by Ma. Vanessa Velasco & Reinhold Gabriel Catangay

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 multisector 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 City of Cabuyao celebrated its 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. Malayan Colleges Laguna, A Mapúa School, took part in the said activity and has been promoting environmental awareness and protection through a Citywide Multi-sectoral Tree Planting activity.

On August 1, 2022, two (2) Kabuyaw tree (Citrus hystrix) seedlings, and sixteen (16) Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) seedlings, were given to the Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE), MCL’s corporate social responsibility arm. 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 MCL.

The collaboration between the Cabuyao City LGU and MCL hoped to strengthen the relationship between a government and a private higher education institution (HEI). Working closely with CENRO Cabuyao, this partnership shed light on its focus on reducing the precarious effects of climate change by further fostering environmental conservation to strengthen the earth’s biodiversity.

The Kabuyaw Tree – which the City of Cabuyao was named after – also known as kulubot, is an endemic citrus species whose leaves can be used as an anti-microbial and an insect repellant while its fruits, the same as its family, can be used for aroma therapy and anti-bacterial purpose. On the other hand, Palo Santo is a flower-bearing tree that is native in South American countries such as Peru and Ecuador which mainly used for its wood, resin, and oil extract.

MCL’s maintenance personnel planted Kabuyaw and Palo Santo seeds around the Track Oval.

With the assistance of MCL’s maintenance personnel from GAIC Manpower Services, Inc., the Kabuyaw tree seedlings were planted near the entrance of MCL while the Palo Santo seedlings were planted near the track oval. Alongside MCL, other members of CaRPA and various companies also took part in this activity, including Nestlé Philippines, Inc., Asia Brewery Corporation, RFM Corporation, Tanduay Distillers, Inc., Wyeth Nutrition Philippines, Light Industry & Science Park (LISP) I Locators Association, NutriAsia, Ginebra San Miguel, Del Monte Philippines, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Klinpix Janitorial and Pest Control Services Inc., Multimix International Manufacturing Corporation, H&E Manufacturing Corporation, Laguna Water, Cabuyao Water District, Pamantasan ng Cabuyao, the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Cabuyao Laguna, various Homeowners’ Associations from the City of Cabuyao, the eighteen (18) Barangays from Cabuyao, and Bureau Of Jail Management And Penology (BJMP) – Cabuyao, held at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club in Barangay Casile, Cabuyao City, which was the main venue for the said event.

With this initiative, CENRO Cabuyao, alongside CSCE, is hoping that the trees that were planted during the activity will grow and be taken care of by the MCL community. More importantly, the activity hopes to inspire others to plant more trees even in their respective residential areas and to continuously conserve and protect our natural resources and environment.

By: Chris Robert H. Llamoso

August 2022 — Malayan Colleges Laguna, A Mapúa School (MCL) announced that they will be offering programs that are in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), America’s leading university for innovations. This is with the help of the Cintana Alliance, founded by Douglas Becker in collaboration with ASU (Ranked #1 in the U.S. for Innovations). The ASU-Cintana Alliance enables universities from different parts of the world to provide a top-notch education by increasing their quality and scale, which is vital in building globally competitive professionals.

Dr. Reynaldo Vea, President of Mapúa University said “Mapúa University has always been committed to providing education that is rooted in excellence and that can answer to the call of times.” These values extend to MCL as the institution is always finding ways to incorporate excellence in all its students even in the most trying times. This could be done by providing all the needed hard and soft infrastructures suitable for the modern style of teaching and learning.

Mapúa University being the first university in the Philippines to join this alliance, MCL, Mapúa’s sister school would soon be having access to ASU’s proprietary resources that are transformational and innovative. This gives students access to ASU’s world-class content and curricula, allowing them to participate in Global Signature Courses with faculty and classmates from different parts of the world.

A groundbreaking partnership like this will also provide learners with high-valued education that would be grounded on three core pillars: International exposure, real-world experiential learning, and digital experience. Students will be immersed in real-world experiences co-designed by industry drivers through problem-based education and modern technology simulation environments.

MCL’s program offerings that are under the ASU-Cintana Alliance are as follows:

College of Arts and Sciences

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• Bachelor of Science in Biology

E.T. Yuchengco College of Business

• Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management

With this new development, MCL will remain to be a frontrunner in innovations and excellence while continuing its mission to hone globally competitive individuals that can withstand the challenges of the real world. Click here to learn more about ASU-Cintana Alliance.

By: Bea Patricia C. Marin

Malayan Colleges Laguna, A Mapúa School (MCL) continues to make waves in the field of higher education in producing globally competitive individuals with its partnership with the Business College of Athens (BCA), launching the country’s first master’s degree program that aims to ‘advance and professionalize the shipping business practice’.

The Master of Science in Shipping Business makes its way into the programs offered by MCL under the Mapúa-PTC College of Maritime Education and Training (CMET) and its partner company Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc. (PTC). Enhancing the existing curricula for up-and-coming cadets, the partnership not only opens doors for individuals seeking a career within the highly competitive industry of shipping but also provides an opportunity for a more in-depth, immersive, and flexible learning experience for graduate students.

“With this collaboration, MCL aims to further its mission to transform students into globally competitive professionals by generating, sharing, and applying new knowledge, all while exchanging cultures,” said the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of MCL, Engr. Anthony Hilmer S. Medrano, one of the key figures in this groundbreaking partnership. Mapúa-PTC CMET Dean, Capt. Armando A. Ternida concurs that the collaboration between the two institutions solidifies and significantly contributes not only to the future of the students vying for a career in the shipping industry but also its foundation through education here on land.

To have a systematic understanding and to undertake in in-depth training set to master knowledge of shipping organizations as well as their global environment are what lies in the core of the Master of Science in Shipping Business program executed by the two educational institutions committed in preserving the industry quality of Maritime Careers.

“BCA is proud to announce the partnership, the first of its kind historically, between a Greek and a Filipino academic institution,” said Mr. Harris Daskalakis,  BCA Executive Director. “MCL and Mapúa-PTC CMET have managed to become a focal point for applied education in the field of Shipping Management, while BCA, the oldest Maritime College of Greece, will offer a unique online degree teaching the secrets of Greek Ship Management to the world’s most important seafaring nation, the Philippines.”

As one of the premier Colleges to offer Maritime Education in Greece, BCA is committed to providing unique learning experiences that ‘combines theoretical knowledge with practical application’ allowing them to successfully place 9,000 alumni over the past 50 years within its 300+ ship management company partners, each equipped with globally competitive skills and educational foundations. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates can look forward to promising career opportunities in Greece provided by the BCA College Career Office.

Through this endeavor, MCL continues to surpass limits and go beyond its structure in its continued commitment to building globally competitive professionals capable of leading Industry 4.0.