The Bachelor of Elementary Education program learned the art of storybooks in a hands-on writeshop that aimed to inspire future educators to explore storybooks as a valuable teaching tool, at the mini theater, on November 27, 2024.

In his welcome address, with the theme "Weaving Words, Crafting Worlds: Unleashing Your Inner Author," the Educators’ Club President, Mr. Edson Sabandal, spoke about the power of storytelling in education. He encouraged participants to see storytelling as a skill that grows with creativity and practice, reminding them, “Every great author was once a beginner. There’s no limit to your imagination.” His message inspired everyone to embrace their potential and keep developing as storytellers.

During the lecture, Mrs. Dannalyn S. Impuesto, a distinguished alumna and the guest speaker, shared insights on crafting children’s storybooks using slides from Dr. Dominador Doms Pagliawan. She stressed that storybooks serve as effective tools for teaching lessons, particularly when paired with engaging illustrations. She pointed out that young learners are visual and need relatable, age-appropriate content. She also outlined the qualities of a good story: engaging characters that children can connect with, creative plots filled with imaginative elements, and a clear structure suitable for young readers. Mrs. Impuesto encouraged adding humor, rhymes, and illustrations to make stories more enjoyable. She also stressed the importance of cultural sensitivity and embedding lessons, calling these lessons the "treasure" that children can carry into their lives.

The writeshop included a group activity where participants created and presented their own stories. Group 1 presented "Ang Pasaway na Sisiw," which taught the value of obedience to avoid danger; Group 2 shared "Misunderstanding Adventure," focusing on understanding and avoiding false blame; Group 3 presented "A Perfect Place," promoting the Golden Rule; and Group 4 delivered "The Refrigerator’s Glow," which featured characters from the food pyramid and emphasized the importance of proper nutrition. Mrs. Impuesto praised the participants, saying that crafting a story takes time and inspiration, and they had done a wonderful job in such a short time. She encouraged them to continue believing in their potential as writers and to bring meaningful stories into their future classrooms.

The event concluded with a message from Mr. Cliford Narbaiz, Vice President of the Educators’ Club, who inspired the participants with his words, “Keep reading, keep writing, and keep inspiring.”

Southern Leyte State University-Tomas Oppus Research, Innovation, Extension, and Services (SLSU-TO RIES) concluded its three-day workshop on harmonizing research, innovation, and extension programs, titled “STORIES in Action: Harmonizing Campus Research, Innovation, and Extension Program,” held at Libhu Hill Resort and Sports Libhu in Maasin City. The event, which began on November 20, 2024, brought together administrative officials, faculty professors, and program heads from the campus.

A highlight of the workshop was the creation of a new program called ICARETOTEACH, which aims to anchor the research and extension projects of each academic program in a unified framework. This workshop encourages participants to design projects that are directly aligned with the objectives of their respective academic programs, which enhances the relevance and impact of their work both within the campus and the broader community.

The final day of the workshop, held on November 22, focused on reviewing and refining the research and extension projects developed by participants over the previous two days. During the session, participants had the opportunity to present their outputs, which were critically reviewed by their peers. This collaborative exchange of feedback allowed for further enhancement of the research and extension projects, which ensures that they align with the university’s strategic goals, academic programs, and the newly created framework.

The workshop’s closing ceremony included the Signing of the Commitment Board, where participants pledged their dedication to continue discussing and refining their research and extension projects with their respective colleagues in each program. The workshop empowered faculty professors and program heads to take the lead in driving transformative research and extension projects, which signifies that SLSU-TO remains at the forefront of academic and community-based excellence.

This initiative aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Through the integration of research, innovation, and extension efforts, SLSU-TO is actively contributing to the advancement of inclusive and sustainable development in the community.

On November 7, 2024, SLSU-TO’s English and Filipino faculty continued its series of trainings for barangay officials in collaboration with the LGU Tomas Oppus. The second day of the "Project Write It Right" training was focused on the art of crafting resolutions and ordinances to help local government leaders enhance their document writing and administrative skills.

Building on the success of Day 1, which focused on formal letter writing—covering requests, invitations, and correspondence—the training on November 7 concentrated on key aspects of local governance: resolutions and ordinances. During the session, barangay officials were guided through the process of drafting clear and effective resolutions and ordinances, a fundamental skill for ensuring smooth decision-making and transparent governance within their barangays.

The training, which is part of a series scheduled over three days, provided both insights and activities to ensure participants could apply their learning immediately. As part of the day’s activities, barangay leaders worked in groups to draft sample resolutions and ordinances. With this, barangay officials expressed their appreciation who noted that the training is essential for good governance and accountability

The ongoing "Project Write It Right" aligns with the SDGs, particularly Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. This fosters greater community engagement and supports sustainable local development. As the project progresses, officials will gain further confidence in their writing abilities which contributes to more efficient governance in LGU Tomas Oppus.

Southern Leyte State University - Tomas Oppus (SLSU-TO) conducted a hands-on training session on formulating the Project Procurement Management Plan (PPMP) using the online Procurement Management Information System (PMIS) for Fiscal Year 2025 on October 30, 2024, at the Mini-Theater.

Fund administrators, end users, and office clerks attended the training. Led by Information Systems Analyst Engineer Samuel D. Tumaub and Mr. Nestnie Honrada, the university’s Head of Information Systems, the session provided participants with practical demonstrations on how to input items into the PPMP online format. This hands-on experience equipped attendees with the necessary skills to apply PPMP principles effectively in their respective projects.

In her welcome address, Ms. Judy O. Paz, Supervising Administrative Officer, emphasized the university's commitment to innovation, efficiency, and accountability in managing the procurement process. She stated, “This initiative embodies our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and accountability in managing the procurement process starting in fiscal year 2025." She further added that "as rapid digital transformation shapes industries worldwide, the academe is not exempt. With this training, we are embracing advancement and equipping our institution with a robust, streamlined system that replaces the traditional, paper-heavy procurement planning process."

Ms. Paz continued, “This training is essential for enhancing digital literacy, enabling everyone to be involved and to make well-informed, data-driven decisions. More importantly, this hands-on experience will foster confidence in independently managing procurement activities, aligning with our goals and standards.” She also highlighted that the primary goal of the training was to ensure that all participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the PMIS.

In the host’s introductory lines, Ms. Azel Rose M. Cabel, underscored the significance of procurement in the Philippine government. “Procurement is crucial for several reasons: it ensures that our public funds are used efficiently and effectively, promotes transparency and accountability, and helps us meet the needs of the people and the organization as a whole.”

In the training proper, Engineer Tumaub provided an in-depth discussion on the operation of the PMIS and demonstrated the process for inputting items into the PPMP. Mr. Nestnie Honrada offered additional guidance and support throughout the session.

Dr. Norla Grace A. Betarmos, the faculty dean, concluded the training by summarizing key takeaways and acknowledging the efforts of the Information Systems team at SLSU for their contributions to making the PMIS more accessible. “Embracing changes like this will make us better. The highest form of learning is being able to teach others,” she remarked.

This training workshop is part of the university’s ongoing efforts to enhance its project management capabilities, ensuring the effective use of resources and alignment with national priorities.