PhilSCAT Officials Get Ready with Work & Financial Plan; Set 1st Council Meeting Next Month

29 March 2012, PhilSCAT, CLSU, Nueva Ecija. The management committee of the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (Phase-II) get its 2012 work and financial plan ready, as the Department of Agriculture released today some P8 millions for its operation and maintenance.

Each Program leader for the Center's second phase of operation presented and discussed the W/F plans including (1) Hybrid Rice, (2) Agri-Mechanization, (3) Biogas Technology, and (4) Knowledge Management programs.

Part of its total manpower requirement have started reporting for work, while screening of some incoming staff are underway. Over 40 full-time employees shall be contracted for the entire Phase II operations plus those who will work part-time as seconded by the implementing partner agencies like CLSU, PhilMech, PhilRice, ATI and DA-RFO III.

As of today, only 3 of total 6 Chinese experts have arrived as foreign counterpart lead by Mr. Cheng Liangji. The Filipino counterpart is being headed by Dr. Emmanuel V. Sicat of CLSU as director, to be assisted by deputy director from the Dept. of Agriculture, who is yet to be identified and deployed. Two Division chiefs who are carry-over from Phase I are Dr. Carlos Abon, Jr. (Research Division) and Dr. Josue S. Falla (Extension Division)(which division nomenclature were changed under Phase II).

Meanwhile, the first-ever meeting of PhilSCAT Advisory Council (PAC) is set within April 2012. PAC is created under Phase II operations to provide, among others, the Center's policy-direction. It is chaired by DA Under-Secretary for Operations, with all heads of partner implementing agencies as members. (JSF reports)

320-member Audience Graces ICCM 11th Graduation Ceremony; Shifts to Higher Gear for the Next Ten Years

17 March 2012, ICCM Campus, Antipolo City - Over 300 guest-brethren and friends from all over Luzon converged today at the campus of the International Christian College of Manila (ICCM)to witness, among others, the conferral of Bachelor of Theology graduates among 16-member ICCM Class of 2012. This attendance is over and above the 120-member ICCM family, and is considered one of the most attended ever. As usual, this year's graduation ceremony is simple as if just another Christian fellowship a la Praise and Worship program.

The major partakers in the Ceremony were College president Prof. Arthur M. Santiago (who did the welcome remarks, presentation of the graduates, and the offertory challenge), Carizza Arevalo (Scripture Reading and Prayer), Gina Reyes (Introduction of the Commencement Speaker), Prof. Ross Wissmann (Graduation Message, who elaborated the theme "Called Out" from Jeremiah 1:1-10), and Velinda Montallana and Jann Ryan Cordoves (who both delivered speeches on behalf of their Class). This reporter as ICCM-BOT chair made the conferral of degree among the graduates.

This class of graduates is the 11th since ICCM started its operation in 2001, but only the 4th since the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) accredited the College's granting of Bachelor of Theology degree, with majors in Christian Education, Ministry, Outreach and Worship (Music).

The graduation "fellowship" was capped through photo-op and lunch for everybody.

Meanwhile, ICCM has just renewed the lease contract of its campus for the next ten years. Thus, it will continue its operation for the next decade in this campus of the resort city of Antipolo. Buying the property has been an option, but funding is not ready as of yet. Campaign for Filipino funds among local donors is on-going as counterpart fund of foreign donors. More facilities are being upgraded to accommodate more students in the coming years.

ICCM is supported mainly through Kingdom's Ambassador - Philippines. The current college president is Arthur Santiago and the Academic Dean is Ross Wissmann. This reporter sit as chairman of the Board of Trustees. (JSF reports)

Stewardship and Church Administration Revisited

10 March 2012, Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Nueva Ecija. Fifty Church leaders from 10 local churches of Christ in Nueva Ecija converged at CLSU Interfaith Chapel in this campus, to tackle once again the issue of Church administration especially on the finance management, more aptly termed as stewardship. The forum coincided with the launching of the booklet "You Are What You Give" authored by Bro. Samson B. Lubag.

The main (guest) speakers during the program were the author himself and Sis. Joy Di'Amore, lead pastor and a women leader, respectively, of Central Oahu Christian Church, Hawaii, USA. Both inspired the audience with their talks about the joy of giving for the Lord's work, focused on tithing. Sis. Joy focused her talk about how God changed her life (from her 'dark' and worldly past lifestyle), and testified that real happiness can only be achieved through serving the Lord. (Sis. Joy's story is quite interesting, that I wish to make another separate story on it).

Meanwhile, two women (local) speakers, Sis. Lani Juliano and Sis. Imelda Bernardo also spoke about the theme "Giving". Sis. Lani gave her reflection on the book being launched, which is basically composed of 56 topics and anecdotes about "Giving". This reporter, who foreworded the booklet served as the program emcee.

As usual, 'Praise and Worship' became an integral part of any fellowship of Christians like this, this time as aided by a "videoke" of Christian songs. Offertory was like wise made for obvious purpose.

The program was capped through book-signing (autograph) by the author and lunch fellowship. All praises and glory be to the Father! (JSF reports)

A Weeklong Sojourn to Bangkok

Both for educational and pleasure purposes, I and wife Rose took a weeklong time-out in Bangkok, Thailand upon the invitation of Thai colleagues-educators Nongnit and Drue. This foreign visit coincided with our participation to the international seminar on "Vocational Education Path towards Young Entrpreneurship" held at Asia Pattaya Hotel from February 26 to March 2, 2012. Over 100 Thai vocational educators and school administrators participated in the workshop, which aim is to come-up with a stronger government educational intervention to further develop the culture of entrepreneurship especially among the youth.

This blogger (Dr. J. Falla) along with 5 resource persons from Indonesia, Japan, China, Singapore and Philippines provided the inputs for the workshop through their respective country presentation about relevant experiences from their countries. Exchange of information and ideas among the participating countries was facilitated by the host organization the Ministry of Education, Office of Vocational Education Commission (ME-OVEC) headed by its Secretary-General Dr. Chaipreuk Sereekak, with Ms. Jerdruedee Chinvaros as the overall facilitator.

On the sidelines of our visit, we were toured around the city on to the King's Grand Palace, and Buddhist Temples. Being both members of the ASEAN, Bangkok and Manila have lots of commonalities in culture as well as in problems like traffic jam, slum areas, and even crimes. Regardless, we enjoyed that recharging weeklong break in the old Siam. Thanks to Thailand ME-OVEC and the UNESCO for making the sojourn possible. Sawatdikap! (JSF Blogs)