The School of Environmental Science and Management-University of the Philippines Los Baños (SESAM-UPLB) went down memory lane as the Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter MacArthur paid a visit to the School last August 11, 2022. The Canadian government played a key role in the growth of SESAM in the early years through the support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). 

Among the SESAM faculty and researchers who were sent to Canadian universities through the CIDA grant in the 1980s to the 1990s were Dr. Ma. Victoria O. Espaldon, Dr. Leonardo M. Florece and Ms. Evangeline L. Alcantara. In addition, CIDA donated through the Environmental and Resource Management Project (ERMP), SESAM’s analytical laboratory.  This was a joint undertaking of then IESAM and the School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in February 1, 1991.

After the courtesy call to UPLB Chancellor Jose V Camacho, Jr., Ambassador MacArthur was delighted to see the old photos of the collaboration between the School and Canada in a mini photo exhibit at SESAM. He also visited the analytical lab and had a ceremonial tree-planting with Dean Rico C. Ancog and Dr. Enrique P. Pacardo. The activity was very nostalgic since it was similar to the tree-planting conducted by Dr. Pacardo with the then Canadian ambassador Andre Simard to the Philippines in 1991. 

During the meeting, Dean Rico Ancog expressed his appreciation of the ambassador’s visit to SESAM, in time to celebrate the School’s 25^th year. “Having you here today is very heart-warming… and exploring a collaboration is a bonus”, said Dr. Ancog. He also thanked Canada through CIDA for their support in the growth of the environmental science in the country. “In every experience, we want to learn from it and connect it to our curricular programs”, Dr. Ancog added.

Dr. Pacardo, reminisced during the meeting that in the late 1980s people from different disciplines came together looking into environmental problems. “They came up with a holistic solution… this is how our environmental science came up”, Dr. Pacardo said. For her part, Dr. Espaldon said the support of Canada to SESAM created a snowball effect from the seeds of environmental science. “The methods are evolving, and now we are growing”, she added. Meanwhile, Dr. Nicomedes D. Briones, retired SESAM professor, recalled during the meeting that it was in February 1990 when the ERMP program collaborated with CIDA. “The ERMP contributed to the spread of environmental education in the Philippines”, he said.

Ambassador MacArthur said during the meeting that the embassy is already 50 years in the country. “Canada and Philippines have a lot in common in finding solutions in climate change… many years of partnership and collaboration from education to employment”, Ambassador MacArthur said.  

He added that in 2021, Canada has doubled its investment in climate finance, which include reforestation, climate smart agriculture, cooling of cities by planting trees and protection of wetlands. “We have a fast-growing partnership via MOU with academe doing collaboration with other researchers between universities”, Ambassador MacArthur mentioned. 

The ambassador also took notice the importance of the role of women in the academe, which will be key in getting support from any three granting councils of Canada. “I am very happy to see capable women here… and to be successful, you need to align your proposal to the 3 to 4 SDGs and should benefit women”, he stressed.

Joining Ambassador MacArthur during the visit were Mr. John Lok, Counselor (Development) and Head of Cooperation and Ms. Jona Cabaguio, Senior Development. Officer, Philippines and Pan-Asia Development Program of the Embassy of Canada. After the visit at SESAM, Ambassador MacArthur and his entourage also went to the International Rice Research Institute and the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity.