SEARCA staff, scholars, and visitors pose for a photo after attending the anniversary program at the SEARCA headquarters.
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) was established in 1966 and is one of 26 specialist institutions of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). The Center is mandated to strengthen institutional capacities in agricultural and rural development (ARD) in Southeast Asia through its core programs on Education and Collective Learning, Research and Thought Leadership, and Emerging Innovation for Growth.
On 27 November 2020, SEARCA celebrated its 54th anniversary together with SEAMEO’s 55th Anniversary in an event held online.
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, highlighted its mother institution’s role in fostering inclusive and responsive education in the region and beyond. He said “SEAMEO has perfectly exemplified the importance of interconnectivity among different sectors and stakeholders of the society while taking multi- and interdisciplinary approaches in dealing with various issues and challenges. It has evolved with the changing times without losing its relevance, making education as an enabling vehicle for growth and sustainability.”
Celebrating with SEARCA were the two SEAMEO regional centers based in the Philippines, the SEAMEO Secretariat (SEAMES), and the Department of Education (DepEd), Philippines.
Dr. Ramon C. Bacani, SEAMEO INNOTECH Director
Dr. Ramon C. Bacani, Director of SEAMEO Regional Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH), gave an inspirational message and stressed the need for regional cooperation in education, science, and culture. He pointed out that “in education particularly, the disruptions have been unprecedented. Therefore, in this journey, it is important that we rely on one another and under the spirit of SEAMEO, we need to learn and share from one another.”
Dr. Vicente Y. Belizario, Jr., SEAMEO TROPMED Philippines Director
Dr. Vicente Y. Belizario, Jr., Director of SEAMEO Regional Centre for Public Health, Hospital Administration, Environmental and Occupational Health (TROPMED Philippines), also gave his warm felicitations and emphasized the role of regional centers in the Philippines in the shared mission of SEAMEO as one community in time of COVID-19 global pandemic. He said the three centers are bonded as they jointly endeavor towards being regional centers of leadership and excellence in their respective fields.
“Our current pandemic situation makes us realize how our centers’ respective thrusts are so intertwined as education, public health, and food security proved to be the most pressing issues in this time of uncertainty. Despite how we are currently living in very trying times, we need not dwell on the difficulties and challenges ahead of us. But from the strengths we share as part of the SEAMEO community,” said Dr. Belizario.
Philippine Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones
DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones congratulated SEAMES and regional centers for the long years of collaboration as well as SEARCA for the successful year despite the pandemic and the challenges of the environment and weather.
Dr. Briones expressed her appreciation to SEAMES and to SEARCA, INNOTECH, and TROPMED Philippines in promoting distance learning and providing teachers with capacity-building webinars. The Education Secretary also mentioned the School-Plus-Home Gardens Project (S+HGP) which is a SEARCA-led project in collaboration with DepEd and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the Center’s host institution. She closed her message by emphasizing that “In a world that is advancing towards technological innovations and skills development, it is important to remind ourselves that development does not only pertain to high-rise buildings and working robots. We need to be reminded of inclusive and sustainable development to fully accomplish our development goals.”
Dr. Ethel Agnes P. Valenzuela, SEAMEO Secretariat Director
Dr. Ethel Agnes P. Valenzuela, SEAMES Director, reiterated that SEAMEO’s 55th Anniversary theme, “Stronger Together for Quality, Accessible, and Responsive Education,” supports and reminds countries in their achievement of educational objectives and a regional vision through bilateral and multilateral programs and activities in and beyond Southeast Asia.
She also expressed appreciation for all the regional centers’ efforts to promote and develop the love for agriculture, education, and public health among its community. “I am proud to say that SEARCA, INNOTECH, and TROPMED Philippines have contributed a lot in the region through your programs, research, scholarships, and partnerships. It is evident that everyone collaborated on SEAMEO’s mission as a north star in designing our learning intervention for the region to enhance regional understanding, cooperation, and unity of purpose among member countries.”
Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, cuts a cake from Mer-Nel’s Bakeshop.
The three SEAMEO centers joined in a simultaneous cake-cutting ceremony led by Dr. Gregorio to cap the program. INNOTECH and TROPMED Philippines also each planted a tree to mark the occasion, while SEARCA had to postpone planting 10 bamboo within its complex along the bank of Molawin Creek due to inclement weather.
A SEARCA Anniversary Virtualympics was also held online so that staff both working on site and from home can join in the celebration. The event was organized by the SEARCA Health and Wellness Committee to promote organizational awareness, sustain employee engagement, and foster camaraderie among SEARCA staff.
Prior to the game proper, messages were given by Mr. Dexter A. Manset, the Chair of Health and Wellness Committee, and Dr. Gregorio. Mr. Joselito G. Florendo, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration, provided an overview of the virtualympics and served as the gamemaster.
Ms. Darlyn R. Angeles from RTLD together with Mr. Joselito G. Florendo, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration, play charades during the SEARCA Anniversary Virtualympics.
The winners in the three game categories were Mr. Jaymark Warren T. Dia, Unit Head for Management Information Systems, who bagged the Director’s Prize; Mr. Arnel R. Oabina, Financial Analyst, Accounting Unit (AcU), dominated the Young Once Round; and the AcU and Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD) cinched the Team Round category.