Volume No. 7, Issue No.
5 October-December 2018
Mid Year Graduation, AY 2018-19
163 Students
receive degrees
163 Open University System students were
awarded their diplomas for the various degrees they
completed in the Mid-year commencement exercises
of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
The advance studies program totaled 139
graduates with the Master in Education Management
(MEM) listing the most graduates with 68.
Master of Science in Construction Management
(MSCM) had 40 recipients. Master in Public
Administration (MPA) had 18 graduates. Master in
Communication and Master of Science in Information
Technology had 6 and 5 graduates respectively.
PUP President Dr. Emanuel C. De Guzman was
the commencement speaker at the ceremonies held at
The Crossroads Center in Quezon City on December
11, 2018.
OUS Conducts First
Tertulia for the Year
“Divergent: Our Differences Make Us
Stronger”, was the first tertulia offered by the OUS for
its administration and staff.
Led by IMDO Head, Prof. Jerome P. Dumlao,
the tertulia focused on strength in diversity referring
to the differences in the traits and attitudes of the
staff which leads to more cohesiveness. Through this,
success is achieved as each person contributes his or
her strength to attain the unit’s goals and objectives.
OUS CARE Holds
Research Seminar
The Center for Accreditation, Research and
Extension (CARE) of the PUP Open University System
conducted recently a seminar called “Trends and
Updates On Research and Development.”
Held at the Bulwagang Bonifacio and NALLRC
Multimedia Room of the NALLRCC Bldg., the seminar
was primarily organized for the Course Specialists of
the OU Institute of Open and Distance Education
(IODE) and the Tutors of the Institute of ETEEAP and
NTSP (INE).
Keynote speaker for the two day event held on
November 28-29, 2018 was PUP President Dr.
Emanuel C. De Guzman.
Plenary speaker for Day 1 was Dr. Paz H. Diaz.
Plenary speaker for Day 2 was Prof. Roberto B. Catli.
The seminar was organized to bring to the
participants recent trends on research. It stressed the
importance of research, stating that aside from the
teaching chores of the course specialists and tutors of
the PUP Open University, they should be involved in
research preferably in their field of study.
Trends and Issues. Participants of the seminar for course
specialists and tutors at the end of the event.
OU Sphere page 2

OUS Holds Assessment and Planning Conference

Theme: Together As One. Sustaining the OU System Through Synergy

Visit to UP Open Univesity. Prof. Jerome P. Dumlao (3rd from ABBrC Graduate Visits. Aaron Joshua Macapagal, the
left) and other PUP OUS staff pose with Personnel of the Transnational Education Linkages Programme Officer of the
Registrar’s Office of the UP Open University during a British Council and former PUP OUS ABBrC student drops by
benchmarking visit on October 12, 2018. the OU for a business meeting with the OU Executives.
 OU Sphere page 3

Photo News

Officials of selected Barangays in Bacood, Sta. Mesa, Manila with MSIT students and OUS officials during the
presentation of the Enhanced Barangay Governance Management System which was developed by the
students of the Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) as OUS Extension Activity on October 6,
2018 at Brgy. 622, District VI, Manila.

Twenty Eight (28) papers of Master of Science in Construction Management (MSCM) students were
presented in the 2018 International Conference In Engineering, Construction and Project Management at Abu
Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on November 29- December 01, 2018.
In this conference Dr. Manuel M. Muhi served as the resource person during the Plenary Session 1
and he discussed the Technologies and Methodologies in Construction Materials.
More so, Dr. Guillermo O. Bernabe discussed the Plenary Session 2 about the Updates on Thesis
Format and Style. While, Dr. Remedios G. Ado discussed the Plenary Session 3 about Research Ethics and Dr.
Lincoln A. Bautista discussed the Plenary Session 4 that tackles about the Applications of Statistics in
Research.
Open University Sphere

ICPD Conducts 2nd Run of National

Training on Office Management
The PUP Open University System (PUP OUS), through the Institute of Continuing Professional
Development (ICPD) held the second run of the National Training on Office Management and Administration
Skills titled “Challenges Accepted with Great Skills.”
This was held on October 11 to 12, 2018 at the PUP Bulwagang Bonifacio, Ninoy Aquino Library and
Learning Resource Center, PUP Sta. Mesa.
Dr. Dennis O. Dumrique discussed modules on “Promoting Team Work” and “Problem Solving and
Decision Making.”
Prof. Michelle B. Sotto spoke on “Time Management” and “Managing Office Information and File
Record System.”
Prof. Belen Z. de Asis lectured on “Effective Skills in Handling Customer Complaints.”
Prof. Malaya Ygot and Atty. Ma. Cristina R. Gimenez together spoke on “Anti-Sexual Harassment in the
Workplace.”
This 2-day activity was attended by participants from the PUP General Services Office, Naval State
University, Anti-Poverty Commission, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Laguna Lake Development Authority,
and Palawan State University.
Also in attendance were employees of Kasagana-ka Development Center, Pangasinan State University,
Sorsogon State College, Bataan Peninsula State University, Office of Civil Defense, Development Academy of
the Philippines and PUP Manila and Lopez Campuses. (by Jerielyn V. Reyes)

PUP OUS Visits STOU in Thailand

The PUP Open University System’s (OUS) visited Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), the
only distance education institution in Thailand on October 18, 2018.
The visit was intended to benchmark the STOU’s best practices in the delivery of distance learning pro-
cess.
The OUS contingent headed by the Training Chief of the Institute of Continuing Professional Develop-
ment (ICPD) Dr. Rudolf Anthony A. Lacerna, included ICPD Staff Ms. Mary Grace T. Cabrido and Institute of
Non-Traditional Study Program and ETEEAP (INE) staff Mr. Kim Wilbert G. Salandanan.
The OUS representative discussed the best practices of the University in terms of open and distance
learning, equivalency and accreditation, and continuing professional development.
Meanwhile, areas of possible partnership were initiated by the faculty of STOU School of Educational
Studies and School of Liberal Arts through STOU International Affairs Office for PUP OUS.
This visit of PUP OUS was organized through the help of the STOU International Affairs Office and the
OUS Executive Director Dr. Carmencita L. Castolo.

PEN NIVERSITY
Vol. 7, No. 5 The official newsletter of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Open University System October to December 2018

EDITORIAL BOARD
Dr. Manuel M. Muhi Dr. Carmencita L. Castolo
Editorial Consultant Editorial Adviser
Jerome P. Dumlao
Editor-in-Chief