E-waste Awareness Day at DLSU-D

The Information and Communications Technology Center (ICTC) of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) in coordination with its Environmental Resources Management Center (ERMaC) will hold its first E-waste Awareness Day on 7 March 2014. The event will feature an E-Waste seminar, environmental film showing and capped by a Mangrove planting activity in Batangas.

The event is part of DLSU-D’s promotion in the proper management and disposal of electronic waste under the ICTC’s Project ICON (ICT Creates Opportunities for Nature).DLSU-D students, faculty and staff donated their old, broken and obsolete electronics to the ICON booth for proper disposal by ICTC and ERMaC. These disposed electronics are returned to the recycling plant and proceeds support the annual ICTC’s tree planting program in support of DLSP’s One Million Trees and Beyond Project.

For more details, please visit www.dlsud.edu.ph/icon. 

LEAD Senior Brothers Assembly

Thirty-eight Brothers aged 60 and above gathered last 13 to 15 February for the first LEAD Senior Brothers Assembly hosted by De La Salle University-Dasmariñas and De La Salle Health Sciences Institute in Dasmariñas City, Philippines. Br. Michael Meister of the District of San Francisco was the resource speaker during the three-day Assembly. During the first day, the Brothers visited the newly built retirement community attached to the medical school hospital. On the second day, the Brothers went to De La Salle Lipa for lunch and the groundbreaking of their retreat centre. Afterwards they went to the PARC Novitiate and visited the Memorial Cloister where they prayed for the Brothers buried there. They also spent time with the Novices before heading to a mountain resort in Tagaytay City for a supper hosted by a former student, Mr. Jose Pardo. The final day saw a number of Young Brothers engaging the Senior Brothers in a dialogue and sharing of stories. The assembly culminated with a Mass and a special program and dinner.

From LEAD Story 132

DLSP Commits Classrooms to Yolanda Rehabilitation

As part of De La Salle Philippines’ (DLSP) on-going involvement with post-Yolanda rehabilitations, the Lasallian Justice and Peace Commission (LJPC) attended the Post Yolanda School Rebuilding: Gathering of Partners and took part in the signing of the Pledge of Commitment with the Department of Education (DepEd) last 22 January. Representing all of the 16 La Salle schools, DLSP pledges to rebuild nine classrooms across Tacloban City, Eastern Samar, and Northern Negros Occidental. Donations received by DLSP, though the Central House Administration and schools, will be put to use in the rebuilding of said classrooms.

The signing was held at the Department of Education Central Office. Br. Kenneth Martinez FSC, president of De La Salle Lipa, stood as the signatory for DLSP and Br. Armin Luistro FSC, Secretary of the Philippine Department of Education, for DepEd. Other groups and corporate foundations were also present in the gathering: the Coca-Cola Foundation, Rotary Club, and BDO Foundation, to name a few.

DLSHSI Conducts Groundbreaking Research on Tuberculosis in Children

De La Salle Health Sciences Institute’s (DLSHSI) Angelo King Medical Research Center is proud to have been selected to conduct a first of its kind pediatric trial of a novel compound against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). There is an estimated half a million cases of childhood TB all over the world according to the World Health Organization, which results in 64,000 deaths.

The Phase I trial aims to assess the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (pharmacokinetics) of a new medicine for pediatric MDR-TB developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Otsuka. The company has been conducting global studies on the compound in adult patients with MDR-TB at sites around the world, including the Philippines. 

Additionally, an equally groundbreaking Phase II study at the same institution will also be conducted to evaluate the long-term safety and tolerability of the new drug in adolescents, children, and infants. 

One of the major challenges with treating MDR-TB in childen is the difficulty in first diagnosing the disease in this age group. Because of a difficulty in obtaining actual microbiological evidence of the disease, doctors must often rely on signs and symptoms, which do not determine if the strain is drug resistant or not. In addition, a lack of clinical trials and child-friendly formulations of anti-TB medicines means that there is very little existing information on how to properly treat and dose children suffering from the disease. 

The research team led by Dr. Melchor Victor G. Frias IV of De La Salle Health Sciences Institute's Angelo King Medical Research Center.

Heading the trial is principal investigator Dr. Melchor Victor G. Frias IV, DLSHSI’s vice chancellor for research as well as a practicing pediatrician and clinical epidemiologist at De La Salle University Medical Center.

“This trial is finally putting greater attention on the need to properly treat MDR-TB in children,” said Dr. Frias. “DLSHSI is proud to have been selected to conduct this work and serve as a leader in peadiatric TB research in the Philippines and globally.” 

This pioneering trial aims to answer some of these questions and establish for the first time, safety and an appropriate dose range of an anti-TB compound for the pediatric population. 

DLSHSI, in partnership with its dedicated team of doctors, nurses, laboratory specialits and all other staff, hopes to contribute valuable information that the TB community may use to finally address this urgent health problem.

LJPC Bulletin: Yolanda/Haiyan Updates as of 02.12.2013

Operasyon Yolanda (USLS)

Relief operations in Bacolod still on going as they focus on the areas in Northern Negros. They will be distributing relief goods to Cadiz this Saturday.

Coron, Palawan

Fr. Ed Penafiel, relief coordinator of Task force Tulong Calamian, has sent his message of thanks to the Lasallian Family for the relief goods we shipped for the affected families in Northern Palawan. He expressed his gratitude and mentioned that the relief packs sent will benefit thousands of families in their area.

Abuyog and Tanauan, Leyte

Our schools have once again consolidated the donations in kind that we received for the past days to be able to cater to the affected families in Leyte. We have partnered with the Parishes in Abuyog and Tanauan for distribution of relief goods in their respective areas. All of which will happen late this week, with volunteers from LSGH joining in the Leyte dispatch. 

One La Salle Medical Mission in Pandan, Antique (early December 2013)

Plans are shaping up for this project, thanks to our partners in DLSHSI! We have also partnered with the Diocese of Antique to ensure the organised conduct of the Medical mission. Specific dates will be released soon after travel to Antique has been finalised. For the meantime, we are asking for donations in the form of medicine specifically for cough and colds, fever, asthma, COPD, hypertension, diabetes, antibiotics, anti - tetanus, anti - fungal, nebulizers, vitamins, and heart medicine. You may drop off the donations in the DLSP Central House in La Salle Greenhills. Please look for Mr. Randy Casayuran.

Rehabilitation Projects on rebuilding schools and centers of learning

Br. Jose Mari Jimenez FSC, De La Salle Philippines President, released a letter to the Presidents of La Salle Schools encouraging our them to come up with creative ways of generating funds for the rehabilitation plans. The Lasallian Justice and Peace Commission (LJPC) will continue to assess which areas we will respond to as we commit to rebuild schools.