UPV Language Program

Turning Over of Books to the Municipality of Janiuay LGU!

UPV delivers first 50 children’s books for day care learners

The UP Visayas Language Program (LP) and the UP Visayas University Library, in partnership with Mr. Zyrel T. Rojo and Ms. Jhoanna G. Rojo, turned over 50 children’s book titles to the Municipality of Janiuay on July 2, 2026 at the New Conference Hall in Janiuay, Iloilo.

The turnover is the second phase of the UPV LP Read UP Literacy Project. It follows the Read Aloud workshops conducted for child development workers in March and April 2026. The book donation was made possible through the generosity of the Rojo family in coordination with the UPV University Library.

The collection was formally received by municipal officials and personnel – Mayor Paulino Parian, Vice Mayor Atty. Felizardo D. Amigable Jr., Sanguniang Bayan Member Felix Barranco, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) Ms. Elizabeth G. Sevilla, Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Focal Person Ms. Menzie Brizal, and Mr. Raffy Parpa – together with the town’s child development workers. Several day care learners and their parents also joined the ceremony.

Representing UPV were Ms. Analiza S. Linaugo (University Library), Asst. Prof. Rene C. Trance (UPV LP faculty-in-charge), Ms. Marian Janice M. Mediana (UPV LP staff), Ms. Sophia Diasanta (UPV Library staff), and Ms. Gyca Magusara (UPV Library staff).

In their messages, municipal officials reaffirmed the LGU’s commitment to literacy and early childhood care and development and expressed continued support to the partnership between UPV and the municipality in future projects.

Now in its eighth year, the Read UP Literacy Project is the UPV LP’s flagship service initiative, fostering a love for reading among young learners.

Written by Rene C. Trance
Photo credit: Janiuay LGU

Thank you so much Janiuay LGU! To our donors Ma'am Jhoanna Gorriceta- Rojo and Sir Zyrel T. Rojo in coordination with the UPV Library.

UPV Language Program holds Multi-Sectoral Read Aloud Workshop in Guimbal, Iloilo

UPV Language Program holds Multi-Sectoral Read Aloud Workshop in Guimbal, Iloilo

Read UP: An early childhood literacy initiative in Janiuay, Iloilo

From Janiuay with hope: building readers, building dreams.

ADVISORY�
(Work Arrangement on 01 April 2026)
In compliance with Memorandum Circular 116 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., UP Visayas will implement a work-from-home set up on Wednesday, 01 April 2026, from 8:00 AM to 12 noon. Work and classes will be suspended in the afternoon. Regular work hours will resume on Monday, 06 April 2026.

ADVISORY�
(Work Arrangement on 01 April 2026)

In compliance with Memorandum Circular 116 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., UP Visayas will implement a work-from-home set up on Wednesday, 01 April 2026, from 8:00 AM to 12 noon. Work and classes will be suspended in the afternoon. Regular work hours will resume on Monday, 06 April 2026.

ARE YOU AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER LOOKING FOR FULLY-SPONSORED VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES?

The Regional English Language Office at the U.S Embassy in the Philippines (RELO Manila) is offering Online Professional English Network (OPEN) scholarships to English language teaching professionals to attend eight-week, online graduate-level courses offered by U.S. universities. You may view the Spring 2026 course descriptions on this link: https://openenglishcommunity.org/page/global-online-courses.

The Online Professional English Network ( ) program offers virtual learning opportunities to foreign English language educators, professionals and learners worldwide. OPEN promotes mutual exchange of culture and provides free access to teaching and learning materials which can be reused, adapted and shared with others. OPEN professional development opportunities are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, and created by U.S. academic institutions and experts in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Interested applicants register here https://forms.gle/pHRbKGcpWCHXYA8d6 on or before 25 January 2026 to give us time to review applications before the nomination deadline. This is a competitive professional development opportunity, and slots are limited. Selected finalists will be contacted for an interview.

ELSET 2025 kicks off

On its 10th year and facilitated by the UPV Language Program Office (UPV LPO), this year’s English Language Skills Enhancement Training (ELSET), a two-week functional English language training for non-native English speakers, commenced last August 9, 2025 at the Training Room 1, Graduate and Continuing Education Building (GCEB), UPV Iloilo City campus.

The 2025 ELSET is the 20th run of the program participated by nine students who majored in agriculture and fisheries from Kagoshima University Faculty of Fisheries (KUFF). Asst. Prof. Rene C. Trance, UPV LPO faculty-in-charge, noted that the KUFF has sent 313 students to UPV for English enrichment activities since 2015, which mutually benefited UPV and the KUFF. The linkages, cultural exchanges, and friendship forged in the past decade, he believed, are something beyond academic.

In his message, Chancellor Clement C. Camposano warmly welcomed the ELSET participants to UPV Iloilo City campus and thanked them for choosing UPV as the learning provider. He shared that, while the main aim of the training is to improve functional English facility among non-English speakers, the participants also contribute to the development of the English language. For him, learning a foreign language is never a one-way process.

Dr. Munechika Ishizaki, the KUFF faculty representative, thanked UPV for being an active and supportive partner. The warm welcome, according to him, is something that reminds KUFF to keep sending its students to UPV for its overseas program. He hoped for more years of collaboration between UPV and KUFF.

To provide more details about the ELSET 2025, Ms. Anna Liza M. Barcelona, the training’s facilitator, explained the day-to-day activities and the house rules. A quick tour of the city campus was also done to guide student participants on the location of university facilities and offices like the cafeteria, Main Building, and the clinic.

After which, the program proceeded to the student presentations that focused on the topics they would like to explore and their expectations during their 13-day stay in Iloilo City. Ms. Barcelona and Dr. Ishizaki clarified these topics and suggested ways to meet such expectations.

The ELSET 2025 consists of two batches. Its first run will be from August 9 to August 22 while the last is scheduled on September 14-25, 2025.

Report from the UP Language Program Office