Category: Molo News

Design and Development of Desalination Plant Powered by Solar Energy in Unisan Island, Guimaras, Philippines

This project is anchored on the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (R.A No. 9513). This Act affirms the Philippine government’s commitment to accelerating the utilization of renewable energy (RE). The utilization of solar energy will enable the operation of a Fresh Water Generator to produce potable water for the residents of Unisan Island, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, Philippines.

This project focuses on SDG No. 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure—promoting innovation by designing a freshwater generator powered by solar energy. The new feature of this freshwater generator will enable the residents of Unisan Island to have potable water sourced from seawater.

This project is based on SDG No. 17: Partnership for the Goal, strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development. It involves collaboration with local manufacturers, the local government unit, and government agencies. The establishment of this type of freshwater generator will allow different stakeholders in the maritime university to collaborate and conduct studies focused on sustainable freshwater solutions for Unisan Island, Guimaras.

Dr. Elsie Gancia reads her paper “Assessing the Relationship Between Reading Achievement and Academic Performance in Marine Engineering Freshmen Cadets: A Quasi-Experimental Approach” at the 44^th Thailand TESOL International Conference on January 24-25, 2025.

The Breakthrough/ Innovation Research Workshop: A Collaboration with DOST-WVCIEERD was conducted last December 6 & 13, 2024, at JBLFMU-Molo, Inc. Iloilo City participated by the three academic units of JBLFMU and the invited resource persons are from Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas.

Two researchers of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Molo presented the results of their studies at the University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during the International Research Conference of SEAAIR (South East Asian Association for Institutional Research)  last September 26-28, 2023. Dr. Stella S. Cantor, a faculty member of the College of Business presented her study “English Teachers’ Out-of-Field” and Dr. Rolando A. Alimen, Research Coordinator also presented his study “Seafaring Profession: Edge of Filipino Seafarers” with delegates from different countries in this international conference.

The study of Dr. Alimen is about the Filipino country’s pride, attributes, and characteristics. Filipino seafarers are the most preferred seamen because of their many virtues and professionalism that significantly contributed to the Philippines and the global maritime industry. This qualitative phenomenological study was conceived to determine the edge of Filipino seafarers among other nationalities on board. The results of this study depict how Filipino seafarers work and respond to the seafaring world and their lived experiences while onboard. Through this phenomenological study, the lived experiences of Filipino seafarers in terms of the different concepts, themes, and personal stories will be derived from their lived experiences. The recruited seafarers were contacted through referral and were qualified on specific criteria, the source of information, and whose narratives were gathered and documented to establish the study’s objectives. The study of Dr. Cantor aimed to present the participants’ out-of-field teaching and their initiatives. The researcher used inductive thematic analysis to explore and generate “themes” from the interview. Different themes emerged from the monograph as an educational resource that would serve as a reference for researchers and educators who are interested in the field and wish to explore the context of out-of-field teaching.

The 42nd Thailand TESOL International Conference addressed a wide range of timely themes regarding innovation, engagement, and resilience for TESOL communities concerning the digital era’s impact on English teaching and learning during this ever-changing disruptive sociocultural and educational contexts. The paper presentation experience during the two-day conference of TESOL Thailand last January 27-28, 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand has been a great opportunity for me to meet fellow educators and language enthusiasts all across the globe.

The conference commenced with the opening ceremony and Dr. Singhanat Nomnian president of the TESOL Thailand shared that there should be resilient ELT practices, processes and policies play significant roles to offer significant research for a better tomorrow. Meanwhile, the keynote speaker Dr. Phra Dhammavatjarabundit of Chulangkorn University, Thailand shared about English language teaching and learning in the future. Plenary talks of the invited plenary speakers were also shared about finding balance in the post-pandemic world, ideas for coping with stresses in today’s classroom, and enhancing teachers’ digital competence by focusing on the delivery of blended teacher education. Paper presenters like me were given an avenue to share our research with an audience and it was such a great experience having an exchange of ideas with fellow speakers of different cultures and beliefs to make difference in the world of language learning.

It was highlighted during the closing ceremonies that TESOL practitioners from a variety of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary fields to nourish insightful ELT ground-breaking research, pedagogies, materials, and innovations for current and future endeavors in local and global contexts. Existing challenges and new opportunities for teachers call for more innovative, engaging, and resilient ELT practices.