Meet CDC’s New Academic Staff

Aileen “Ai” F. Macalintal
Assistant Professor 1, DDJ
(4 January 2021)

Ai has had 10 years of journalism experience as writer and editor in local and international financial media agencies. Before joining CDC, she worked as a senior lecturer at the UP Open University (UPOU) and Instructor 4 in the Department of Humanities-College of Arts and Sciences (DHUM-CAS) of UPLB. She holds a degree in BA Communication Arts (cum laude), major in Writing, from UPLB. Under the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD) program, she also obtained an MA in Journalism, Media, and Globalization, specializing in business and financial journalism, jointly offered by City, University of London in the United Kingdom and Aarhus University in Denmark. She also served as visiting scholar at the University of California at Berkeley.

Jefferson Lyndon “Jeff” D. Ragragio
Assistant Professor 5, DSC
(01 March 2021)

Jeff’s academic training is on communication research and media studies. He has taught courses and published in the areas of communication and society, journalism, mediatization and the public, community media, media laws and ethics, cultural studies, and human rights. His research interests include networked technologies, development communication, indigenousness, discourse, gender and identity, authoritarianism, and populism. He is keen to enrich his perspectives about science communication in the context of the Global South. Jeff is completing his PhD in Journalism at the Hong Kong Baptist University. He obtained an MA in Communication Research from the University of the Philippines Diliman and a BA in Political Science from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Reianne “Rei” M. Quilloy
Assistant Professor 4, DSC
(04 March 2021)

Rei has over 10 years of professional work experience at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Armed with skills on science communication, her work at IRRI entailed developing communication strategies, particularly on raising the profile of rice research portfolios, reporting of research outputs and outcomes, facilitating innovation platforms, and co-managing projects spanning across different areas  on natural resource management and sustainable development in different countries in Southeast Asia. Rei is currently enrolled in the PhD program of Development Communication with cognate in Extension Education. She finished her MS in Development Communication with cognate in Development Management, and BS Agriculture, major in Plant Pathology, at UPLB.

Rovil A. Espiritu
Assistant Professor 1, DEC
(10 March 2021)

Rovil previously worked as a senior science research specialist at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation (OASECIC) and science research specialist at the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) of the Department of Science and Technology. He also worked as administrative officer at the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). He finished his BS in Development Communication (cum laude), major in Science Communication, from UPLB. He also took his Master in Development Policy (magna cum laude), with concentration in Public Administration and Public Policy Management, from Korea Development Institute, South Korea.

Miguel Victor “Miggy” T. Durian
University Extension Associate 2, DDJ
(1 February 2021)

Miggy facilitates the management and implementation of DDJ’s research, extension and public service programs, such as the Los Baños Times. He also serves as DDJ’s affiliate assistant professor. He started his career at UPLB at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA) as University Research Associate 1, functioning as information officer and technical staff. He also worked closely with the Office of Public Relations of the Office of the Chancellor (OPR-OC) as OVCCA’s public information associate. Prior to his regular stint at UPLB, he was an apprentice science writer at OPR. He holds BS and MS (with distinction) degrees in Development Communication from UPLB.

Nicolas Gabriel ‘Kulas’ V. Abrenilla
DEC
(10 March 2021)

Kulas is a graduate of BS Development Communication, Major in Educational Communication in 2007. He is currently a Creative Director at Publicis JimenezBasic in Makati City. He has received various awards for his advertising work and has represented the country numerous times such as in the Cannes Lions International Festival for Creativity, Spikes Asia Advertising Festival Awards and the Creative Guild of the Philippines Kidlat Awards. He also served as Director for Young Creatives for the Creative Guild.

Lilian B. dela Cruz
DDJ
(1 March 2021)

Lillian currently serves as chief of the Economic Research and Statistics Division of the City Government of San Pablo, Laguna. She was a long-time editor of the Herald Group of Publications, a community media outlet. She also previously worked as an English instructor at the Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo, where she also served as Director for Student Affairs and Services and as principal of the college’s integrated school. She holds a BA in Communication Arts, major in Writing, from UPLB and an MA in English Language Studies from the Lyceum of the Philippines, Batangas.

Noli ‘Bonz’ A. Magsambol III
DDJ
(1 March 2021)

Bonz is currently a multimedia reporter at Rappler, Inc, where he also previously served as a social media producer. He covers beats on education and health. In March 2021, he won an award at the 16th La Sallian Scholarum Awards (LSA) for best online feature for an article he wrote on remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic . He also previously worked as a researcher at ABS-CBN. Furthermore, he served as resource speaker in a session of the DDJ Seminar Series entitled Bithayan: Finding and Telling Newsworthy Stories in 2018. He holds a degree in BS Development Communication, major in Development Journalism from UPLB.

Hanah Lee B. Tabios
DDJ
(1 March 2021)

Hanah is currently a science research specialist at the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development-Department of Science and Technology (PCIIERD-DOST). She was previously a reporter for The Manila Bulletin where she covered beats on tourism and transport. She also worked as researcher at the GMA News and Public Affairs, and writer and associate editor for Kaunlaran Magazine of the Philippine Federation of Rural Broadcasters. Finally, she served as senior field reporter for Innovations for Poverty Action Philippines. She also served as resource speaker on multimedia reporting for DDBT’s DZLB Online Partners’ Training in 2019. She holds a degree in BS Development Communication from UPLB.

Wilzen “Aeo” D. Bermoy
Teaching Fellow, DDJ
(1 March 2021)

Aeo is currently pursuing his Doctor of Communication at the UP Open University (UPOU). He has had teaching stints at various universities in Visayas, namely the Visayas State University, University of Southern Philippines Foundation, University of the Visayas, Cebu Doctors’ University, Cebu Normal University, and University of San Carlo. He earned his Master of Education in English as a Second Language at UP Cebu and BA Communication, major in Speech Communication and minor in Journalism, at UP Baguio.

Dennise B. Recuerdo
Teaching Associate, DDJ
(1 March 2021)

Dennise is a Master of Development Communication student at the UP Open University. She has held positions involving proposal writing and program implementation in various government and non-government institutions. She has also done consultancy work and pro-bono projects in the development sector. She earned her BA Communication Arts from the UP Visayas Tacloban College. In addition, she finished a course on Legal Instruments for the Protection of Children and one on Global Diplomacy in the United Nations.