Three UP Diliman (UPD) units organized and conducted successful extension work these past two months to assist various sectors.
The College of Music (CMu) launched MusikaGulay as part of its 108th anniversary celebration; the UPD Gender Office (UPDGO) conducted a discussion on breast cancer; and the National Service Training Program Diliman (NSTP Diliman) held its 20th anniversary celebration.
MusikaGulay was launched in coordination with Rural Rising Philippines (RuRi Philippines).
RuRi Philippines is a non-profit organization that sell farmers’ produce without involvement of middlemen through partnerships with public and private entities. It is an initiative founded by spouses Ace and Andie Estrada.
CMu Dean Ma. Patricia B. Silvestre explained that the college event was called MusikaGulay because “music and nature are very intimately connected or interlinked with each other in so many, many ways. Maraming work, songs, o chanting na pampagana sa mga farmer.”
At MusikaGulay, CMu provided space for RuRi Philippines to sell vegetables from local farmers. Participants bought their chosen produce through Box-All-You-Can. This process allowed buyers to fill, with their choice of fruits and vegetables, a box worth PHP800 and can weigh up to 20 kilograms.
“These vegetables [and fruits] are from distressed farmers. Sila iyong hindi mabenta ang mga ani kasi binabarat ng mga middleman. Ito ang mga overproduction dahil na-meet ng buyers ang mga quota nila,” Estrada said.
MusikaGulay on Sept. 10 at the CMu Camerata had a sale of at least PHP40,000. Silvestre said the college is planning to have a series of MusikaGulay and hopefully in other UPD units as well.
In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, UPDGO held Feel the Boob Love: A Discussion on Breast Cancer,in partnership with Avon Philippines and Philippine Cancer Society, Inc. (PCSI).
The discussion on Oct. 11 at the Vinzons Hall lobby mainly focused on how to monitor breast cancer and on the ways to prevent or cure it.
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Filipinos,” said Dr. Mary Justine B. Grageda-Valdecañas, a nutritionist-dietician and palliative care provider.
The discussion emphasized that statistics from the Department of Health and PCSI show that breast cancer is the most prevalent in terms of cases from 2015 to present, but its mortality rate of 36% was way lower than that of lung cancer (86%), colon cancer (57%), and liver cancer (96%), with the latter three occupying the top two to four spots in terms of number of cases.
Grageda-Valdecañas said “breast cancer is curable if detected early; practice a healthy lifestyle; and if warning signals occur, consult a medical expert immediately.”
In celebration of its 20th year, UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II said that for two decades, NSTP Diliman was instrumental in providing services to the community.
“Pinanday nito ang maraming henerasyon ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan upang maging mga responsableng mamamayan at lider na may malasakit sa lipunan at dedikado sa paglilingkod sa bayan… Sa pamamagitan ng NSTP, nagiging tulay ang akademikong pagkatuto ng ating mga mag-aaral upang maisakatuparan sa buhay sa labas ng akademya ang kanilang natutunan at magbigay ng kongkretong ambag sa lipunan,” Vistan said.
NSTP Diliman OIC-Director Olivia Alma G. Sicam acknowledged the efforts of all involved in the NSTP activities for the past years and appreciated the participation of UPD units in the celebration.
Part of the NSTP anniversary celebration was the Sikhay Lingkod Symposium held on Oct. 17 at the Pilar Herrera Hall inside Palma Hall.
The symposium featured the UPD Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, UP Resilience Institute, UP MMDA Vanguard K9, Rotaract Clubs of Rotary International District 3780, World Vision Philippines, Ardent Paralegal and Business Solutions, Inc., and School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies of the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde. They presented their organization’s best practices at the said event. In line with recent extension work events, Sikhay Lingkod Organizational Fair was also held on Oct. 18 along Osmeña Avenue in front of Melchor Hall.
