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Mapúa MCL Hospitality and Tourism Students broadens their horizons in the International Cruise Operations Learning and Immersion Program

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Mapúa MCL Hospitality and Tourism Students broadens their horizons in the International Cruise Operations Learning and Immersion Program

 

Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (Mapúa MCL) B.S. Tourism Management (BSTM) and B.S. Hospitality Management (BSHM) students had the incredible opportunity to join the International Cruise Operations Learning and Immersion Program last November 5 to 8, 2023 at Hong Kong and Sanya High Seas. This program is in line with Mapúa MCL’s mission to continuously provide a learning environment that will transform the students into globally competitive professionals.

The four-day immersion program and Hong Kong tour provided the twenty-two (22) students with valuable insight into the world of cruise operations and exposed them to the challenges of interacting with different cultures. The course professor of TMLECO3 – Cruise Tourism, Mr. Hernan Ernani Luis, mentioned that “[The Immersion] offers our students a firsthand look at the intricacies of cruise operations, a sector that’s becoming increasingly significant in global tourism. Through experiencing different cultures and operational standards aboard, our students gain a broader, more practical perspective.”

 

 

The language barrier and cultural differences proved to be one of the biggest challenges faced by the tourism students, as attested by Ms. Erika Roxas, a BSTM 3rd year student. However, they embraced this obstacle as an opportunity to enhance their communication abilities and develop creative strategies through hand gestures to be able to interact with them.

According to Ms. Mariela Arabelle Tan, a BSTM 3rd year student, one of the things that amazed them through this immersion program was being able to immerse themselves in hands-on experiences in the cruise operations: the galley, theater, and bridge, where they were able to observe how the captain works.

 

 

The International Cruise Operations Learning and Immersion Program became a transformative experience for tourism students. Prof. Merle Ruiz, the BSTM Program Chair, cited that the program “Enabled the BSTM students to connect with other people with new cultures while discovering places of interest in some parts of the world. It also broadens their horizons on how cruises operate, which cannot be gained through other means.”

The program provided invaluable insights into the complexity of cruise operations, which led to an appreciation of the richness of different cultures. Also, by opening the students’ perspective, there are more careers to explore in the tourism industry, such as in cruise operations. Ms. Erika and Ms. Mariela, representing the BSTM and BSHM 3rd Year class, affirmed that Mapúa MCL is true to its vision of building professionals by exposing the students to broad opportunities that will serve as a training ground for pursuing their desired future careers, understanding the ins and outs, and knowing that experience is truly the best teacher in the tourism industry.

 

Mapúa MCL’s B.S. Biology engage in immersive learning experience in UPLB

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Mapúa MCL’s B.S. Biology engage in immersive learning experience in UPLB

 

 

On October 10, 2023, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (Mapúa MCL) B.S. Biology students visited the Municipality of Los Baños to deepen their understanding of biodiversity and its significance in their field of study. The visit was an integral part of the students’ General Botany class (C-BIO110) which aimed to provide students with hands-on experience in observing exhibits closely tied to biodiversity.

 

 

A notable highlight of the tour was a comprehensive walkthrough at the Makiling Botanic Garden located at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, where students had the opportunity to see diverse plant species firsthand. This practical exposure aimed to augment their theoretical knowledge and foster a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of various flora.

 

 

Additionally, the itinerary included visits to the SMART and Farm-ready Greenhouses, where students were exposed to modern agricultural practices and cutting-edge techniques employed in sustainable farming. This segment of the tour served as a bridge between theoretical classroom learning and real-world applications, showcasing the practical implications of their studies.

 

 

By immersing themselves in these environments, students were able to contextualize their academic lessons and witness the practical implications of their field of study. These experiences are pivotal in equipping them with a holistic understanding of Biology and preparing them for the challenges they may encounter in their future careers.

 

 

The trip was met with enthusiasm and active participation from the students, who found the hands-on experience invaluable. Their engagement and inquisitiveness underscored the significance of such practical learning opportunities in supplementing their academic journey.

Mapúa-PTC CMET College Week 2023

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Mapúa-PTC CMET College Week 2023

 

 

From September 18 to 22, 2023, the Mapúa-PTC College of Maritime Education and Training (Mapúa -PTC CMET) came alive with vibrant festivities as they held their annual college week celebration. This event was in line with the MANA Mo 2023 celebration or the Maritime Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month 2023.

The CMET Week kicked off with the Opening Parade, followed by the Opening Ceremony, CMET Baptismal, ZUMBA: Sigla sa Sayawan, and SEA Games, offering a vibrant start to the week-long festivities.

 

 

The second day of the celebration continued the excitement with Mangrove Planting, Webinar MANA Mo, CMET Model: Tindig Marino, CMET Voice: Himig ng Marino, CMET Basketball Semi-Finals, Mobile Legends Tournament 1, and Valorant Tournament 1, keeping the energy high and participation levels up.

 

 

Moving to the third day, activities like CMET Quiz Bee, CMET Model: Tindig Marino, Poster Making: Guhit Marino, Essay Writing: Tinta at Pluma, Mobile Legends Tournament Day 2, and Valorant Tournament Day 2 kept the momentum going.

The fourth day of the celebration witnessed a Mobile Blood Drive Donation, CMET Model: Tindig Marino, Mobile Legends Tournament Day 3, CMET Volleyball Finals, CMET Basketball Finals, and Valorant Tournament Day 3, fostering a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship among the students.

 

 

Though the September 22 schedule was rescheduled to October 17, 2023 due to the Volcanic Smog or also known as ‘Vog’, Mapúa-PTC CMET concluded their week of celebrations with CMET Recognition Day and Thalassoganza: CMET Night 2023, highlighting achievements and concluding the event on a high note and featuring their main guest performer, Taylor Sheesh.

 

 

The successful execution of the week-long celebration stands as a proof of the dedication and hard work of the Mapúa-PTC CMET Council for orchestrating an engaging and memorable college week, providing students with a platform to showcase their talents and fostering a sense of community within Mapúa-PTC CMET.

Mapúa MCL Celebrates City of Cabuyao’s 10th Cityhood Anniversary

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Mapúa MCL Celebrates City of Cabuyao’s 10th Cityhood Anniversary

 

The Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE) took part in the City of Cabuyao’s 10th Cityhood Anniversary in August 2022 with the theme “Luntiang Bayan, Nagkakaisang Mamamayan Tungo sa Bagong Cabuyao.” Spearheaded by CENRO Cabuyao, they launched the simultaneous tree planting activity attended by multi-sectoral organizations from the City of Cabuyao. The Mapúa MCL has been promoting environmental awareness and protection through its service-learning and community engagement initiatives with the participation of both the Mapúa MCL departments and the students/student organizations. Two (2) Kabuyaw tree (Citrus hystrix) seedlings, and sixteen (16) Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) seedlings, were given to the CSCE and the seedlings were planted all throughout the campus’ vicinity with the help of the members of Malayan Kalikasan, a non-academic, non-profit environmental organization of Mapúa MCL.

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Cabuyao City, Laguna is a government unit that acts toward the protection and preservation of the city’s natural resources including forests, watersheds, tree parks, mangroves, and other environmental development projects. CENRO focuses on water and air quality, solid waste management, coastal management, marine fisheries, forest resources, and parks and recreation. Moreover, the Cabuyao River Protection Advocates (CaRPA), a multi-sector organization that focuses on sustainable development and active stewardship of the Cabuyao River Systems and its related resources also took part in this collective measure to strengthen the protection of Earth’s environment. The CSCE has been a member of the CaRPA for over five (5) years now.

 

 

Mapúa MCL took part in separate tree planting activities that contributed to the National Greening Program (NGP) of the Philippine government mandated by Executive Order 193, s. 2015 that aims to plant 1.5 billion trees from 2011 until its expanded coverage until 2028. The Office for External Relations and Global Linkages (OERGL) and the CSCE partnered with the Department of Environment of Natural Resources (DENR) for this initiative (refer to selected photos below). The location of the tree-planting was in the Municipality of Siniloan, Province of Laguna in one of its 68 protected areas known to stabilize water flow and soil to prevent typhoon-related calamities. At least 50 volunteers participated in the tree planting activity which consisted of the alumni, Mapúa MCL employees, and students. At least 300 seedlings provided by DENR were planted in the designated areas of the said site.

 

PTC’s Project RISE signs MOA with Mapúa MCL

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PTC’s Project RISE signs MOA with Mapúa MCL

 

 

To eradicate the adverse effects of disasters, the Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTC), an organization that aims to harness the expertise of current and future maritime professionals by working together in sharing knowledge and skills with communities in terms of disaster preparedness, community disaster resilience, and risk management, has partnered with Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna to facilitate the implementation of Project RISE (Resiliency Improvement Support and Education for the Seafarer Community in the Philippines). A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was forged.

The project consists of the following components: (1) Training program – Citizens Training Program & Master Training Program; (2) Project RISE mobile app that will monitor the weather and calamities that would affect the City of Cabuyao; (3) Master of Disaster (MOD) – a board game about that teaches how to prepare and actively respond to different calamities in the Philippines; (4) PTC-RISE MCL Volunteers – MCL student volunteers through the Mapúa-PTC College of Maritime Education and Training (Mapúa-PTC CMET); and (5) Integration of modules on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) into the National Service Training Program (NSTP) courses to mainstream topics about climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

 

 

Through the Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE), Project RISE aimed to develop the capacity, initially of the MMCL students, to respond to disaster situations of the most disaster-prone communities in the City of Cabuyao. the Project RISE (Resiliency Improvement Support and Education for the Seafarer Community in the Philippines) Student Leaders and Facilitators’ Orientation. It highlighted the importance of learning disaster risk reduction management as all share the same space, environment, and natural resources. Student  Leaders and Facilitators’ Orientation. It highlighted the importance of learning disaster risk reduction management as all share the same space, environment, and natural resources.

The following were the phases of the project: conduct of Master Trainer Program (MTP) and Citizen Trainer Program (CTP); Project RISE mobile application; application of the Master of Disaster (MOD) board game; pooling of Project RISE – MMCL Volunteers; integration of DRRM to NSTP (National Service Training Program) courses that has DRRM as one of its topics; and Project RISE Cabuyao Volunteer Network.

 

 

The PTC-MMCL project partnership also brought in the concept of gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE) as an equally important component of disaster risk and resilience. The Master Trainer Program orientation highlighted the most important concepts related to DRRM and GBViE, the latter giving a gender lens in the understanding of DRR. The MTP was conducted hybrid with 150 participants (students and members of the MMCL faculty and departments) and an estimated 60 participants in zoom. The student participants cascaded the DRRM and GBViE lessons to their fellow students and members of their respective communities as part of their project commitments. As incentive, the PTC provided each participant with a set of safety kits that consisted of a vest and flashlight among others

Mapúa MCL: At the Frontlines of Community Service: Community Engagement

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Mapúa MCL: At the Frontlines of Community Service: Community Engagement

 

 

The Office for External Relations and Global Linkages (OERGL) and the Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE) collaborated to implement the project titled ‘At the Frontlines of Community Service: Community Engagement’ Series of service-learning and community service activities in the Mapúa MCL’s adopted communities. One of these communities was the Siena College Extension Mission School, Bo. Pasbul, Porac City, Province of Pampanga which was personally visited by the Mapúa MCL in July 2022 – two (2) years after the Covid 10 pandemic and lockdown.  An estimated 100 families from the Aeta community participated in the visit with a brief program organized by the OERGL and CSCE that also donated food packs, usable toys for children, and 100 bags of school supplies.

 

 

The Siena College Extension Mission School has been a long-time adopted community partner of the Mapúa MCL. The school educates the Aeta children of the community but lacks functional school facilities, including a library and accessible potable water, among others. The community is situated in a far-flung village where the absence of local transportation makes it difficult for the Aeta families to go to the town’s marketplace, hospitals, and other public services.

 

 

Another activity took place within the same community as part of Mapúa MCL’s Christmas community engagement in December 2022.  An estimated 100 participants from the Mapúa MCL (students, alumni, and faculty members) actively engaged with the members of the Aeta community who received Christmas food packs aside from the lunch meals personally cooked by the Mapúa MCL participants for the Aeta families. The series of activities hoped to deliver essential goods to the indigenous community and the Mapúa MCL hopes to respond to the community’s social issues in the future.

Mapúa MCL Celebrates National Women’s Month

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Mapúa MCL Celebrates National Women’s Month

 

Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL), through the Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE) took part in the National Women’s Month celebration on March 2022 via a webinar and a GAD video series in line with the theme, “We Make Change Work for Women.” The event was in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 6945, Mapúa MCL celebrates women’s role in history every 8th of March to be as one with other countries in giving recognition to the efforts and contributions of Filipino women all over the world.

 

 

The CSCE came up with its own ‘One Malayan, One with Women’ theme which reflected the institution’s mantra. The GAD webinar was held on March 28, 2022, via Zoom in support of the Philippine Commission on Women’s (PCW) celebration with the theme ‘Agenda ng Kababaihan Tungo sa Kaunlaran’. A GAD webinar encapsulated the support given by the Mapúa MCL in recognizing the emergence of gender inequality issues and concerns to significantly contribute to the implementation of the Magna Carta of Women (MCW). The webinar highlighted the salient provisions of the memorandum order from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) No. 01 series of 2015 on ‘Establishing the Policies and Guidelines on Gender and Development in the Commission on Higher Education and Higher Education Institutions’. Most importantly, the event hoped to develop a pool of advocates from Mapúa MCL in mainstreaming and integrating gender lens in the tri-focal functions of the university: instruction, research, and extension.

 

 

Dr. Renifer R. Francisco, a member of the National Gender Resource Pool (NGRP) of PCW and President of the Gender Empowerment Consultancy and Advocacy Firm (GECAF – OPC), served as resource speaker to an estimated 60 participants of the GAD Webinar.

A series of online interviews called ‘Juana Speaks’ was also conducted and featured eleven (11) women leaders of  Mapua MCL– from administrators, non-teaching employees, and student organization leaders through a video presentation. The video highlighted the notable women leaders who participated in the Juana Speaks video and shared their views on women’s role in society and their specific contribution in the academe.

Mental Health Awareness Month 2023

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Mental Health Awareness Month 2023

 

October is Mental Health Awareness Month. People, including children, are adapting to the “now normal”, a transition from virtual learning to the return of face-to-face activities. It also serves as a reminder to check the well-being of each person, especially their mental health.

 

 

As part of their month-long celebration of Mental Health Month, the MMCL), through the collaboration of the Center for Guidance and Counseling (CGC) and the Center for Service- Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE), held its in-person Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) seminar on October 13, 2022, to its partner schools in Calauan, Laguna: Calauan Central Elementary School (CCES) and Makativille Elementary School (Makativille ES). The seminars were attended by more than 100 students from Grades 4, 5, and 6 of each school. Conducted by Ms. Joy P. Tarzona, MAEd, RGC, CGC Guidance Counselor, each seminar raised awareness on the core of mental health for young learners, build resiliency through self-awareness, boost well-being, understand emotions, and apply adaptive coping mechanisms to manage stressful situations effectively.

 

 

During the lecture, the students shared their thoughts about mental health and gave examples of situations that triggered their emotions or raised mental health issues, such as family problems or the feeling of anxiety. The students also took part in a series of relaxation activities and grounding exercises where they identified their surroundings using the body’s five senses.

Like adults, it was also important for children to learn about the importance of mental health. As the return to face-to-face classes went into full swing, the seminar hoped to help the students not to feel as anxious as the blended learning setup during the pandemic. The collaboration of CSCE and CGC on presenting MHPSS to partner schools showed that giving support to one’s well-being should always start young.

 

Mapúa MCL Joins Brigada Eskwela 2023

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Mapúa MCL Joins Brigada Eskwela 2023

 

Brigada Eskwela is an annual program of the Department of Education. In 2022, the theme was ‘Tugon sa Hamon ng Ligtas ra Balik-Aral’ and it highlighted the collective efforts from various partners of the schools at the local and national levels to address children’s learning gaps and create a safe learning environment for both the learners, teaching and nonteaching personnel, and the entire community for the achievement of quality basic education.

 

 

Specifically, the program boosts the schools’ maintenance and repair activities, which includes the provision of the immediate needs of both the schools and children. Brigada Eskwela 2022 focused on providing the students with health essentials due to the Covid 19 pandemic and addressing resource gaps for the reopening of face-to-face classes. The program also strengthened engagements with partners and stakeholders (i.e., private sector, academe, industries) that complement the efforts of the DepEd to ensure quality basic education. The MMCL has been regularly participating in the annual observance of Brigada Eskwela by providing all essential kinds of donations (i.e., alcohol, face masks, school supplies, and materials for renovation of the school building) to its partner schools from the Province of Laguna.

 

 

 

A Collaboration for Resilience: The Mapúa MCL and UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) Partnership

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A Collaboration for Resilience: The Mapúa MCL and UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) Partnership

 

 

The collaboration between Mapúa MCL and the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) will soon be finalized through a Memorandum of Understanding with both parties agreeing to be partners in promoting resilience through Research and Development (R&D), capacity building, sharing of useful resources and information, and other related activities.

Since last year, UPRI and Mapúa MCL have conducted relevant activities that support each other’s objectives and programs. UPRI participated in Mapúa MCL’s webinar last January 6, 2023 titled, “Climate Action and Disaster Resilience: An Academe-Enterprise Collaboration.” This activity of Mapúa MCL is part of the initiatives under the school’s SECRA program, which is a three-year project co-funded by the Erasmus+ of the European Union (EU). The Executive Director of UPRI, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay gave a talk on the initiatives of the Institute, particularly on the hazard monitoring activities of what used to be Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), now UP Resilience Institute. He also discussed the current status, gaps, and the needs of the country related to hazard monitoring, disaster risks, calamity response, and other related issues. Lastly, Dr. Lagmay highlighted the importance of probabilistic models to the faculty and student participants.

The collaboration between Mapúa MCL and the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) will soon be finalized through a Memorandum of Understanding with both parties agreeing to be partners in promoting resilience through Research and Development (R&D), capacity building, sharing of useful resources and information, and other related activities.

Since last year, UPRI and Mapúa MCL have conducted relevant activities that support each other’s objectives and programs. UPRI participated in Mapúa MCL’s webinar last January 6, 2023 titled, “Climate Action and Disaster Resilience: An Academe-Enterprise Collaboration.” This activity of Mapúa MCL is part of the initiatives under the school’s SECRA program, which is a three-year project co-funded by the Erasmus+ of the European Union (EU). The Executive Director of UPRI, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay gave a talk on the initiatives of the Institute, particularly on the hazard monitoring activities of what used to be Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), now UP Resilience Institute. He also discussed the current status, gaps, and the needs of the country related to hazard monitoring, disaster risks, calamity response, and other related issues. Lastly, Dr. Lagmay highlighted the importance of probabilistic models to the faculty and student participants.

 

 

To further reinforce the foundations of the partnership, Mapúa MCL Team composed of its administrators visited the UPRI Institute on June 1, 2023. The visiting MMCL Team is Days after the webinar, an online exploratory meeting between Mapúa MCL and UPRI was conducted with administrators and officers of both institutions as participants. During the meeting, Dr. Lagmay discussed potential projects that Mapúa MCL can start. He also discussed the Citizen Science initiative which Mapúa MCL can utilize as a model. Citizen Science is the collection and analysis of data coming from participating members of the general public who serve as collaborators contributing data to scientists and researchers.

composed of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Engr. Anthony Hilmer S. Medrano, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Engr. Maribel G. Songsong, Assistant Vice President for External Relations and Global Linkages Prof. James Ronald O. Mesina, Director for Research Dr. Hermie V. Articona, MITL Dean Engr. Jesunino R. Aquino, CCIS Dean Khristian G. Kikuchi, and Office for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement (OSPGE) Director Ms. Pearl Stephanie Ulep. They were given a tour of the facilities of UPRI and was oriented on the activities of the institute.

 

 

The most recent activity between the two institutions was the visit of SECRA international participants to the UP Resilience Institute last November 17, 2023. Facilitated by the SECRA Philippine Team composed of Mapúa MCL, Ateneo de Manila University, and Philippine Normal University, SECRA participants from UK, Estonia, Sweden, Sri Lanaka, and Thailand visited the UPRI. They were oriented on the work of the institute during the visit. Also, they were able to witness a demonstration on how hazards are monitored by the institute. Lastly, they were given opportunities to see actual published reports given to LGUs who ask UPRI’s assistance in mapping out risks in their area.

Both Mapúa MCL and the UP Resilience Institute are looking forward to having a Memorandum of Understanding to make the partnership official. Under the MOU, they are hoping to conduct more productive activities, research projects, and other capacity building activities that would benefit not only the members of the two institutions, but the whole nation as well.