UPLB holds “TULAY” program for international students

The UPLB International Student Relations (ISR) under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) presented “TULAY: Building Bridges Across Cultures” for UPLB international students on September 18 and 29.

TULAY, which translates to “bridge” in Filipino, brought together students from various cultural backgrounds, primarily to aid international students in their adjustment and transition in the university. Support services and some policies and guidelines were presented to them during the program.

Additionally, the International Students Association (ISA) was introduced to the international students who were encouraged to actively participate in and strengthen the association.

The first day of TULAY, held at the Makiling Ballroom, Student Union Building, was a welcome program for new and continuing international students. It was attended by undergraduate students, graduate students, and exchange students.

Marcelina C. Miranda, coordinator of Research, Communication and Information Technology (RECOMMIT) delivered the welcome remarks on behalf of Dr. Janette H. Malata-Silva, vice chancellor for student affairs.

Student services applicable to foreign students were also imparted by representatives of some OVCSA units, including the Office of Scholarships and Grants represented by Ivy Mary Selarde, scholarship affairs officer; John Mervin L. Embate, director of the Learning Resource Center and faculty member at the College of Development Communication; and Moises O. Villanueva, officer in charge of student activities and faculty member at the College of Arts and Sciences.

In his video response, Akhmad Zamroni, president of ISA who is a candidate for a PhD in Environmental Science, explained the importance of the organization and how it helps support international students.

Dr. Emilia Lastica-Ternura, coordinator of the UPLB Office of the Anti-Sexual Harassment (OASH), facilitated the Gender Sensitivity Training and Anti-Sexual Harassment Orientation.

For the TULAY Campus Tour, ISR, in collaboration with the Society of Exchange Students UP (SExS-UP), organized a tour of the lower and upper campuses to familiarize the international students with the colleges, buildings, and special landmarks on campus.

They visited the Makiling Botanical Gardens (MBG) where Forester Jelai Limpiada of the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems oriented them on the flora and fauna of MBG.

A tour around Los Baños was also conducted to provide international students with an overview of the town’s culture, products, and history. They visited the ARTIST, Inc. Center at Carbern Village, Los Baños Municipal Hall, Magnetic Hill, Paciano Rizal Park, and the College of Agriculture Foundation Site—a historical landmark of UPLB. During their visit to the ARTIST, Inc. Center, Mr. Rafiel Talata shared his knowledge about, and let the students play, the different bamboo-made instruments.

Despite being shorter than last semester’s week-long welcome program, TULAY yielded fruitful experiences for international students and left them with an appreciation for the diverse cultures they would encounter during their stay at the university.