The UPMin community welcomed the 22nd University President, Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez, in his first visit to the campus in his new capacity on April 20, 2023. Pres. Jimenez's visit reiterates his message at the 28th UPMin anniversary to fully support Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao's plans and programs towards transformative education. Former chancellors Sylvia Concepcion, Larry Digal, and former Staff Regent Annaliza Fulvadora, whose terms intersected with Pres. Jimenez's term as Regent, were present.

In the afternoon, Pres. Jimenez visited Davao City Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte (in lower photo, second from left), where he announced UP's plans to establish a UPMin college for medicine, engineering, and the sciences. Atty. Janis Louis Esparcia (left-most), Assistant City Administrator for Operations and UPMin alumna, was present.

President Jimenez was appointed by the UP Board of Regents in December 2022. His six-year term covers February 2023 to February 2029. Atty. Jimenez first served UP as a Student Regent in 1992 and again as a Regent from 2016-2021.

Prof. Jhoanna Lynn Cruz of the Department of Humanities (most left, in the photo above) led a panel discussion entitled "Mindanao Fictions," at the Mindanao Book Fair on March 19, 2023, in her capacity as president of the Davao Writers Guild. Associate Prof. John Bengan (second from left), also of the Humanities department and author of "Armor," a collection of short stories, was joined by Elizabeth Joy Serrano-Quijano, author of "Dili Pwede Mogawas," a short story collection, and Jade Mark Capiñanes, author of "How to Grieve," prose collection. Prof. Cruz and the panelists discussed how their stories engage with re/writing Mindanao to help define Mindanaoan and/or Mindanawon literature. The panel was hosted by independent publisher Everything's Fine. The authors also accommodated book-signing requests. The public panel discussion addresses freedom of speech, social exclusion experiences, gender equality, and psychological well-being, among other ideas. 

View the discussion here: https://youtu.be/GGKRbg9tGeY

Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao (sixth from left) joined Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson Maria Belen "Mabel" S. Acosta (fourth from left) on March 30, 2023, for the project launch of the "Sustainable Agricultural Environment Establishment through Durian Producer Organization in Mindanao, Philippines." The project was initiated by Rev. Lee, Chul Yong (fifth from left) of the Center for Asian Mission for the Poor (CAMP) and assisted by Ms. Cho, Buyoung (second from left). The Korea International Cooperation Agency supports the project.

The CAMP team of Rev. Lee and Ms. Cho visited UPMin on March 13, 2023 (in the photo below) in the company of MinDA's Mr. Sylvester Sales, Ms. Chrisel Sales of the University of Southern Mindanao, and Ms. Ronita Buenaventura of UNORKA-Mindanao (6th, 7th, and 8th from left, respectively). On that occasion, Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Annabelle Novero (third from left) received the team, together with Joel Sagadal of the Land Reservation Management Office and Mr. Allan Villanueva of the Office of the Chancellor. The project addresses poverty alleviation, food security, the food supply chain, employment equity, and contributes to economic growth through partnerships.