The Learning Resource Center (LRC), in partnership with UP Epsilon Chi Fraternity-Los Baños, held the UPLB Recruitment Program for the Best and Brightest (RPBB) on Jan. 27 for 577 Grade 11 students of the Ballesteros National High School in Ballesteros, Cagayan.

This is the first face-to-face RPBB of the LRC in the new normal. The RPBB aims to bring the best and brightest students in the country to UPLB. It promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities to communities outside Los Baños.

The RPBB, led by LRC and selected faculty members of participating colleges, visit different regions in the Philippines to recruit students to study at UPLB.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Salbina A. Macarubbo, education program supervisor in values education of the Curriculum Implementation Division-Cagayan, thanked the RPBB team for conducting the activity for their students.

Dr. Macarubbo represented Dr. Orlando E. Manuel, schools division superintendent of Cagayan province. 

Andrew Gabatan, a member of the UP Epsilon Chi Fraternity Alumni Association and co-organizer of the RPBB, gave an inspirational message to the students, encouraging them to participate in nation-building.

“Andito ang mga kabataang pag-asa ng bayan. Kung gusto ninyo makatulong sa ating bayan, UP Los Baños ang piliin nyo.” (The youth are the hope of the nation. If you want to help the nation, choose UP Los Baños.)

In the first session entitled, “WazzzUP: Why choose UPLB,” Sheryl Edd P. Hermosa-Ebron, RPBB coordinator, gave an overview of the different degree programs at UPLB and talked about the campus and some of its renowned alumni.

In the second session, “Light UP: Discover a course that fuels your passion and purpose,” six (6) degree programs of UPLB were presented to the students, especially the potential career paths one may take after graduation.

Julie Ross Datuin, a faculty member at the College of Agriculture and Food Science, presented the BS Agriculture program and the other programs offered by the college. Datuin stressed the importance of agriculture in Cagayan as an agricultural region of the country.

Dr. Rosalie C. Mendoza, college secretary of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, talked about the BS Forestry program while Dr. Mark Joseph M. Desamero, college secretary of the College of Veterinary Medicine, showed the different opportunities available to graduates of the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Edrun R. Gayosa, faculty member at the Institute of Statistics introduced the BS Statistics program of the College of Arts and Sciences while Paul Alteo A. Bagabaldo, faculty member at the Institute of Human Nutrition and Food, emphasized the role of graduates of the BS Nutrition program. Almira Geles Lumbres-De Mesa, faculty member at the Department of Community and Environmental Resource Planning, presented the different fields a BS Human Ecology graduate may consider.

In the third session entitled, “UPCutie: Know more about the UP College Admission Process,” Effie Vina Diane M. Catibog, a researcher at the UP Office of Admissions provided a comprehensive overview of the application process for the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) as well as reminders in accomplishing the application form. She also discussed the various options a student may consider to be admitted to the university other than through passing the UPCAT.

The fourth session entitled, “Better Together: UPLB Scholarships, Financial Assistance, and Other Services,” focused on programs of the university that complement the students’ academic and non-academic needs in UPLB.

Isabella Nadine L. Jimenez, junior scholarships affairs officer of the Office of Scholarships and Grants, presented the financial assistance services available at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, specifically the grants-in-aid program, student assistantship program, private and government scholarships, and student loans and claims which students may avail themselves of when they enter UPLB.

LRC Director John Mervin L. Embate discussed the services provided by LRC such as tutorials and training programs and its facilities, specifically the Learning Hub. He also talked about the dormitories managed by the Office of Student Housing and the dormitory fees, facilities, and amenities.

The activity was made exciting through a trivia game and question and answer portion with prizes given to students who answered correctly. The UPLB prospectus, brochures, and other information materials were distributed to the students for more in-depth information about the university.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Cherry Zingalawa-Dimaandal, principal of Ballesteros National High School, extended her sincerest gratitude to the RPBB team for conducting this activity in their school. She mentioned that UPLB is the first higher education institution to visit them this year.(Sheryl Edd P. Hermosa-Ebron & Joshua Michael Jonas)