Sen. Sotto to help rehab CNU, VSMMC post-Odette

Senate President and Vice Presidential candidate Vicente “Tito” Sotto III promised to find the means to aid Cebu Normal University (CNU) and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) for rehabilitation projects in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette.
 
After finding out that the two publicly funded institutions suffered damages, Sotto assured that he will find a budget for the recuperation.
 
“I visited the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center to look kasi may mga upgrades, tapos may mga nasira. The Cebu Normal University umabot ng P49 million ‘yong nasira na properties. So I instructed my political officer to talk to the committee of finance in the Senate so we will be able to give them the necessary budget,” Sotto said.
 
The vice presidential aspirant also expressed his gratification for the opening of Cebu Normal University – Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (CNU-VSMMC) College of Medicine (CM), the first state-funded medical school in Region VII.
 
The principal author of Republic Act (RA) 11509 or the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act of 2020 where deserving students will be able to study medicine for free and serve in government hospitals after graduating, Sotto stated that it is a “milestone” in his political career.
 
“I want more doctors for the country. I want more doctors than we have lawyers. Dapat kahit mahihirap pwede maging doktor,” Sotto shared.
 
During his visit in Cebu, Sotto led a meeting with CNU President Dr. Joselito B. Gutierrez, Dean of CNU-VSMMC CM Dr. Ma. Socorro Manaloto, and VSMMC hospital director Dr. Gerardo Aquino Jr. to talk about the concerns related to the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act.
 
Currently, CNU-VSMMC’s pioneering batch Primacordis is sharpening the skills of 31 medical students. §
Words by Lorille Antoinette Mata
 

CNU: Welcoming the New Leading Light

A year after the search for the new university leader, Cebu Normal University (CNU) finally named Dr. Joselito B. Gutierrez as the fifth university president through CNU’s Facebook page last January 31, 2022.

Prior to his current installment, Gutierrez served as the State Universities and Colleges (SUC) President of Marikina Polytechnic College (MPC) from October 2016 to November 2020. Under his term, MPC soared from level 1 to level 2 in AACCUP, and the university received the highest COA Audit during the first term.
 

He was also the Vice President for Luzon of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities of Industrial Technology (PACUIT), hosting international and national research forums for all members in 2019.

A man of significant development is a man of security. Gutierrez guaranteed that students under his administration would have suitable employment after graduation by conducting Job Fair a few weeks before graduation. His objective is also to boost students’ entrepreneurial potential to institute a firm and create more jobs in the future.
 
He is looking after the future and expanding the triumphs in the present. He is engrossed in transforming schools by bringing new programs and installing new departments—no wonder why his previous school’s enrollment has increased a lot during his term.
 
Aside from his heart for development, he has written three books: Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) for all Basic Education Junior High School students of the Department of Education (DepEd), Energy Conservation Book, and Breaking Thru from the Spirit of Idolatry.
 
As Gutierrez had already developed and conducted various training programs for more than 15,000 faculty members, school heads, school directors, and school principals all over the country, Cebu Normal University hopes for successive growth and excellence under his administration.
 
Words by Jhonazel Kiskis and Mark Aleson Sanico
Photos from CNU PIO

CNU celebrates 119th Foundation Day

Cebu Normal University (CNU) commemorated its 119th Foundation Day with the theme, “CNU: Serving and Flourishing in the New Normal”, last June 30, 2021, through a live stream on CNU’s Facebook page.
 
 
Despite the changes imposed by the pandemic, the celebration was attended by esteemed members of the administration, headed by Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil, CESE Officer-in-Charge – Office of the University President.
 
She summarized the entire university’s efforts during this pandemic through the acronym CARE, which stands for “Collaboration, Accountability, Rigor, Excellence”, emphasizing the entire Normalite community’s role in preserving the university’s excellence.
 
Furthermore, Dayagbil pointed out that this year’s 119th foundation anniversary is embodied with victory.
 
“We have survived, we have flourished, and we have served in the new normal — and that is the essence of significance,” she said.
 
Words by Juanne Claire Son

CNU bags 14th spot in WURI crisis management ranking

Cebu Normal University (CNU) secured another accolade as it placed 14th on the recently released World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI) 2021’s Top 50 universities in Crisis Management.

Now in its second year, WURI, a global innovative ranking system formed by the Organizing Committee of the Second Conference of the Hanseatic League of Universities (HLU), aims to discover and evaluate innovative universities around the world which provide real, feasible contributions to society.

For 2021, the WURI Ranking added crisis management as a new category to its assessment due to the great challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil, CESE Officer-in-Charge – Office of the University President, expressed her gratitude to WURI for acknowledging the impact of CNU’s Innovative CNU Assistance and Relief Effort (iCARE) program on the lives of its stakeholders amid the ongoing health crisis in a Facebook post.

“When the pandemic created havoc worldwide, CNU was unprepared. Guided by the mantra to survive, thrive and lead in the new normal, Team CNU launched the iCARE (CNU’s Assistance and Response in Emergency). The “i” is added before CARE to show oneness and individual investment of self,” Dayagbil stated.

Furthermore, Dayagbil shared some of iCARE’s projects like 24hr Communication Hotline, telecounselling, donation drive, HEdConnect Webinar Series, Adopt-a-Student, Share-a-Ride, Alternative RLE Delivery (ARLED), and refocussing/reframing teaching and learning.

Other universities from the Philippines that made it to the list were Far Eastern University (FEU) in 12th place and Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) in 26th place.

Words by Lorille Antoinette Mata

Excelsior: Dayagbil and Her ‘Ever Upward’ Direction

Under the leading lights of the outgoing university president, Cebu Normal University (CNU) had achieved a good number of recognitions and awards which catapulted the university’s name to top excellence. Crimson and gold glimmered during Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil’s four-year term as a product of purposeful collaboration between the administration and stakeholders.

 

To formalize the conclusion of her term, an event held at the CNU grounds kicked off last April 29, 2021 and was physically attended by the CNU administrative council officials and members. Distant Normalites, on the other hand, had their eyes on screen as the event was broadcasted simultaneously on the university’s Facebook page.

 

Dr. Laurence Garcia, Chairman of the End-of-Report Portfolio, noted in his welcome remarks that this was “a day to be grateful to the administration that nurtured us even amid the trying times”.

 

While the event purposed to highlight Dayagbil’s report on her stay as the State University and College (SUC) President III of CNU, she desired to honor and recognize first those who have contributed to the achievement of the university’s strategic directions; thus, awarding plaques of appreciation to partner organizations, agencies, and individuals who helped in shaping the glory of CNU.

 

On her portfolio report and message, Dayagbil shared that she was reminded of the ending part of her investiture speech four years ago. “

 

As your president, it is my pleasure to partner with you and work with you on something that is bigger than any of us, an ongoing vision to chart the course for CNU to excel in innovative teaching and learning, cutting edge research, and relevant partnerships,” she repeated.

 

Dayagbil continued, “Fast forward today, as my presidency ends, I could proudly say that with your partnerships, we successfully accomplished what we have promised, achieving one milestone after another, in leaps and bounds.”

 

Representing her end-of-term report as “excelsior”, a Latin word and a catchphrase used by famous comic book writer Stan Lee, this described the entire CNU community’s collective efforts through the years, attaining noteworthy achievements to its five strategic directions: (1) sustaining quality and relevance; (2) enhancing research, development, and innovation; (3) expanding community engagement and linkages; (4) digitization and automation of operations; and (5) maximizing resource generation and utilization.

 

As she ended her speech, the outgoing president remarked, “Excelsior! Onward, Cebu Normal University!”

 

Words by Mark Aleson Sanico

Screenshots by Retlyn Ereca Ceballos

AACCUP bestows commendation to CNU

Being the ‘Top 1’ among the state universities and colleges (SUCs) with the highest percentage of accredited programs, Cebu Normal University (CNU) received a plaque of recognition during the 34th Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) Annual National Conference, which was held virtually for the first time, last March 12, 2021.
 
On a Facebook post, Dr. Filomena Dayagbil, CESE Officer-in-Charge – Office of the University President, expressed her utmost gratitude to the whole “CNU Team”.
 
“This award is dedicated to my CNU Team: our dear students, faculty, non-teaching staff, alumni, Board of Regents, and all stakeholders who have tirelessly and relentlessly pursued quality and excellence through the years. Padayon CNU!” wrote Dayagbil.
 
AACCUP, which was organized in 1987, focuses on the accreditation of curricular programs for SUCs in the Philippines.
 
Words by Mark Aleson Sanico

CNU celebrates yuletide season through virtual fellowship

The Christmas spirit filled the air as various members of the Cebu Normal University (CNU) community gathered via Zoom to celebrate the Christmas season through the 2020 (virtual) Year-End Fellowship – a unique replacement to the annual festive face-to-face celebration.

The 2020 Year-End Fellowship took place last Friday, December 18, 2020, via the Zoom platform with the theme Celebrating Success, Continuing Greatness gathering CNU administrators, faculty, and non-teaching staff.

Fun-filled games and competitions with prizes were conducted online, pursuing the Christmas celebration even with the absence of the warmth of face-to-face gathering and the usual “salu-salo”.

Dr. Filomena Dayagbil, CNU President, on her Christmas message, dwelled on the significance of celebrating success and magnifying strengths to continue greatness in relevance to the celebration’s theme.

She said that 2020 is a very challenging year for all, but there are still a thousand things to celebrate including good health, the ability to work when others have lost their jobs, and the capacity to celebrate life when others are deprived of it. 

She said that celebrating is not pretending to ignore or to deny present problems and challenges brought by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. She said that magnifying one’s strengths offer a better understanding of how to deal with weakness and be confident in addressing them. 

“Let us focus on what we are good at and the goodness we are capable of. Our small acts of goodness when combined create a powerful impact,” she said. 

Games and competitions namely: Hum that Tune, Mary’s Child Game, Bring Me, Head Ramp Competition, and Song Revue soon followed afterwards.

The winners of the 2020 Year-End Fellowship games and competitions are as follows:

HUM THAT TUNE

  1. Antonieta Obiedo
  2. Corazon Prejoles
  3. Darlane Yap – Arthur John Dale Yap
  4. Ana Fara Nelmida
  5. Geraldine Rebamonte
  6. Evelyn Tradio

MARY’S CHILD GAME

  1. Ana Fara Nelmida
  2. Omar Roma
  3. Evelyn Tradio
  4. Ria Katrina Malaga
  5. Erni Vincent Paon
  6. Anna Marie Acibron
  7. Monique Cordova
  8. Darlane Yap – Arthur John Dale Yap
  9. Lelani Dapat
  10. Jillian Bejoc
  11. Janet Mananay
  12. April Megan Gonzales
  13. Norma Cereno

BRING ME

  1. Roberto Corcino
  2. Ivy Marie Lobora

HEAD RAMP COMPETITION

  1. Evelyn Caballero
  2. Jerome Alda Generalao
  3. Lucila Torreon 

SONG REVUE (Filipino Category)
1st Prize – Geraldine Rebamonte 
2nd Prize – Luzcar Abatayo 
3rd Prize – Rene Medello

SONG REVUE (English Category)
1st Prize – Kim Francis Rodriguez 
2nd Prize – Ria Letigio 
3rd Prize – Kimberly Raya
4th Prize – Joni Gonzaga 

Dayagbil said that “the world has experienced a phenomenal health crisis that has disrupted every aspect of our lives. Nevertheless, no amount of pandemic can prevent us from pursuing and fulfilling our obligations as government servants with the heart to serve our students and other stakeholders.”

“Indeed, it is the small things that magnify our strength and add up to greatness. My dear CNU family, in this season of Christmas, let us celebrate and magnify our strengths. Let’s continue greatness as we face the future with hope and love,” she said. (JDF)

CNU-HRMO receives PRIME-HRM bronze award

Cebu Normal University-Human Resource Management Office (CNU-HRMO’s) compliance to the regulations of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) merited the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM) Bronze Award by the commission.
 
CSC Field Office-Cebu North, through CSC Resolution Number 2000541 promulgated on May 7, 2020, confirmed the award in a letter dated October 7, 2020.
 
CNU was certified to meet the PRIME-HRM Level 2-Maturity Indicators in all four core HRM Systems: Recruitment, Selection, and Placement; Performance Management; Learning and Development; and Rewards and Recognition.
 
Read related article: [CNU hurdles PRIME-HRM level 2]
 
CNU-Human Resource Management Officer Mrs. Mary Margaret Cornejo said that CSC’s assessment together with the firm support of the CNU President Dr. Filomena Dayagbil and the three CNU Vice President (VP’s): VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Daisy Palompon, former VP for Administration Atty. Dominiciana Bandala, and VP for Research, Extension, and Publication Dr. Angeline Pogoy were very helpful in attaining the PRIME-HRM bronze award.
 
She said that the CNU-HRMO has taken CSC’s assessment constructively to improve CNU’s HRM office.
 
“Whatever will be the result, this won’t break us, the team, but instead it will improve our [individual] functions and the HR team as a whole,” Cornejo shared on how she programmed herself with the PRIME-HRM assessment.
 
Cornejo said that through the process of the assessment, she has learned to focus on working together with the HRMO as a team and not just to gain recognition for the award. She considers the conferment of CSC a bonus.
 
CNU was also found to be consistently compliant with the Civil Service Law and rules in terms of the implementation of HR programs and maintenance of HR records.
 
The CSC Regional Office VII assessed CNU-HRMO last November 15, 2019, and was then recommended to the CSC Central Office for the PRIME-HRM Bronze Award that was validated by the Human Resource Policies and Standards Office (HRPSO).
 
CNU was then granted with five privileges that come with the bronze award which include: (1) Authority to approve appointments that are still subject to post-audit; (2) Exemption from Section 96 of the 2017 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions (ORAOHRA); (3) 50% of appointments issued subject to review by the CSC Field Offices; (4) 20% discount for the HRMO or one agency representative on training or conferences conducted by the Civil Service Institute; and (5) 20% discount for the HRMO head or one agency representative in CSC Regional Office’s training or conferences.
 
CNU and Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) are the only State Universities and Colleges (SUC’s) in Central Visayas which awarded the CSC’s PRIME-HRM bronze award. 
 
The PRIME-HRM is a program of CSC intended to strengthen creativity, innovativeness, integrity, and productivity in government offices by recognizing, awarding, and providing incentives to agencies that achieve certain levels of indicators.
 
It also aims to improve HRMO systems, competencies, and practices for efficient and effective governance in public service. (JDF)

CNU recognizes its loyal civil servants

Cebu Normal University (CNU) recognized 20 loyalty awardees this year in celebration of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) month which acknowledges the role of digital technology in public service. 

The CNU CSC Month Celebration Awarding and Closing Ceremony was held virtually and was live-streamed last October 2, 2020, at the CNU Facebook page.  

The awardees consisted of: three Gold Loyalty Awardees – including the University President, Dr. Filomena Dayagbil – who spent 30 years in public service; three Silver Loyalty Awardees who spent 20 to 25 years; and 14 Bronze Awardees who spent 10 to 15 years in the government service.

CNU Vice President for Administration Dr. Floriza Laplap said that CSC month is a time when the University workforce celebrates the wisdom in making the right choice of becoming civil servants in the institution and is therefore the perfect opportunity to give these wise workers due recognition for their service.  

The 2020 CNU Loyalty Awardees are as follows: 

Gold Loyalty Awardees (30 years in service) 
1. Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil
2. Mrs. Naila Y. Beltran 
3. Dr. Ma. Fe Y. Gocotano 

Silver Loyalty Awardees (25 years in service)
1. Dr. Romeo S. Macan
2. Mrs. Portia T. Ruben

Silver Loyalty Awardee (20 years in service)
1. Mr. Gerome L. Lasala 

Bronze Loyalty Awardees (15 years in service)
1. Dr. Monique E. Cordova
2. Mr. Jude P. Gelig
3. Dr. Rodin M. Paspasan
4. Dr. Glenn L. Velmone 
5. Dr. Grace N. Malaga 
6. Dr. Roselle J. Ranario 
7. Mr. Joseph O. Basilisco 

Bronze Loyalty Awardees (10 years in service)
1. Mr. Renato I. Alfeche 
2. Mr. Omar D. Roma
3. Dr. Jose Mari Louis G. Alforque 
4. Mr. Jake Cañeda 
5. Dr. Geronimo S. Obaob Jr. 
6. Dr. Emiliano Ian B. Susuon II
7. Mrs. Ma. Divina D. Torrejos  

The awardees were given e-certificates during the virtual ceremony and will be given a pin that corresponds to their distinction.  

The theme for the CSC month celebration this year is, “Philippine Civil Service @120: Public Sector in the Age of Digital Transformation.”

CSC Regional Office VII Director IV, Carlos Evangelista, said that the commission recognizes that public service has to remain competitive and responsive enough to meet the evolving needs of the clientele in this age of technology.

Evangelista was invited as the speaker of the ceremony and talked about Strengthening Civil Service in the New Normal where he shared the different actions CSC has conducted to aid civil servants in this time of pandemic such as creating memorandums in the authorization of online recruitment and selection processes, alternative work arrangements and support mechanisms of the workers in the government during the period of enhanced community quarantine among others.
 
Lapa said that despite the challenges of the new normal, civil servants continue to uphold quality public service by looking for ways to innovate to meet the demands of clients as key players in this age of digital transformation.

Dr. Ma. Fe Gocotano, Professor IV, and College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Guidance Counselor, gave words of inspiration as one of the Gold Loyalty awardees who served 30 years in CNU.

She shared that acceptance of responsibility, respect for students, and passion for the profession are the three things that could summarize all she has learned during her stay in the University.

Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Dr. Daisy Palompon closed the awarding ceremony by thanking all the awardees and civil servants for sharing their extra time and unselfish service which helped the University attain its level of success. 

“In this time of pandemic, we have many silent heroes in the University who volunteered their time and resources to allow the orderly operations of the University and to cater to the needs of our students and clients despite the risks involved,” she said.  

She also motivated all workers to continue to be faithful to their pledge of service and to elevate the name of CNU in every word and gesture.  

A full copy of the CNU CSC Month Celebration Awarding and Closing Ceremony can also be viewed at the official YouTube channel of the University. (JDF) 

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