Author: vipcorals

On February 13,  Dr. Jayvee A. Saco had his courtesy call for the Balik Scientist Program with DOST-PCAARRD Officials, together with other Balik Scientists Dr. Charina Lyn A. Repollo and Dr. Zenith Gaye A. Orozco-Bautista, at PCAARRD Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna.

Photos from Balik Scientist Program Official Facebook Page

The VIP CORALS team had a meeting with SEA Institute and Dr. Katherine Sanchez-Escalona of MinSCAT on February 10 for the future schedules and activities for the Eco Camp by the Sea.

Left to right: Joal Ascalon, Dr. Jonel Corral, Dr. Jayvee Saco, Dr. Miguel Azcuna, Alecs Persia, Najeen Rula, Dr. Katherine Sanchez-Escalona, Jovy Ann Valera

Photo from Joal Ascalon

VIP CORALS conducted their fieldwork on December 11-14, 2019 for the “Biodiversity of seaweeds and associated flora in the Verde Island, Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines,” which is funded by Nagao Natural Environmental Foundation (NEF).

Committed to protect our marine ecosystems, the Batangas State University has partnered with the United States Embassy to host Dr. Kent Carpenter, a Professor in Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia for a lecture-forum on November 20, 9:30 AM at the Lecture Room, CITE Building, Batangas State University Pablo Borbon Main I, Rizal Avenue Extension, Batangas City.

The program started with an invocation and the singing of the Philippine National Anthem. Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo gave his welcome message followed by an AVP presentation of the VIP CORALS. Dr. Romel U. Briones introduced the resource person, Dr. Kent Carpenter. The lecture of Dr. Carpenter entitled “Environmental Damage to Coral Reefs in the South China Sea and International Arbitration Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea” provided insights and raised awareness about the detrimental effects of human activities to the coral reefs. Students from different colleges were present during the lecture-forum.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/vipcorals.batstateu/photos/?tab=album&album_id=546316045986234

Dr. Miguel Azcuna and Ms. Jovy Ann Valera participated in the Training on Retrieval and Processing of Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) for Reef Cryptobiodiversity and Ocean Acidification last October 5 to 7, 2019 in Seas Spring Resort, Mainit, Mabini, Batangas.

Najeen Arabelle Rula, Jovy Ann Valera, and Dr. Jayvee Saco attended the International Training on Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) last August 12-15 and October 1-4, 2019, respectively.

The said training served as an international framework for efficient fisheries management using the ecosystem approach. The training also ignited meaningful discussions about the challenges in sustainable management of our fisheries resources.

Last September 20, 2019, De La Salle University, in partnership with Batangas State University, VIP CORALS, Oscar M. Lopez Center, California Academy of Sciences, SEA Institute – VIP, Pusod, Inc., Smithsonian Institution, and Old Dominion University, organized Saknungan sa VIP 2019 with the theme ” Building a Sustainable Verde Island Passage through Citizen Science.”

Saknungan sa VIP 2019	Infographics and video presentations about Verde Island
Infographics about Philippine Reefs	Fish Identification Guide
Signing of MOU between DLSU and BatStateU; MOA between CAS and BatStateU
Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo delivered his opening and welcome remarks for the Saknungan sa VIP 2019. Afterwards, Dr. Ronquillo presented the VIP CORALS as the National Center for Marine Biodiversity Research in the Verde Island Passage.
Dr. Wilfredo Licuanan, Dr. Meg Burke, Dr. Terrence Gosliner, and Dr. Jeff Williams discussed the Citizen Science in Coral Reefs: The 4M Methods.
Glenn Mariano of Pisces Project talked about “Scaling Up Beyond the Three Communities.”	Pacifico Beldia from Malampaya Project shared the lessons and challenges from basic coral reef monitoring for biodiversity conservation.

Photos from Batangas State University Public Relations

SEA Institute – Verde Island Passage and VIP CORALS organized the first-ever EcoCamp by the Sea for Teachers held at Cerca Parola Beach Resort, Lobo, Batangas last July 11-12, 2019. The participants were the Grade School and High School teachers of Batangas State University Integrated School.

During the first day of the EcoCamp, the teachers were introduced to the marine environment, habitat, ecosystems, different marine plants and animals, and basic field equipment.

On the second day of the EcoCamp, there were discussions about threats to the marine environment such as marine pollution. They also conducted a coastal clean-up.

Photos from Joal Ascalon of SEA Institute

VIP CORALS attended the 15th National Symposium on Marine Science (PAMS15) held at Aklan State University, Banga Aklan last July 4-6, 2019.

VIP CORALS Focal Persons, Research Faculty, and Research Assistants (OJT)

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On July 3, VIP CORALS attended the Telemetry Workshop organized by LAMAVE (Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines).

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On July 4, Dr. Jayvee Saco shared the vision, mission, and mandates of the marine research center of Batangas State University, the Verde Island Passage Center for Oceanographic Research and Aquatic Life Sciences (VIP CORALS).

Najeen Arabelle Rula presented the results of the study entitled “Preliminary Assessment of Seaweed-Seagrass Communities at the Southern Part of Verde Island, Batangas City, Philippines.”

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The following day, July 5, Joshua Vacarizas and Jovy Ann Valera presented the results of their research entitled “Hard coral cover diversity of Isla Verde: result of first assessment and plan for establishing monitoring stations,” and “Draft linkage map for the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra generated from ddRAD sequencing,” respectively, during the Poster Presentation session.

The VIP CORALS’ research assistants also presented during the Poster Presentation session.

Alvin Tabuga presented the results of their undergraduate research about the seagrass community structure in two selected areas in Calatagan, Batangas.

Jade Symon Binay presented the research entitled “Phytoplankton Composition of Selected Shallow Marine Ecosystems in Verde Island, Philippines.”

Leah Mae Sanchez presented the research entitled “Preliminary Inventory of Fish and Invertebrates in Verde Island, Batangas City, Philippines.”

Donalyn Ellysa Gamier (left) and Danica Abigail Velasco (right) presented the results of their undergraduate research entitled “Geometric Morphometric Analysis on the Shell of Green Mussell (Perna viridis) from Two Culturing Sites in Cavite Province”.

Alecs Persia presented the research entitled “Beach forest characterisation in Barangay San Agapito, Verde Island, Philippines.”

Dr. Jayvee Saco also presented the study about building the capability of high school teachers on doing marine biodiversity, which is an initiative of Batangas State University during the Oral Presentation session.

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Dr. Jayvee Saco was also elected as the Vice President for Luzon.

Oathtaking of the newly elected officers of the Philippine Association of Marine Science (PAMS)

Last June 20-21, 2019, VIP CORALS attended the 8th National Symposium and Scientific Meeting of the Philippine Phycological Society Inc. (PPSI) with the theme “Convergence of Algal Research Innovations for Nature and Human Utilization.”

Left to right: Dr. Miguel Azcuna, Dr. Jayvee Saco, Jovy Ann Valera, Najeen Rula, and Joshua Vacarizas

Dr. Jayvee Saco, Joshua Vacarizas, and Najeen Rula presented their researches during the oral presentation.

Dr. Jayvee Saco presented his study entitled “The Dependency of Photosynthetic Characteristics to Chloroplast Position in Ulva conglobata (Ulvophyceae).”

Joshua Vacarizas presented his study entitled “Insights on Phytoplankton density and occurrence of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) species in Verde Island.”

Najeen Rula presented her study entitled “Culture of Halymenia durvillei (Rhodophyceae) Under Different Combination of Light, Stocking Density and Water Motion.”

For the poster presentation, Jade Symon Binay, Jana Abigail Soriano, and Alecs Persia presented their undergraduate researches.

Dr. Jayvee Saco and Najeen Rula were also awarded as the 3rd and 2nd Best Oral Presenters.

Left to right: Dr. Jayvee Saco, Ella Beringuela (Microbial Oceanography Laboratory), and Najeen Rula

Before concluding the program, an election was conducted. In the said election, Dr. Jayvee Saco was elected as one of the officers of the Philippine Phycological Society Inc. (PPSI)

Oathtaking of the newly-elected officers of the Philippine Phycological Society Inc. (PPSI)