 and organized by the Dutch National Commitee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development and partners, it has now expanded to include one international competition and seven national competitions in countries that include the Philippines.

• A hydraulic ram pump designed and fabricated by Roberto “Bert” Alaban Jr. (Batch ‘79) is now delivering drinking water to residents of Brgy. San Gregorio, Alaminos, Laguna.  The hydram, with an output of 40,000 liters per day, draws water from a spring and lifts it to a concrete reservoir tank located 30 meters above, using no other external source of power except the pressure of falling water passing through the pump itself.  Fully operational since May 2007, the hydram was installed by the residents themselves, “bayanihan” style, with guidance from Bert.  It is now drawing interest from visitors, engineering students, and officials from other barangays, many of whom at first would not believe that water could be lifted to such height using water pressure alone.  similar installation for Brgy. Silangan, Nagcarlan is currently being worked out, with Bert helping the barangay source out additional funds from NGOs and funding agencies.
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  Vrod Bert Alaban (right, sitting) with Brgy. San Gregorio, Alaminos, Laguna residents beside the 2-inch hydraulic ram pump that now lifts 40,000 liters of drinking water per day for the community, located 30 meters above the ram.
  

• The 29th FFIBC, sponsored by the UP Varrons, was held on July 9 to 12, 2007 at the College of Forestry, UP at Los Baños as part of a weeklong celebration in honor of the CFNR freshmen. As part of the celebration, a symposium about "How to survive college life?" was held with Dean Ramon "Mon" Razal (Skylove '73), Director Rodrigo "Rod" Fuentes (Montreal '76), UPVL Senior Adviser Pat Malabrigo (BUTA '91), and UPVAA Vice-President Alfredo "Dodie" Torres (Victorious Octavians '89) as guest speakers. This was capped by a Sports Quiz Contest and the selection for Miss FFIBC 2007 on July 12 at the CFNR Auditorium.

• Asuncion “Cion” K. Raymundo (Varronettes ’63) is one of the recipients of the Outstanding Professional Award by the University of the Philippines (UP) Alumni Association in the field of natural sciences (microbiology). The award was conferred on June 23, 2007 during the 94th UP General Alumni-Faculty Homecoming and Reunion at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman. Cion is currently the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences, UP at Los Baños. You can read more about Cion in our In Focus section.

• Carlos "Caloy" Tomboc (21st BCT '67) is this year's recipient of the Professional Forester Award by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). The awards ceremony was held on June 22, 2007. Caloy is currently the Director of the Philippine Textile Research Institute.

• Roberto “Bert” Alaban Jr. (Batch ‘79) conducted a technology- transfer training on hydraulic ram pump to a group of farmers and small-scale miners last June 16-17 in Sipalay, Negros Occidental under the sponsorship of BINHI Foundation, a local NGO/PO. The attendees were former workers of the now-defunct Maricalum Mining and Philex Mines, who have turned to farming and small-scale gold panning after the cessation of commercial mining in the area. The hydraulic ram technology will enable the participants to lift water to their hillside farms and gold processing workshops absolutely fuel-free. Since many of them are also skilled machinists and welders, they are now planning to locally fabricate the pumps as another form of livelihood. Read more on hydraulic ram technology in the Marketplace page.

• Ericson "Eric" Jacinto (First Quarter Storm '78) has been appointed by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education as member of the Task Force on Agriculture Education for Benchmarking of Higher Education Program for 2007. Eric is the National Planning and Logistics Manager of Poultry Live Operations at San Miguel Food, Inc. in Laguna.

• Rodrigo "Rod" Fuentes (Montreal '76) was selected as the Executive Director of the newly created ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity. He also received the Special Achievement Award in the 2007 Alumni Homecoming of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, College of Forestry and Natural Resources (UPLB-CFNR).

• In April 2007, the UP Varrons International, under the leadership of Catalino "Lino" Blanche (21st BCT '67), has donated $1,500.00 to the UPLB-CFNR Alumni Association.

• Aida "Ayds" B. Lapis (Dirty Dozen '67) is the recipient of 2006 Outstanding Professional Forester Award in the field of Forestry by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) during its 33nd Anniversary and Awarding Ceremony held at the Manila Hotel Fiesta Pavilion on June 22, 2006.  Ayds is a Supervising Science Research Specialist at the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, Department of the Environment and Natural Resources.

• Flora "Pola" Credo-de Guzman (Interaksyon '75) was featured in an August 29, 2004 Inquirer.NET article about the Seed Bank at the International Rice Research Institute and the important role that Pola is playing in this endeavor. The article, entitled “Keepers of the Secrets of Rice,” was written by Linda Bolido for the Philippine Inquirer Online. The same article also appeared in the "Movers and Shakers" section of the August 24 issue of Sunday Inquirer Magazine. You can read the whole article from the INQ archive by clicking the link, or you can download the pdf file here.

The College of Forestry in the University of the Philippines Los Baños is celebrating its Centennial Year of founding with the theme “Syento Porsyentong Kasiyahan: CFNR, 100 Years Na at Patuloy Pang Maglilingkod sa Bayan at Kalikasan.”

Please go to this link to view the calendar of events planned for the whole year at the College of Forestry, UP Los Baños.

The centennial foundation and alumni homecoming celebration will be held on April 18- 24, 2010. Please click this link to view the list of events for the week-long celebration.

Former dean of the college, Ramon A. Razal (Skylove '73), is the chair of the centennial celebration.