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Central Luzon State University

Science City of Muñoz, 3120 Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Research

SUNFLOWER BLOOMS ANEW AT CLSU

Dec. 10, 2021

Jomar S. Garabiles | PAO

 “Let sunflower blooms again here in CLSU” said President Tereso A. Abella two years ago. In response, the Research Extension and Training (RET) program thru the initiatives of the Research Office put up a 4000m2 Sunflower Garden in the vicinity of the new RET Complex along the Research Avenue. This is the second year of sunflower blooms in CLSU.       Looking back, it was in the early 70’s during the presidency of Dr. Amado C. Campos and research leadership of Dr. Filomena F. Campos when CLSU started its Sunflower Research and Development (R&D) Project with funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) formerly the National Science Development Board (NSDB). As an output was the development of a sunflower variety, named CLSUN.       Despite earlier efforts, the enthusiasm to continue R&D on sunflower in CLSU slowly vanished. But now is the time to revive and showcase sunflower production and R&D in the university.       According to Dr. Maria Excelsis M. Orden, Director for Research and Dr. Mario B. Agustin, Chief of Special Projects Division, series of studies/activities will be conducted under the leadership of Mr. Marcial A. Gonzales, the office’ breeder to further improve sunflower production. Among the future activities are seed selection, hybridization and development of new sunflower variety.     Sunflower was planted anew last December 2017. Since then, it has gone viral thru facebook and other social networking sites. Hundreds of students, employees and guests from various places are visiting the sunflower garden to take selfies/groupies, and to experience the positive vibes and relaxing ambiance amidst the beautiful yellow sunflowers.        “Very romantic, nakakakilig lalo na pag kasama mo ang mahal mo!” shared by Mr. Harvey James Paguilian, 20 years old from Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija during an ambush interview. He added that it was already his fourth time to visit the garden together with his girlfriend, and they continue to be fascinated by the beauty of the flowers.       “Instagrammable! Para kang dinadala sa ibang mundo, masarap ang hangin, nakaka-relax at talagang malilimutan mo ang problema mo” stated by Mr. Prince Partacalao, 20 years old from San Jose City.       “Very strategic yung area, kasi along the highway yung garden kaya halos lahat ng dumaraan ay talagang napapalingon” uttered by Mr. Wowie De Guzman, 27 years old, faculty of the Department of Psychology, CLSU.       “Perfect for taking pre-nup photos” according to the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. Gesmundo Paez of Cabanatuan City, during their photoshoot at the sunflower garden.               The Research Office assures the continued production of sunflower to serve as its agri-tourism site not only in CLSU but in the whole Central Luzon. The office also promises to produce more sunflower to create beauty within CLSU, and to provide background for selfies/groupies.

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CLSU Continually Demonstrates Commitment to Quality Education through Accreditation

With CLSU’s continuous pursuit of excellence, six of its academic programs underwent accreditation evaluation by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) from October 20 to 22, 2025. The following programs - BS Development Communication, BS Statistics, and MS Biology aimed for level IV accreditation. At the same time, the BS Psychology, BS Hospitality Management, and PhD Aquaculture, were evaluated for Level III status. Dr. Elsie M. Pacho, the Coordinator for Level IV Accreditation, lauded CLSU’s performance where she stated that as a state institution, the University’s role in shaping the region's intellectual and socioeconomic landscape is evident and commendable. "Your programs demonstrated a robust academic foundation complemented by innovative teaching methods and a sustained culture of research, community engagements, as well as international networking and linkages,” she stressed. On the other hand, Dr. Ronald M. Ramirez, represented by Dr. Eva Marie C. Avila, assured the task force that as external partners of the university, they are also committed to fostering excellence for the university to achieve its goal. “We will make a very objective assessment and make recommendations for the benefit of your programs, your colleagues, and your institution. To achieve world-class service and excellence,” Dr. Avila said. University President Dr. Evaristo A. Abella acknowledged the value of the external review, stating, "With your guidance from an outside perspective, we now know our strength and the areas that we need to improve." He also affirmed the institution's unwavering commitment to implementing the recommendations where he expressed the University’s commitment to abide by the observations of accreditors, uphold quality and integrity in the curricular offerings, strengthen systems, and maintain the standards that define CLSU. CLSU's proactive engagement with the AACCUP process underscores its dedication to maintaining high standards and evolving into a globally competitive educational institution. #SievingForExcellence

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CLSU, CLAARRDEC Lead Nat’l Tilapia FIESTA

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Each innovation presented here represents the hard work of our researchers and the resilience of our fisherfolk who bring tilapia from ponds to every Filipino plate.” CLSU President and CLAARRDEC RRDCC Chair Dr. Evaristo A. Abella highlighted that the event reinforces the united efforts to build a more competitive and inclusive aquaculture industry. “This historic gathering solidifies the collaboration of seven regional consortia creating a venue for researchers, aquaculture practitioners, fisherfolk, government agencies, higher education institutions, and other stakeholders who share a common goal to strengthen and sustain the tilapia industry in our country,” he said. Bringing together farmers, experts, investors, students, and industry stakeholders, the three-day celebration provided a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, business matching, and technology promotion, fostering partnerships that drive innovation and inclusivity in the tilapia value chain. 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