UPOUAFI-FMDS Alumni Chapter Conducts Webinar on Mission BakuNation

The University of the Philippines Open University Alumni Foundation, Inc. (UPOUAFI) Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) Alumni Chapter conducted the webinar entitled “Mission BakuNation: Achieving a Healthy Nation through Vaccines and Acknowledging the Role of the Environment” on 31 July 2021 from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm as part of the first UPOU Alumni Congress.

The webinar featured two alumni from the University of the Philippines (UP).  Dr. Carmela N. Granada is the Officer-In-Charge Chief of the Planning and Implementation Support Division, Systems Integration and COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment under the Department of Health (DOH). She is a Diploma in International Health (DIH) graduate and a current student of the Master of International Health (MIH) at the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), UP Open University (UPOU). Dr. Louernie De Sales is a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering graduate from UP Diliman. She is the Health, Environment, Safety and Quality Head for the Light Rail Manila Corporation. Mr. Tom Panopio, Jr., the current Public Relations Officer of the UPOUAFI-FMDS Alumni Chapter, served as the host of the event.

Dr. Granada discussed the highly infectious nature and behavior of COVID-19 and presented the government initiatives and strategies in controlling and containing the spread of infection in the country.  She also stressed the importance and efficacy of all available vaccines and encouraged everyone to get vaccinated as soon as vaccine shots and slots are available.  She concluded her discussion by reminding everyone that the best vaccine is the one available or the one in your arm.

Dr. De Sales, on the other hand, tackled the COVID-19 pandemic and its positive and negative effects on the environment.  According to her, the pandemic resulted in the reduction of air, water, and noise pollution and contributed to the ecological restoration and assimilation of tourist spots.  She added that the unprecedented global phenomenon caused the increase of the biomedical waste generation, municipal solid waste generation, and reduction of recycling initiatives, among others.  To mitigate these environmental concerns, Dr. De Sales encouraged everyone to use green and public transport, utilize renewable energy, practice behavioral change in daily life, and adopt sustainable industrialization, to name a few.

A 15-minute discussion followed after each presentation.  During an interaction with the attendees, Dr. Granada advised everyone to have patience in explaining the significance of getting vaccinated, especially to a person who refuses to believe in vaccines.  Dr. De Sales, on her part, reiterated the importance of arming ourselves with data and science-based solutions in our fight against COVID-19.  

The webinar also featured a dance number and a raffle draw that served as icebreakers to the otherwise serious topics covered in the discussion.  The UPOUAFI-FMDS chapter officers, headed by their President JP Almiranez and supported by Reynaldo Panopio, Jr., John Russel Benavidez, Felicia Nadine Galino, and Julie Anne Infante, entertained the attendees by dancing to Bonnie Bailey’s “Ever After.” During the raffle draw, some lucky participants won UPOU limited edition merchandise such as a mug, an umbrella, and a Bluetooth speaker. 

This event was the fourth and last activity included in the first-ever UPOU Alumni Congress held on 30-31 July 2021. The event was held via Zoom and was participated in by UPOU alumni, faculty and staff, and even students. The two-day event was streamed live via UPOU Networks  and the UPOU Facebook Page.

The webinar can be viewed again through UPOU’s Facebook page and UPOU Networks.

Sustainable Development Goals

Written and Screen Capture by Jaime Guimbao

Edited by Joane V. Serrano and Anna Cañas-Llamas