Biliran Province State University and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) officially inaugurated the HABI Space, February 14, as part of the university's 6th Charter Day celebration.

Located on the fourth floor of the BiPSU Technology Building, the HABI Space is an ICT Innovation Center under Project HABI (Harnessing Advanced Breakthrough Innovation). It is designed to foster technological advancements by providing students with opportunities to develop applications, software, and other digital solutions.

The establishment of the innovation hub is a product of the partnership between BiPSU and DOST, formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on March 26, 2024, by University President Dr. Victor C. Cñezo, Jr. and DOST Provincial Director Dr. Romeo L. Dignos.

Dr. Chona Sabinay, dean of the School of Technology and Computer Studies (STCS) and the main proponent of the facility, emphasized that the HABI Space, a DOST-funded project, will play a crucial role in coordinating and advancing ICT initiatives in the province. "This center will help bridge digital gaps in our communities through inclusive innovations," Dr. Sabinay said.

University President Dr. Cañezo explained that "habi," a Cebuano word meaning "weave," aligns with BiPSU's WoW 2.0 initiative, the Weaving of Worthiness. "This project symbolizes interconnectedness and collaboration by providing an innovation space designed to harmonize ideas and integrate creativity," he said.

The ICT Innovation Center is in line with BiPSU's commitment to technological advancement and aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Quality Education, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Partnerships for the Goals.

"The center seeks to empower individuals, promote inclusive industrialization, nurture entrepreneurial endeavors, foster sustainable livelihoods, and drive collaborative efforts toward societal advancement," Dr. Cañezo added.

The inauguration followed Dr. Cañezo's State of the University Address (SUA) and was attended by key officials, including members of BiPSU’s Board of Regents: DOST Regional Director Hon. John Glenn Ocaña, Faculty Regent Hon. Vennie G. Coton, Student Regent Hon. Aluah Kane T. Cabalhin, and Private Sector Representatives Hon. Jean Clare Diu and Hon. Jamie Dianne Ortiz-Espina. Also present were Dr. Carlou G. Bernaldez, acting director of Cultural Affairs at Negros Oriental State University, BiPSU vice presidents, unit heads, directors, STCS faculty members, and students.

[This news article aligns with Sustainable Development Goal No.

#WoWBiPSU

[This aligns with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.]

Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) officially launched the Ex-Presidents and Retirees Nook through a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Andaya Building today, February 14.

The nook, located at the ground floor of the Andaya Building, will serve as a place where retirees, former university presidents, and OIC presidents  may opt to stay during their visit to BiPSU.

The ribbon-cutting was attended by University President Victor C. Cañezo, Jr.; Hon. John Glenn Ocaña, DOST regional director and member of BiPSU Board of Regents; Hon. Dr. Edita Genson, former NSU president; Dr. Rossini B. Romero, former vice president for Administration and Finance; BiPSU Vice-presidents, retirees, and employees.

In an interview with the university president, Dr. Cañezo shared the purpose behind this initiative of the university and expressed his gratitude to the administrators who have come before him and made contributions to the success of the university today.

“This initiative by the university is our commitment to pay tribute and honor to the dedication and contributions of the past administrators of our university because they have helped the university to what it is now,” Dr. Cañezo said. “I sincerely give gratitude to them because BiPSU would not be BiPSU today if it were not for them.”

Moreover, the nook featured photos of all retirees, ex-presidents, and OIC presidents, serving as a tribute to their invaluable dedication and contribution to the progress of the university.

[This aligns with SDG Number 17: Partnerships for the Goals]

Four faculty members of Biliran Province State University participated in the Training Course on Course Design for Open and Distance e-Learning (CD4ODeL) from February 3-12.

The BiPSU delegation included Dr. Estelito R. Salut, faculty member from the School of Management and Entrepreneurship (SME); Roselle G. Sabornido, chairperson of the Bachelor of Science in Criminology program; Ma. Grace Saňosa- Docallos, faculty member from the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS); and Chiejheaca Jehanna G. Yu, faculty member from the Biliran Campus School of Teacher Education (STEd).

The training, which aimed to enhance faculty competencies in designing and implementing open and distance e-learning (ODeL) courses, was conducted in a blended mode. Participants engaged in an online course from February 3-9, followed by onsite sessions from February 10-12 at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna.

CD4ODeL is a specialized course that focuses on the principles and best practices of designing effective learning materials and activities for online, open, and distance learning environments, where students primarily access education remotely. The training was spearheaded by the Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning (CODTL) of UPOU and brought together educators from higher education institutions across the country, including De La Salle University, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, and Benguet State University, among others.

In an interview, University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. emphasized the importance of equipping faculty members with the pedagogical underpinnings and theories that guide the practice of ODeL, especially after BiPSU institutionalized its implementation.

“We first implemented ODeL last school year, fully integrating it into our class system,” Dr. Cañezo explained. “I believe that in order to ensure quality education in this new learning modality, our faculty members must be well-prepared in course design, digital instruction, and assessment strategies.”

First introduced in July 2024, BiPSU's ODeL program reduced in-classroom learning hours to four or five hours daily, allowing students and teachers additional time for research, academic tasks, and extracurricular activities.

Meanwhile, during the online sessions, participants engaged in discussions on various topics, including frameworks for online teaching and learning, designing online courses, selecting digital learning resources, and assessing online learning activities. The face-to-face sessions further trained them in developing course guides, learning activity guides, and assignment guides to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

Several seasoned speakers led the discussions, including UPOU Chancellor Dr. Melinda Bandalaria, Professor Emeritus Dr. Alexander Flor, and Associate Professor Dr. Juliet Aleta Villanueva, who also serves as the deputy director of CODTL.

Aside from the training sessions, participants visited UPOU’s facilities, including the Information and Communication Technology Development Office (ICTDO), the Educational Media Production (EMP) Studio, and the UPOU Library, where they explored various resources for digital learning.

Estelito Salut expressed his appreciation to be part of the pioneering batch at UPOU for the eight-day training course on ODeL. “This training has been an enlightening experience, especially for us four representative participants, as ODeL remains a relatively new approach in the early stages of BiPSU-wide implementation,” Dr. Salut said.

Moreover, he also shared that throughout the program, it became evident that four key components must be addressed to ensure the successful integration of ODeL: software accessibility and usability, faculty readiness, student orientation and support, institutional policy framework.

“By addressing these critical areas, BiPSU can facilitate a seamless transition to ODeL and further enhance the quality of education through this innovative approach,” he added.

The participation of BiPSU faculty members in this national training aligns with the university’s EMpowerment program, which stands for Educational Mentoring for Faculty. This initiative aims to continuously enhance the teaching competencies of faculty members, ensuring they remain at the forefront of innovative and student-centered learning strategies.

[This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education.]

In its commitment to promoting a research-driven academic institution, Biliran Province State University held a two-day writeshop program focused on Varied Article Type in Medical and Health Science for Scopus Publication.

The event, participated in by the School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SNHS), was held on February 11-12 at the university Hyflex Audio Visual Center (HAVC).

In collaboration with the Research and Development Office (RDO), the activity featured Prof. Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III, founder of GHF University Excellence, and Jericho S. Ogaya, GHF Program Manager and Senior Researcher, as resource speakers.

In his message, Dr. Roland A. Niez, vice president for Research, Innovation and Extension Services, underscored the importance of the activity in equipping researchers with the necessary skills to successfully publish in Scopus-indexed journals, noting that understanding different article types is crucial for disseminating valuable findings.

“Through this writeshop, we aim to equip our researchers with the necessary skills to navigate the intricacies of publishing Scopus-indexed journals,” he said. “Whether it be original research, systematic reviews, case reports or commentaries, understanding the nuances of different article types is crucial in successfully disseminating valuable findings to the scientific community.”

He also encouraged the participants to remain committed in producing research that not only meets academic rigor but gives positive impact in the field of medical and health sciences.

“As we embark on this scholarly journey together, let us remain committed to producing research that not only meets academic rigor but also serves as a catalyst for positive change in the medical and health sciences field,” he added.

At the commencement of the writeshop, participants engaged in a discussion tackling various article types in Medical and Health Sciences which provide participants with an overview of the different types of articles in Medical and Health Sciences that they may explore, helping them understand the appropriate structures, purpose and publication requirements.

To further enhance the knowledge and skills of the nursing students in writing publishable articles, a writeshop proper was conducted on the second day.

This initiative to conduct a writeshop program is in line with the university’s aim to increase the number of internationally published research papers on Scopus Journals, strengthening the university’s goal of striving for excellence in scholarly publication.

Moreover, the two-day writeshop was also attended by Dr. Pearl Irish V. De Paz, director of the Research and Development Office.

[This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 4: Quality Education.]

Fourth-year students from the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS), Kenny  Charles Tabon  and Hazel Delda, secured 3rd place in the International Student Design Competition held at Shih Chien University, Taipei, Taiwan, February 10-13. 

Conducted in an online setting, said competition was part of the International Symposium on Innovation in Information Technology and Application (ISIITA) 2025.

The students bested seven other contestants from the different international universities across the globe with their research paper titled “SKINSENSE: A Mobile Application to Detect Skin Type and Skincare Ingredients Recommendations,” a study that aims to develop a mobile application that can detect facial skin type and recommend appropriate skincare ingredients for the user.

“We are truly raising the bar, as our students now start to compete on the international stage. I am proud of our students’ Kenny and Hazel for this achievement. A special thanks also goes to their coach, Mr. Quiroz, and our dedicated STCS faculty headed by Dean Chona Sabinay, for without their commitment to delivering quality education, this would not have  been possible,” said BiPSU President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr.

The team was coached by Mr. Fernando E. Quiroz, Jr., a faculty from the School of Technology and Computer Studies (STCS). They received certificates of recognition and a cash prize of 100 dollars  during the awarding held today, February 11.

#WoWBiPSU

[This aligns with SDG Number 4: Quality Education]

Biliran Province State University (BiPSU)  President, Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr, was among the 26 out of the 114 university presidents in the Philippines invited to the Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting Philippines, 2025, at Grand Hyatt Hotel Bonifacio Global, Taguig City.

The event gathered high-level government decision-makers, civil society leaders, and policymakers, from both members and non-members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), as well as global and regional partners including SUC presidents, “to exchange experiences, best practices, and progress on open government initiatives and implementation on key issues.”

Among the dignitaries who attended the said event were President Ferdinand Marcos, DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, Department of Budget Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F.  Pangandaman, DBM VIII Regional Director Imelda Laceras, and other SUC Presidents.

In his keynote address, President Bongbong Marcos, emphasized the institutionalization of the Freedom of Information (FOI) and highlighted the administration’s ongoing commitment to good governance.

On the second day of the event, participants engaged in plenary sessions, roundtable discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities. These sessions aimed to strengthen partnerships, promote participatory and resilient democracies, and renew public trust through government innovation.

Dr. Canezo shared, in a recent post, that the activity will be beneficial to the university’s weaving of worthiness.

“The event highlights participatory governance-openness, inclusivity and collaboration with emphasis on transparency as our norm, accountability as our commitment, and civil society participation as our right,” he wrote. “We will surely have these in our weaving of worthiness at BiPSU.”

The university president also expressed his gratitude to the Philippine government, particularly DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, for the opportunity to be part of such a significant event. 

#WoWBiPSU

[This news article aligns with Sustainable Development Goal No.  16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.]

Biliran Province State University once again proved its leadership in institutional excellence as it welcomed an official from Leyte Normal University (LNU) for a benchmarking activity on February 6 at the OP Convergence. 

The visit aimed to provide LNU with insights into BiPSU’s best practices in performance management, particularly in securing consistent eligibility for the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB). 

This benchmarking followed BiPSU’s recent confirmation of its PBB eligibility, marking five consecutive years of recognition since 2019. The PBB is a financial incentive awarded to government agencies based on their overall performance in meeting specific targets and goals.

Vice President for Administration and Finance Engr. Vivencio Pelesco, represented by Budget Officer Aileen May Mecaydot, expressed gratitude to LNU for selecting BiPSU as a benchmark institution for PBB eligibility.

“BiPSU is truly honored to be chosen by LNU, a prestigious university in our region, as a model for securing consistent PBB eligibility,” Engr. Pelesco stated. “We hope that the insights shared during this activity will contribute to enhancing LNU’s own systems and strategies.”

LNU’s Planning Director, Danielle Anne Durna, engaged in an in-depth discussion with BiPSU administrators regarding the university’s strategies for maintaining a strong track record in compliance with national performance standards.

Engr. Jessie Mari Cerera, director of BiPSU’s Institutional Planning Office, led a comprehensive discussion on the university’s documentation processes, institutional policies, and performance management systems. The session also included an open forum where BiPSU officials shared the challenges encountered in the PBB application process and the strategies implemented to overcome them.

The benchmarking activity was attended by key BiPSU officials, including Procurement Officer Christler Calizo, Information Technology (IT) Officer Paul Matthew Bentor, and personnel from the Institutional Planning Office.

[This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.]

Biliran Province State University, led by the Cultural Affairs Development Unit (CADU), officially kicked off the “Hulma Kultura: School-Based Culture and the Arts Literary and Musical Competition 2025” through a Grand Opening Ceremony held at the university gymnasium on February 5.

The grand opening ceremony started with a parade around the town of Naval, bringing together students, faculty, employees, different student organizations, and stakeholders from both Naval and Biliran campuses.

In his message, University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo Jr., reaffirmed the university’s commitment to nurturing a well-rounded educational experience that extends far beyond the classroom, and encouraged the students to use the event as an opportunity to grow.

“At BiPSU, we recognize that academic learning and cultural enrichment are mutually reinforcing,” Dr. Canezo stated. “Engaging in extracurricular activities—whether as active participants or as thoughtful observers—cultivates a set of skills that are indispensable in both academic pursuits and professional endeavors.”

“I encourage you to see every moment as an opportunity to grow—not only as artists but as future professionals who value creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning,” he added.

Meanwhile, BiPSU-CADU also kicked off the first-ever LGBTQIA+ Cheerdance competition, highlighting the university’s commitment to inclusivity within the institution.

Three clusters composed of the different schools across the university showcased their flawless routine execution and enthusiastic cheers and yells. In the end, Cluster 1, composed of the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), School of Management and Entrepreneurship (SME), and the School of Engineering (SOE) clinched the top spot; while Cluster 3, composed of the different schools of BiPSU Biliran Campus; and Cluster 2, composed of the School of Teacher Education (STED), School of Technology and Computer Studies (STCS), School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SNHS), and School of Criminal Justice Education, ranked second and third, respectively.

Moreover, Dr. Erwin Salvatierra, vice-president for Student and External Affairs, Dr. Susan Bentor, vice- president for Academic Affairs, Dr. Roland A. Niez, vice- president for Research, Innovation and Extension Services, Engr. Vivencio A. Pelesco, vice- president for Administration and Finance, Faculty regent, Hon. Vennie G. Coton, deans and directors of the different schools, also graced the grand opening ceremony.

It can be noted that the said school-based competition kicked off last January 22, featuring two competitions namely, Short and Sweet Play and Radio Drama at the Hyflex and Audio-Visual Center (HAVC).

The event will run until February 14 and will feature various activities and competitions including the Dance Workshop, Visual Arts competition, and Literary Arts competition.

Meanwhile, awarding of the winners for this year’s Hulma Kultura will be slated on February 13 during the Student’s Organization Night at the Student Center.

[This aligns with SDG Number 4 and 5: Quality Education, Gender Equality]

Biliran Province State University-School of Criminal Justice Education (BiPSU-SCJE) officially sent off its graduates set to take the February 2025 Criminology Licensure Examination (CLE) through a virtual gathering on Tuesday, February 4.

BiPSU President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. expressed his confidence in the examinees, highlighting their preparedness for the upcoming exam.

“I have high hopes and trust in this batch, considering that when you started your first year, you had already undergone screening,” Dr. Cañezo stated.

Moreover, Hon. Vennie G. Coton, faculty regent and acting dean of BiPSU-SCJE, commended the dedication and perseverance of the criminology students.

“We know how much hard work and dedication you have poured into your studies as you prepare for your licensure examination,” Hon. Coton said.

Adding to the send-off’s significance, Mr. Sean Supat, who ranked Top 2 in the national CLE 2022, shared valuable exam-taking strategies with the participants. His insights aimed to help the examinees navigate the three-day board exam scheduled from February 5-7.

Notably, BiPSU-SCJE is set to send approximately 50 examinees for this batch, with another group scheduled to take the CLE in August 2025.

#WoWBiPSU

[This article aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 Quality Education.]

Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) is set to host the 2025 International Conference on Methodological Advances in Research (ICMAR), slated for September 16-19, 2025. 

The announcement was made official during the Joint Board of Directors (BOD) and Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting held at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR) today,  February 4. 

BiPSU and the Visayas Mindanao Consortium for Journal Publications Inc. (VMCJPI) formalized the said partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The signing ceremony  was attended by BiPSU President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo Jr. and Dr. Jude A. Duarte, chair of the VMCJPI Board of Directors and president of Southern Leyte State University (SLSU). Also witnessing the event were BiPSU Vice President for Research, Innovation and Extension Services, Dr. Roland A. Niez and Research Development Office Director Dr. Pearl Irish de Paz.

In his message, Dr. Canezo expressed BiPSU's excitement to host this prestigious event on campus, highlighting that advancing research has always been a core goal of the university.

“We are honored to host this international conference and excited to bring together researchers, educators, and institutions from across the globe. We are committed to contributing to the advancement of knowledge and research methodologies, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of innovation and global collaboration. We also believe this conference will provide valuable opportunities for learning, exchange, and development that will positively impact not only our university but the entire region and beyond.”

This year's ICMAR will provide an opportunity for researchers, scientists, educators, students, and stakeholders to share findings, promote life-changing research, and strengthen communication among institutions to address global challenges. The conference’s core objectives also include enhancing the use of advanced research methods in disucssing contemporary issues and empowering academic communities to actively engage in interdisciplinary research efforts.

Additionally, the meeting agenda includes the awarding and renewal of commitments from all member Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of the VMCJPI.

#WoWBiPSU