UPLB Department of Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship

16/10/2026

𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑 𝟐𝟕𝟏 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬

How can agricultural ventures create differentiated value and become more attractive for growth and scale?

The Department, in partnership with ENTR 271, a graduate-level course under the Master of Management Program, will hold a seminar titled “Business Models and Value Creation Beyond Commodity Economics.” The course is handled by Dr. Dinah Pura T. Depositario, Faculty-in-Charge.

The discussion will be led by Dr. Leodevico L. Ilag, Co-Founder and Director of Molawin Creek Ventures Pty. Ltd., Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Science and Technology (Philippines), and Adjunct Professor at DAME, CEM.

📅 October 22, 2026 (Thursday)
🕓 4:00–5:30 PM
📍 CEM 105, UPLB

Students and faculty are invited to join the seminar and explore how business models can help agricultural ventures create and capture value beyond commodity economics.

15/10/2026

𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

The Department concluded Day 2 of its UP World Expert Lecture Series on October 15, 2026, with “How International Trade Fuels Global Marketing Expansion,” featuring Dr. Myeong Hwan Kim, Professor at Purdue University Fort Wayne, as speaker at the ICOPED Auditorium, UPLB.

With over 150 students in attendance, the session gave BS ABME and AA Entrepreneurship students a closer look at how businesses expand into international markets, from choosing the right foreign markets and selecting appropriate entry strategies to balancing global standardization with local adaptation. Dr. Kim also highlighted the importance of keeping up with changing market trends and adapting products and marketing strategies to local consumer preferences as businesses enter and compete in different markets.

Students actively engaged in the discussion through their questions and exchanges with Dr. Kim, particularly on market expansion, international entry strategies, and how businesses can maintain their global brand identity while responding to local markets.

The Department hopes that our BS ABME and AA Entrepreneurship students gained insights that will be beneficial to their studies and future work in agribusiness, entrepreneurship, and international business.

The event opened with opening remarks from Asst. Prof. Nanette A. Aquino, Department Chair, and concluded with closing remarks from Asst. Prof. Gemma U. Reyes. Ms. Aira Joy M. Anyayahan served as the Master of Ceremonies. The Department also extends its appreciation to Dr. Kim and everyone who helped make the second day of the lecture series a productive and engaging learning experience for our students.

14/10/2026

𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐔𝐩 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡

The first session of the UP World Expert Lecture Series (WELS) with Dr. Myeong Hwan Kim took place on October 13 at the REDREC Auditorium, UPLB, with over 250 students in attendance.

In the lecture “The Critical Link Between Open Markets and National Wealth,” Dr. Kim discussed how international trade and openness to global markets can influence a country’s economic development. The discussion also looked at South Korea’s economic rise and how its engagement with international trade contributed to the country’s transformation into one of Asia’s major economic powers.

The discussion then turned to the Philippine context. One of the key takeaways for students was Dr. Kim’s challenge to develop strategies based on what the Philippines already has, particularly its strong foundation in agriculture. He emphasized the importance of innovation in developing products and industries that can compete in the global market.

The lecture was followed by a Q&A session led by Assoc. Prof. Jeanette Angeline B. Madamba. Students asked about the biggest mistake South Korea made in its approach to international trade and what the Philippines can learn from its experience. One student also asked how much openness is “open” enough before it can start to hurt the domestic economy, a question that Dr. Kim found particularly interesting, among others.

The lecture began with the opening remarks from Asst. Prof. Ruby Jane C. Estadilla, Associate Dean of the College of Economics and Management. Asst. Prof. Gemma U. Reyes introduced Dr. Kim as the guest speaker, while Mr. Joshua Maru M. Panisales served as the emcee. The session concluded with closing remarks from Asst. Prof. Nanette A. Aquino, Chair of the Department.

That's a wrap for Day 1! See you later at 1:00 PM–4:00 PM at the ICOPED Auditorium for the second WELS session, “How International Trade Fuels Global Marketing Expansion,” an exclusive seminar for DAME students.

12/10/2026

𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐲𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐏𝐋𝐁 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

From October 12 to 16, the Department will welcome and host Dr. Myeong Hwan Kim, Professor at Purdue University Fort Wayne and President of the International Academy of Global Business and Trade, for a week of academic activities at UPLB.

His visit includes faculty engagements on research and teaching, networking with the DAME community, and the World Expert Lecture Series featuring discussions on open markets, national wealth, international trade, and global marketing.

See you at the 2-day lecture series of Dr. Kim! You may still register and join us for these learning sessions on October 13 at REDREC Auditorium and October 14 at ICOPED Auditorium, UPLB. Check the poster for registration details!

Read more about Dr. Kim’s visit and the activities lined up for the week: https://dame.uplb.edu.ph/news/dame-welcomes-dr-myeong-hwan-kim-to-uplb-for-a-week-of-academic-activities

From October 12 to 16, the Department will welcome and host Dr. Myeong Hwan Kim of Purdue University Fort Wayne for a week of academic activities at UPLB. His visit will include faculty benchmarking and sharing on research and teaching, engagements with university and college leaders, alumni network...

10/10/2026

𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞: 𝐁𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐌𝐄 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Another batch of awardees, another spotlight for our BS ABME students (Entrepreneurship Track) who worked on their enterprises in these regions and earned provincial-level recognition in the Young Farmers’ Challenge 2026 by the Department of Agriculture!

Congratulations to all of our awardees! They were given the opportunity to further develop their enterprises with ₱80,000 in seed capital.

The regional competition is now underway, with results to come this month on who among them will advance to the national level. The regional stage comes with ₱150,000 in seed capital. Good luck to our dear students!

To sum it up, we have a total of 11 promising young entrepreneurs representing different regions in the country. Our appreciation also goes to their Entrep Track mentors, Asst. Prof. Rei Chino C. Pua, Asst. Prof. Cris Edwin B. Bonalos, and Asst. Prof. Reginald B. Vargas, along with the guidance of the whole DAME faculty.

09/10/2026

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐌𝐆𝐓 𝟏𝟒𝟏 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝

Last October 5, 2026, 65 students of MGT 141 (Fundamentals of Operations Management) went on a field trip across the CALABARZON area. The class visited Gardenia Bakeries Philippines, Monde Nissin Corporation, and NutriAsia, where students were exposed to different manufacturing operations, from the actual flow of processes and the use of machines and equipment to technological advancements in production, throughput rate, breakdown time, facility layout, manpower, and quality checking, among others. The field trip also included Sky Ranch Tagaytay, where students observed operations from a service perspective, including concepts such as the dimensions of service quality, queuing theory, facility layout, and flow in service operations.

What made the experience more meaningful was the opportunity to learn directly from the people working in these organizations. Through the guidance of the supervisors and staff of the companies visited, students were able to better understand Operations Management and how decisions in production and service operations are made in real-world settings.

The students were supervised by MGT 141 F.I.C.s, Assoc. Prof. Jeanette Angeline B. Madamba and Asst. Prof. Ezekiel C. Macatula and Asst. Prof. Camille Anne E. Mendoza, member of the Quantitative and Operations Management Cluster. We would also like to thank our DAME Lecturer, Mr. Gonver S. Valencia, for accommodating our request to visit NutriAsia in the field trip.

It was genuinely fulfilling to see our students encounter the concepts they have been studying in class and finally see them happening in actual operations. More than simply observing processes, the experience gave them a chance to gain a better appreciation of the field of Operations Management. For some, it also sparked new interests and realizations about the kind of work they may want to pursue in the future.

To further strengthen the learning experience, students were tasked to prepare a field trip report where they will reflect on and analyze their observations during the visits. They also will begin preparing for their terminal report, where they will apply the Operations Management concepts discussed in class to actual businesses, drawing from the processes and practices they observed during the field trip.

The Department extends its sincere appreciation to Gardenia Bakeries Philippines, Monde Nissin Corporation, NutriAsia, and Sky Ranch Tagaytay for welcoming our students and sharing their time, expertise, and facilities with the class.

We also thank Leap and Smile Travel and Tour for their excellent service and smooth coordination throughout the field trip, helping make the activity a safe and organized experience for everyone.

08/10/2026

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐔𝐬, 𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬!

Just as in strategic management, stability is also a strategy, and so is knowing when to rest. Taking time to recharge helps us come back with a clearer mind and renewed energy to take on that next assessment!

This week, the Department invites everyone to take a breather and enjoy the little things, whether it's taking a walk, catching up with friends, reading, enjoying your favorite snack, or watching your favorite Netflix movie!

Boost your daily nutrition with Alaska Fruitti Yo! Join our activity from October 6–14!

06/10/2026

𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬!

The Department is gearing up for the upcoming World Expert Lecture Series (WELS), featuring Dr. Myeong Hwan Kim, Professor at Purdue University and President of the International Academy of Global Business and Trade.

A highly respected academic in the field of global business and international trade, Dr. Kim will be joining us for two lectures that will explore the relationship between open markets and national wealth, as well as how international trade drives global marketing expansion.

𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝟏: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡
October 13, 2026 | 2:30 PM–5:00 PM
REDREC Auditorium, UPLB

𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝟐: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
October 14, 2026 | 1:00 PM–4:00 PM
ICOPED Auditorium, UPLB
*Exclusive for DAME students

The lecture series is held in partnership with the UP and UPLB Office of International Linkages (OIL).

For students attending, kindly check the list of courses offering incentives for participation. This is in line with the course outcomes of the participating courses, where the learnings from the lectures may complement and enrich topics covered in class.

Scan the QR code in the poster to register! See you all!

03/10/2026

The Department joins the University of the Philippines community in mourning the passing of Dr. Cesar A. Virata, former Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Republic of the Philippines, who passed away on October 2, 2026, at the age of 95.

Dr. Virata served as the 5th Dean of the then-UP College of Business Administration (UP CBA) from 1960 to 1967. For DAME, Dr. Virata is part of the history of the development of agribusiness education at the University of the Philippines.

In 1962, Dr. Dioscoro L. Umali, Dean of UPCA, and Dr. Cesar A. Virata, Dean of UPCBA, worked together in developing the agribusiness program in response to the significant contribution of agriculture to the Philippine economy and workforce at the time. In 1964, Drs. Umali and Virata, together with Dr. Fabian A. Tiongson, visited and consulted with benchmark universities and institutions, including the East-West Center in Hawaii, UC Davis, Michigan, Cornell, and Harvard. Consultations were also conducted with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. The Ford Foundation also supported the establishment of the program.

In August 1966, the UP Board of Regents approved the joint UPCA–UPCBA Agribusiness Program, presented to the Board by Dr. Jaime C. Laya. Dr. Fabian A. Tiongson served as its first Program Director. Dr. Jose D. Drilon and Faustino “Rey” Salacup, both from IRRI, were among the first recruited to teach management subjects at UPLB. The program was first implemented in 1966–1967 as a major field of the BS Agriculture curriculum, administered by the Department of Agricultural Economics. Agriculture courses were taken at UPCA, while business administration courses were taken at UPCBA.

As we remember Dr. Cesar A. Virata, DAME recognizes his role in the early development of the joint UPCA–UPCBA Agribusiness Program and its history at the University of the Philippines.

The Department of Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship extends its deepest condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends of Dr. Cesar A. Virata.

May he rest in peace.

01/10/2026

𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐃𝐀-𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚

Asst. Prof. Rei Chino C. Pua and Asst. Prof. Cris Edwin B. Bonalos of the Department served as resource speakers during the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Regional Office 9 technical capability training on entrepreneurship, marketing, human resource, and financial management held on September 14–15, 2026 in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.

The training provided an opportunity to share management that can help fisherfolk enterprises strengthen how they manage their enterprises, from developing entrepreneurial skills and understanding their markets to managing people and making sound financial decisions.

For DAME, initiatives like this are part of our commitment to our stakeholders which is to empower communities by sharing the knowledge and expertise of our faculty and bringing management and entrepreneurship closer to the people and enterprises we serve.

This initiative also supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Read the full story: https://dame.uplb.edu.ph/news/dame-faculty-strengthen-fisherfolk-entrepreneurship-through-da-bfar-technical-capability-training-in-zamboanga-peninsula

Asst. Profs. Rei Chino C. Pua and Cris Edwin B. Bonalos served as resource speakers for DA-BFAR Region IX’s “Empowering Fisherfolk Enterprises” training held in Dipolog City and Pagadian City on September 14–18, 2026. Pua discussed entrepreneurial mindsetting, business planning, and practica...