The School of Environmental Science and Management-University of the Philippines Los Baños (SESAM-UPLB) conducted its 2021 testimonial and recognition program via Zoom to honor its graduating class for 2020-21 on August 6, 2021. This year SESAM honored 13 Master of Science, five Doctor of Philosophy and one Doctor of Philosophy by Research graduates under the Environmental Science program.

The guest speaker for this year’s testimonial ceremony, Senator Joel Villanueva said he is really honored to be invited as he congratulated the graduating class. Sen. Villanueva shared his idea of environmental science as ‘the balance, harmony, peace, justice, connection, communion and what is within and outside the human person and the universe’. “Our legislative agenda as your TESDA man before, now as your action man in the senate reflect this desire to the crafting of laws based on sound scientific basis. We have constantly asked our partners from the academe and in the industries to give us reliable and steady supply of data so that we can make sense of the real-world situation and craft measures that are ready to meet future challenges”, Senator Villanueva stressed.

The graduating class were also fortunate to hear messages from UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Prospero E. de Vera III, and Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquaculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCCARRD) Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora. 

SESAM awarded plaques and certificates of research productivity to Mr. Jeffrey Losloso and Dr. Jabez Florez, graduates of the MS and PhD Environmental Science programs, respectively. Both  published research papers and were actively involved in research activities other than their own thesis work during their program of study and/or period of stay at SESAM. 

In recognition of their outstanding academic performance in the environmental science program and earning the highest General Weighted Average (GWA), the School also awarded plaques of academic excellence to Ms. Faulene M. Manzanilla (GWA: 1.1935) and Dr. Arnica D. Mortillero (GWA: 1.1154), for MS and PhD Environmental Science, respectively. 

Aside from the graduating class, their parents and friends also witnessed the testimonial ceremonies. SESAM faculty, REPS and Admin staff also paid tribute to the new trailblazers of the environment and future contributors in nation-building.