Bicol University is Top Performing School for Social Work, having a turnout of 94% passing rate in the June 2010 Social Worker Licensure Exams, a rate  way above the national passing rate of 58%, in the recently-held Social Work Board Examinations.  Out of the 78 Social Work graduates of the BU College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, 73 made it.  

Honors befitting a University President were bestowed upon the Second President of Bicol University, Retired Judge Aquilino P. Bonto, who passed away on June 22 in the presence of his family in Quezon City.  His remains were transported to Legazpi City on June 25 via the 12:15 p.m. Cebu Pacific Flight, whereupon he was accorded arrival honors by Bicol University  He was then brought to the Bicol University College of Science Auditorium (BUCS) where his wake was held until his burial on June 28.

As we start the new school year, 2010-2011, let us renew and invigorate our commitment to excellence for our beloved Institution, the Bicol University.  We have done the best we can but we will do more so that our students, their parents and the rest of the community shall get no less than our excellent service.

Just like the Bicol University (BU) pride, Maria Venus Raj (Philippines bet to the 2010 Miss Universe), another equally beautiful lass— the 2009 Miss BU Yvethe Marie Avisado Santiago of BU College of Business, Economics and Management (CBEM) was named by the Binibining Unibersidad Peace Emissaries, Inc.

Another significant achievement of Bicol University is in the person of Jovic Maurice Yee, a 4^th year Journalism student who was chosen as one of the 12 Bayer Young Environmental Envoys (BYEE) for 2010, for his proposed environmentally friendly advocacy dubbed “Radio Berde: Information Gateway to the Environment.”  Said project is an informative and interactive youth-oriented radio program.

Jerson Q. Lagatuz, a senior at the BU College of Education taking up BSED major in Biological Science, was chosen as one of the 12 Bayer Young Environmental Envoys for 2010 in the country.  He will be implementing his project entry, titled, “Earth Bank Campaign Project” from May 3 to August 3 of this year.

The College of Industrial Technology is a recipient of a JICA-JOCV volunteer for two years starting May 17 of this year.  The volunteer from Tokyo, MR. HIDEYA CHIDA, is assigned to the Automotive Department having been an Automobile Technician and a 1^stclass mechanic at Nissan Co., Japan.  Prior to Mr. Chida’s official dispatch, he had a 4-day home stay visit with the family of BUCIT Dean Erlinda C.

Officials, faculty, and staff of Batangas State University (BSU), headed by their president, Dr. Nora L. Magnaye, visited Bicol University (BU) on April 23 for a benchmarking of the latter’s best practices, for them to emulate.   A month later, on May 24-25, Marinduque State College (MSC) president Romulo Malvar, together with other officials, staff, and faculty, similarly held their benchmarking activities in BU.

Bicol University (BU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), also known as the WorldFish Center (WORLDFISH), an international, non-governmental, non-profit scientific research center based in Penang, Malaysia.  Representing BU was its president, Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya; WORLDFISH was represented by Dr. Maripaz L.

The first Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) Stakeholders’ Conference was hosted by Bicol University College of Education, the CHED Center of Excellence (COE) for Teacher Education. The conference was held at the BU College of Nursing Amphitheatre, Legazpi City on May 4.  It was opened with a program where CHED Commissioner and Chair of the BU Board of Regents, Dr. Nenalyn P. Defensor, was the keynote speaker.