VSMMC holds virtual open hospital tour

In celebration of National Hospital Week, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) showcased its various hospital zones and responded to queries during its first-ever hospital tour on August 13, 2021, via Zoom and Facebook Live.
 
The virtual tour started off by showing the hospital’s Oxygen Plant, where the equipment and the process of oxygen production supply were shown and expounded; contrary to false news circulating online, VSMMC emphasized its ample supply of oxygen tanks.
 
VSMMC’s Chief Administrative Officer Atty. Paul Gino Lopez shared that the Oxygen Plant is “capable of producing approximately 760 tanks of oxygen per day” and is very expandable.
 
The tour’s next stop was the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care Unit (CCU), and Emerging/Re-emerging Infectious Disease (EREID) areas, where patients with critical COVID-19 cases are being taken care of. With the surging COVID-19 cases, CCU’s nurse to patient ratio has become 1:4, while the ICU area has 1:3.
 
The virtual audience then headed off to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Temporary Treatment Monitoring Facility-VSMMC Extension Hospital where 32 rooms for mild COVID-19 patients and a dormitory for the medical staff were situated.
 
VSMMC’s Medical Center Chief II Dr. Gerardo M. Aquino Jr. shared that as the apex hospital, the expectations towards the hospital’s performance are high.
 
With this, he stressed that they “really need the cooperation and help of the public” to bolster and increase their COVID-19 response.
 
Words and Screenshots by Rena Mae Avila

Palompon to become first Fil AAN fellow

Cebu Normal University’s (CNU) Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Daisy R. Palompon will be inducted as the first-ever Filipino Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) representing the Philippines.
 
As a distinguished nurse leader, she will be instated and recognized for her significant contributions to health and health care at the AAN’s annual Health Policy Conference which will take place on October 7-9, 2021.
 
The AAN is a highly regarded fellowship and is known for selecting people who have made a significant impact on the nursing profession through a competitive application process.
 
Fellowship in the academy reflects the fellow’s contribution to education, management, practice, policy, and research; where their influence on the nursing profession and healthcare in general aids in the improvement of the public health and wellness.
 
Furthermore, the induction ceremony will be offered in a hybrid format, allowing attendees to participate in person or virtually, allowing family members, colleagues, and friends to participate.
 
Words by Juanne Claire Son
Photo grabbed from Cebu Normal University’s Facebook page

CNU BAGS RESEARCH AWARDS DURING THE 6TH RUN OF CVHRIC

Cebu Normal University (CNU) bags numerous awards in the 6th Central Visayas Health Research and Innovations Conference (CVHRIC).

The conference, themed, New Normal to New Future: Research and Innovations towards Universal Health Care aimed to link together health researchers and institutions in the region as well as facilitate health research activities attuned to the regional health needs.

CVHRIC was participated in by delegates coming from the different member institutions in Region 7 along with some invited guests here and abroad.

During the conference, CNU delegates manifested their research prowess by snatching the following awards in the following competitions:

EXHIBIT BOOTH

1st Place

INFOMERCIAL

2nd Place – The Untold Stories of Childhood to Parenthood by Ms. Joni Inocencia Gonzaga, Dr. Laurence L. Garcia and Ms. Ma. Mayla Imelda M. Lapa

3rd Place – Social Factors as Antecedents to Depression among Community Dwelling Older Persons by Mr. Endrex P. Nemenzo, Dr. Daisy R. Palompon and Ms. Jillian A. Bejoc

INFOGRAPHICS

2nd Place – HEARTS MATTERS: The Moderation and Mediation Effects of Resilience, Experience of Abuse, and Technology Use in Older Persons by Dr. Daisy R. Palompon

3rd Place – Working Beyond 80: An Octogenarian in the Workforce by Ms. Ma. Mayla Imelda M. Lapa, Mr. Endrex P. Nemezo, and Dr. Laurence L. Garcia

ORAL RESEARCH COMPETITION (Non-Experimental Category)

2nd Place – HEARTS MATTERS: The Moderation and Mediation Effects of Resilience, Experience of Abuse, and Technology Use in Older Persons by Mr. Vincent Pananganan

ORAL RESEARCH COMPETITION (Qualitative Research Category)

2nd Place – Living Alone and Using Social Media Technologies: The Experience of Filipino Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Ms. Joana Mariz C. Castillo

RESEARCH POSTER COMPETITION

1st Place – Forecasting Measles Spread through Bass Diffusion by Mrs. Jillian A. Bejoc

3rd Place – Social Factors as Antecedents of Depression among Community Dwelling Older Persons by Mr. Endrex P. Nemezo, Dr. Daisy R. Palompon, and Mrs. Jillian A. Bejoc

Among the different accolades, CNU garnered the most coveted Dir. Elena O. Diola Research Collaboration Award.

This special award is given to a member institution based on the following criteria: (1) established institutional linkages and collaboration; (2) value creation; (3) track record in building, leading, and mentoring organizations, and; (4) evidence of significant research collaboration and networking.

The 6th CVHRIC was held on July 14-16, 2021, via the Zoom platform hosted by the Central Visayas Consortium for Health Research and Development. J. Bejoc

CNU climbs to 21st in WRWU nationwide

Often securing remarkable spots in the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (WRWU), Cebu Normal University (CNU) soared yet again as it placed 21st among the country’s 288 universities, marking its highest standing on the said ranking system so far.
 
During the last editions, CNU landed on 37th place last January 2021 and 60th in 2020, nationwide.
 
The WRWU or Ranking Web is an initiative of the Cybermetrics Lab, a research group of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), which is acknowledged as Spain’s largest public research organization.
 
According to its website, it aims to promote “open access to the knowledge generated by the university” and improve the university’s web presence and publication; utilizing webometric (all missions) and bibliometric (research missions) variables while considering visibility, transparency, and excellence in its methodology as indicators.
 
CNU has already clinched recognitions in various university standings in the first half of the year, bagging the 14th place in the World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI) 2021’s Top 50 universities in Crisis Management and sixth in uniRank’s Central Visayas University Ranking.
 
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines (UP) retained the topmost position in the nationwide ranking while Harvard University took the lead globally.
 
Words by Rena Mae Avila

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

CNU places in most popular HEIs list

Crimson and gold shone as Cebu Normal University (CNU) made it to the sixth place in uniRank’s 2021 Central Visayas University Ranking.
 
The non-academic ranking was initiated by uniRank, a leading international higher education institutions (HEIs) directory and search engine, which featured reviews and rankings of over 13,800 officially recognized universities and colleges in 200 countries.
 
Listed as global university ranking by the International Ranking Expert Group (IREG) Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence, uniRank aims to provide valid, unbiased, and non-influenceable web metrics provided by independent web intelligence sources rather than data submitted by the universities themselves.
 
According to the directory’s website, it included worldwide higher education institutions which satisfied the following requirements: (1) officially recognized, licensed and/or accredited by national or regional bodies such as Ministries of Higher Education or government-recognized accrediting organizations; (2) officially licensed or authorized to grant at least four-year undergraduate degrees (Bachelor’s Degrees) and/or postgraduate degrees (Master’s and Doctoral Degrees); and (3) provide higher education courses mainly in a traditional face-to-face learning format delivered through on-site facilities.
 
In terms of methodology, uniRank made use of five independent web metrics extracted from four different web intelligence sources, which included Moz Domain Authority, Alexa Global Rank, SimilarWeb Global Rank, Majestic Referring Domains, and Majestic Trust Flow.
 
Among the HEIs which made it to the top 10 were Siliman University, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose Recoletos, University of Cebu, Southwestern University, Cebu Doctors’ University, Cebu Technological University, Cebu Institute of Technology, and Holy Name University.
 
Words by Mark Aleson Sanico
Layout by Jezza Mae Jumamil

CHED marks 27th anniversary; kicks off 1st Nat’l Higher Ed Day

Commemorating its 27th year since founding in 1994, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) celebrated in double with the declaration of May 18 as the first National Higher Education Day, by virtue of Republic Act 11522.
 
With the theme, “PADYAK! (Pamantasan: Pandayan Tungo sa Kaunlaran) Moving Forward by Claiming Victory for Philippine Higher Education”, CHED commenced a week-long of regional events across the country since May 17-22, 2021.
In his welcoming remarks during the event’s culmination, Dr. Maximo C. Aljibe, CHED Regional Director for Region VII, stated that the event is “certainly one of those spotlighted moments” as stakeholders in the higher education, adding that it deserves a “grand” celebration.
 
Days before the closing ceremony, webinars for various topics like research and innovations, Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) accreditation, and internationalization were held.
 
TES grantees gathering
In connection with the first National Higher Education Day, a number of Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) beneficiaries from various universities and colleges in Region VII gathered in Cebu Normal University (CNU) on May 18, Tuesday.
 
The ceremony was spearheaded by CHED Chairman and Unified Student Financial Assistance for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) Board Chairman Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III, CHED Regional Director Dr, Maximo Aljibe, CHED Officer-In-Charge – Executive Director for UNIFAST Atty. Ryan L. Estevez, and the focal persons of the respective academic institutions in Cebu.
In his speech, Estevez explained the additional benefits provided to TES grantees following de Vera’s approval on a memorandum earlier this year which gives recipients additional grants for Persons With Disabilities (PWD) students and students who will be taking licensure exams.
 
“Pag ikaw ay TES grantee at ikaw ay PWD, makakatanggap ka pa ng additional 30,000 pesos … on top of your 40,000 or 60,000 [pesos] sa private school. [Ang mga estudyante] na magti-take ng licensure exam for teachers, makaka-receive kayo ng 10,000 pesos,” he declared.
 
Subsequently, de Vera guaranteed that the students will persist as grantees so long as they remained their good standing in class and emphasized the role of the youth in the important changes in the nation.
“Huwag kayong maniniwala na wala kayong papel sa Pilipinas ngayon dahil lahat ng mabibigat na pagbabago sa kasaysayan, kabataan ang gumawa,” he stated.
At the conclusion of the event, the ceremonial giving of TES grants to its grantees was commenced and participated by a few recipients and forepersons from CNU, Cebu Technological University (CTU), Mandaue City College, Cordova Public College, Consolacion Community College, Talisay City College, and Carcar City College.
 
Recognition, ‘Gawad Parangal’
For figures who travelled an extra mile and helped in setting a new benchmark of excellence, CHED has given recognition to different performing higher education institutions and individual collaborators last May 22, 2021.
 
Severalplaques of gratitude were also handed to key personalities who have been passionate in the name of service to the country’s higher education sector.
 
Among the Service Loyalty Awardees were Virginia O. Dela Cerna, Education Supervisor II, CHED RO VII; Atty. Augusto W. Go, President of University of Cebu; Atty. Paulino A. Yabao, President of University of Southern Philippines Foundation; Atty. Liza D. Corro, President of University of the Philippines-Cebu; and Dr. John Henry R. Caballero, President of CTU – Graduate Schools Student Organization Incorporated.
In one of the responses from the awardee, Go remarked that life’s greatest equalizer is education, continuing, “The award doesn’t belong to me, they belong to the help, to my people, to the staff.”
CNU President Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil ended the event with her closing remarks, which centered on claiming victories for continuing learning by adapting to flexible learning delivery and for the collaboration and partnership that enabled higher education to thrive, lead, and serve in the new normal.
 
Words by Mark Aleson Sanico, Mikaela Jane Dagani, and Jhonazel Kiskis

CNU to offer Doctor of Medicine program

To address the shortage of doctors in the Philippines’ underserved areas, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has allowed Cebu Normal University (CNU) to offer a 4-year Doctor of Medicine Program.
 
Last year, the Regional Development Council (RDC) – 7 endorsed the proposal to CHED, intending to establish the first state-funded medical school in the region, which gained proper authorization to commence A.Y. 2021-2022.
 
Dr. Filomena Dayagbil, CESE Officer-in-Charge – Office of the University President, expressed her gratitude to the people who supported and made the endeavor possible.
 
“And the dream becomes a reality for Cebu Normal University and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (CNU-VSMMC) taking the lead in developing competent, ethical and community oriented doctors para sa bayan,” she said in a Facebook post.
Dayagbil urged aspiring doctors to join the search for deserving students who will serve the underserved through the newly offered program.
 
According to CHED Chairman J. Prospero E. De Vera III, DPA, CNU shall follow a combination of the Cuban and Canadian model curriculum which balances clinical and population/­community-based practice.
 
CNU’s Doctor of Medicine Program is expected to aid the scarcity of doctors in underserved areas, equally benefitting aspiring doctors through scholarship support under RA 11509 or the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act.
 
Meanwhile, RDC-7’s Social Development Council (SDC) asserts to call this institution Cebu Normal University-Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (CNU-VSMMC) College of Medicine.
 
Words by Jhonazel Kiskis and Lorille Antoinette Mata
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