𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐒 | 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐦𝐠𝐚 𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬

Honoring the outstanding achievement of its newest Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers, the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) College of Engineering and Technology (CET) community gathers today, 16 January. CET hosts Araw ng Pagpupugay, a special tribute to the graduates of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (DABE) who excel in the December 2025 licensure examination.

TAU proudly marks a remarkable 70.59% overall passing rate, a performance that far surpasses the national average of 59.14%. The ceremony recognizes the 12 new engineers, celebrating their resilience, mastery of the field, and unrelenting pursuit of excellence to advance agricultural and biosystems engineering.

𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐒 | 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨, 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐓𝐀𝐔 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥

The rhythmic clacking of bamboo poles and the pulsing sounds of Korean pop beats echoed through the Farmers’ Training Center as Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) and South Korea’s Yeungnam University (YU) transformed the stage into an intercultural festival of movement and melody, 16 January. 

The Cultural Exchange Program, part of YU’s Global Volunteer Project, showcased a dialogue of heritage and friendship through spirited dance and musical performances under the theme, “Empowering Youth through Cultural Exchange and Collaboration.”

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Edmar N. Franquera, TAU Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training (VPRET), underscored the living nature of culture expressed on stage. “Through the songs, dances, music, and artistic expressions that we will witness today, we are reminded that culture is not merely preserved in history books but is alive in our people, our stories, and our collective experiences,” he said.

In addition, the message of TAU President Dr. Silverio Ramon DC. Salunson, delivered by Dr. Leonell P. Lijauco, Vice President for Planning and Quality Assurance (VPPQA), framed the program as part of a deepening relationship between the Philippines and South Korea. “This growing bond is further reflected in the movement of our people,” the VPPQA reads. “Each individual becomes a living thread in a rich tapestry of mutual appreciation and daily diplomacy.”

TAU’s performances presented a compelling narrative of Filipino heritage. The TAU Chorale opened the program with the folk songs “Neneng” and “Vochong,” setting a reflective tone for the morning. This was followed by the TAU Performing Guild (PG) Dance Troupe, which took the audience on a cultural journey across the nation through three distinct pieces: the Ilocano farmers’ homage “Cariada ti Mannalon,” the solemn ritual dance “Subli” from Batangas, and the widely recognized agility of “Tinikling.”

𝐈𝐍𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐀 | 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞

Another milestone was once again achieved by the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) as 2nd Lieutenant Leomar Simon Sugui, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) and a former Corps Commander of TAU Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) from TAU, who is now serving as an active officer of the Philippine Army and Platoon Leader of Charlie Company, 42nd Infantry Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, made a remarkable demonstration of leadership and service in a critical military operation that led to a recovery of ammunitions on 16-17 December 2025 in Barangay Exciban, Labo, Camarines Norte.

2nd Lt. Sugui completed his degree at TAU in 2013, during which he also completed the basic and advanced ROTC courses in AY 2009-2010 and was designated Corps Commander. With his dedication and perseverance, Sugui entered the military service through Republic Act 7077 also known as the “Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act” mandating military training such as ROTC for college students to build a reservist pool.

Through this program, he gained foundational skills in leadership, discipline, and teamwork, which later proved crucial during a high-impact military operation in Camarines Norte, where he led his platoon in the successful recovery of illegal weapons, ammunition, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). 

In collaboration with other Philippine agencies and units, Sugui and his team made a successful two-day operation, preventing any harm while providing protection to the community without any reports of casualties.

𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐑 | 𝐓𝐀𝐔–𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐒𝐀 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞  (𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨)

You may read Part 1 here: https://bit.ly/4qSdJZx 

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

The true purpose of the 𝐓𝐀𝐔–𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐒𝐀 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is felt far beyond the boundaries of its compound, extending across a 50-kilometer radius. Within this reach, the station’s data, its percentages, millimeters, and degrees, cover much of Tarlac and even portions of neighboring provinces, defining and refining decisions on the ground.

From these measurements come highly specialized farm weather forecasts that translate science into action. Farmers rely on them to determine the precise timing for planting sensitive seedlings, initiating irrigation cycles, applying fertilizers for maximum uptake, and harvesting crops at optimal maturity. 

Beyond day-to-day decisions, the station also provides the rigorous scientific backbone for developing localized crop calendars and evidence-based six-month seasonal climate outlooks, giving the agricultural community the foresight needed for long-term effective risk mitigation.

A careful analysis of the station’s historical data archive reveals a sobering and undeniable trend of climatic instability. Over the years, it has recorded extreme thermal events, including a searing high of 42°C during the blistering April of 2024 and a surprisingly cool low of 16.5°C in February 2017. These are the historic highs and lows documented at TAU and are concrete pieces of a broader narrative of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.