Meanwhile, the College of Engineering and Applied Technology fared well during the August 2010 Agricultural Engineer Licensure Exam with a passing rate of 45.45% surpassing the national passing rate of 44.84%.

See complete list of August 2010 AELE passers from the BSU-College of Engineering and Applied Technology

          The College of Nursing lived up to its reputation of being one of the top performing nursing schools in the country during the July 2010 Nurse Licensure Examination. With a passing rate of 96.97%, BSU ranked 8th place among the nursing schools with 100 and more examinees.

See complete list of July 2010 NLE passers from the BSU-College of Nursing

This was the gist of the two Professorial lectures held at the Chrysanthemum Hall on August 31, 2010 on the importance of organic farming and of diverse ecosystem.

In order to restore the soil fertility for the production of native rice through organic farming, Dr. Jose G. Balaoing, PARRFI Professorial Chairholder 2009, conducted a study titled, “Organic Fertilizer Management of Native Rice Grown in the Municipalities of Kibungan and Kapangan.”

Before discussing the result of his study, Dr. Balaoing talked about the basics of soil organic matter. He reiterated the importance of organic fertilizers and the composition of soil organic matter and its influence on soil properties and the environment.

In his study, the application of vermicompost in combination with organic liquid fertilizer extract is recommended for the culture and production of Binggawan rice variety.

It was recommended during the open forum that a follow up study on the diseases of the native rice should be done. Also, historical analysis of the area must be considered.

Meanwhile, Dr. Romeo A. Gomez Jr., PARRFI Professorial Chairholder 2008, presented the issues and effects on turning Mt. Data at Mt. Province into an agricultural area . His study, “Floral Assessment of Mt. Data National Park” was in collaboration with the Saint Louis University. He emphasized the importance of understanding the basic sciences like ecology and environmental science to applied science.

He also discussed the application of Economic Valuation, this is giving economic value on the species or on the things inside a diverse ecosystem or national park.

The implication of his study is that Mt. Data is a relatively diverse ecosystem, but there is a decline of the specie distribution in the area through the years. There was also an increased pressure on the land use change of the park due to economic activities and population pressure as well as soil characteristics of the area that favor for agriculture production.

In an open forum, it was discussed that the government should provide measures to really protect the national park as well as its effect if the said park will be converted to short term use just like agriculture land use.

Dr. Gomez also said that Mt. Data Park provides water for irrigation on Regions I and II. Dr. Luis, in her closing remarks challenged the students and youth to rehab what can be restored just like growing native rice and to protect and conserve what is there to be protected especially the watersheds. She added that biodiversity gives life to people.

PARRFI professorial lectures are held every month organized by the office of the VP for Research and Extension. //May Flor Magciano

Aside from being accepted as member of the Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International, Dr. Mina was also elected as member of the PGCA Board ranking 10th out of 22 candidates coming from different parts of the country. Dr. Mina hopes that his election as PGCA Board member will help bring the needs and concerns of the region to the national level.

Even as a young chapter, PGCA-CAR was awarded a certificate of recognition during the 46th Annual National Convention and Workshops for being an active chapter by initiating and organizing various professional development activities for its members.

The PGCA-CAR will co-host the PGCA Midyear Seminar Workshops for Luzon with PGCA-Baguio on October 20-22 at Benguet State University and St. Louis University with the theme, “The Counselor: Walking the Talk.”//JSTabangcura

It was held simultaneously with the 3rd China-ASEAN Education Ministers Roundtable Conference. These were aimed at further promoting the mutual cooperation in education and friendship between China and ASEAN countries.

The China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week actually consisted of five different and separate activities including the Environment Education Forum, Humanities Symposium, Forum on Higher Education and Human Resources Development, Youth Summer Camp and China Education Resources Exhibition.

Dr. Danilo P. Padua, attended the Environment Education Forum together with Dr. Ruben Umaly, the Vice President for Research and Linkages of the University of the Cordilleras. The director of the UP Baguio Cordillera Studies Center, Prof. Delfin Tolentino, participated in the Humanities Symposium.

Dr. Padua presented a paper entitled: Vegetable Terracing in the Cordillera Region, Philippines: A Case of a Trade-off Between Livelihood and Environmental Protection. This was one of the 17 papers presented in the Environment Education Forum. A total of 50 participants attended the forum coming from China, Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.//Casmir Ligat

Calling all BSU-ELS batch 1994; we’re having our reunion at Jack’s Mabini this coming May 3, 2008. Here are the following details:

DATE: MAY 3, 2008 – Saturday
LOCATION: Jacks-mabini (still open for suggestions)
TIME: 5:00 pm
CONTRIBUTION: P250/P300 (choose)
COLLECTORS:
. Balili/Cabanao/BSU comp.
- Angielyn cp # 09276568023
Ailyn Allan
Jenny Victor
Hydee Bansan
. Betag
- Nathaniel Lubrica cp # 09205073791
. Pico/Km 3/ Km 4/Bayabas/Pines Park
- Shirley cp # 09183388350
. Baguio City
- Mariejo cp # 09282908091
DEADLINE OF PAYMENT: APRIL 15, 2008
INVITATION/ PROGRAM PAPER: c/o BRADY

               The potato CIP 13.1.1 that was discovered by BSU researchers was presented to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last “Sabado Gloria” (March 22) by Dr. Rogelio D. Colting.

               “Gloria Kamaptengan” is a new potato variety that has undergone research since 2006 by the following researchers: Belinda A. Tad-awan, Donita K. Simongo, Esther Josephine Sagalla,  Cynthia Kiswa, Janet P. Pablo, and Charlotte C. Shagol at the Northern Philippine Rootcrops Research and Training Center (NPRRTC).

               “Kamaptengan” is an Ibaloi term that means “very good or best”. It has a yield of 10 to 11 tons/ha and it is resistant to potato blight. According to Dr. Tad-awan, this potato is also good for french-fries because of its low moisture content. This potato variety has a Return of Income (ROI) of 57.51 %.

               PGMA gave P10 million pesos as counterpart funding for the building and equipment of the Center. The Center primarily will process different kinds of vegetable based products like veggie pasta or noodles, veggie meat, veggie soup base, etc. The project will be spearheaded by the Benguet State University and it is supported by the Local Government Unit (LGU) and the Department of Agriculture-CAR.

The Center will be open to the indigenous farmers and commercial producers where their products will serve as raw materials for processing. The processed vegetable products will be based on nutrition requirements of various target clients (i.e. those with Vitamin A, Iron, and Protein Deficiencies). It will also employ majority of the unemployed graduates and women in the community.

            According to PGMA, the nutritious processed vegetable products will also be marketed and will be made affordable at the “Tindahan ni Gloria” nationwide.

            Dr. Violeta B. Salda, the lead researcher for the project, has developed various processed vegetable products from chayote, carrots, sweet potato, and squash among others. Processing of vegetables into palatable products (i.e. preserves, pickles, and noodles) will make seasonal vegetables available all year round.

PGMA’s visit to La Trinidad was a time of giving her generous support to various government projects by the LGUs. She also graced BSU’s exhibit at the Puguis Trading post by which Dr. Rogelio D. Colting Sr. presented and explained the different kinds of processed noodles, processed strawberry products and the new potato variety named after her (See related story Potato Variety).