FEU spearheads 1st Ph research on stillbirth, neonatal deaths

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The research initiative “COntinuing care in COVID-19 Outbreak: A global survey of New expectant and bereaved parent experiences (COCOON)” is led by Far Eastern University (FEU), as the Philippines is one of its contributing countries.

“COCOON Philippines is a collaborative project between FEU and the University of Queensland. It is a global project conducted in different countries. We are also collaborating with Mater Research Institute, King’s College London, and International Stillbirth Alliance.,” said Dr. Joemer Maravilla, supervising coordinator of COCOON and adjunct faculty of the FEU Nursing Department.

FEU is primarily funding COCOON Philippines through its University Research Assistance Grant (URAG), a university-wide research time and financial assistance to FEU academic researchers. The project is currently funded until 2026 and is headed by the principal investigator Asst. Prof. Joycelyn Abiog Filoteo of the Nursing Department, with Dr. Ana Nelia Lopez Jumamil of the Psychology Department as co-leads.

The project is one of the first projects in the university wherein two disciplines collaborate: nursing and psychology. It is also the first study in the Philippines that aims to look at the social determinants of stillbirth and neonatal deaths to parents.

Maravilla explained that according to the Department of Health, the Philippine government has no specific projects on bereavement care for mothers who had experienced stillbirth and neonatal death thus, positioning COCOON Philippines in the forefront in accessing and understanding the experiences and concerns of bereaved parents and developing support services appropriate for them.

Meanwhile, according to the 2021 World Health Organization country key indicators, the Philippines has a still birth rate of 10.17 per 1000 births, and a neonatal mortality rate of 12.28 (0-27 completed days of life) per 1000 births. Moreover, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund released an article last January 2023 mentioning that the Philippines has an annual record of more than 25,000 stillborn babies.

“The focus of the country, at the moment, is to help mothers with safe deliveries but in cases of loss, we have no guidelines or in-depth data on it in the Philippines. We know there are cases of stillbirth and neonatal losses, but we do not know the solutions, the coping strategies we can introduce to help the grieving parents. And that is one of the expected outcomes of our study,” said Maravilla.

COCOON Philippines aims to include 1,100 participants, composed of pregnant women, women who experienced stillbirth and neonatal death, and their partners. The data collection involves a mixed self-administered online survey and face-to-face survey in Metro Manila and Region IV-A (CALABARZON). Research participants will receive P250 as compensation for their time taking the survey.

As of this moment, COCOON Philippines already launched it official Facebook page and will serve as the research’s avenue in looking for additional participants. If people want to join this global initiative to improve women’s health and bereavement services, or if they know of others who are willing to participate, they can visit and message https://www.facebook.com/cocoon.

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Due to the sensitive nature of the study, links to online survey will not be released publicly and will only be given to the successfully screened participants.

FEU taps WEnergy Global to power group of schools

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In its pursuit to creating sustainable academic institutions, Far Eastern University (FEU) partners with WEnergy Global, a leading provider of solar energy. The collaboration will equip FEU’s campuses with cost-effective and greener source of power.

The project commences at one of FEU’s affiliate schools, Roosevelt College Inc, (RCI). The solar panels will serve 25% to 30% of the total electrical consumption of the campus in Rodriguez, Rizal. After these installations, the next set of major projects will be in FEU Silang in Cavite.

Standing (left to right): RCI Business Unit Head Tereas Angeles, RCI Vice President for Academic Affairs Gillian Joyce Virata, RCI Finance Manager Analiza Ventura,  RCI Vice President for Facilities and Technical Services Engr. Edward Kilakiga, and

Former DENR Secretary and Advisor of WEnergy Power Pilipinas, Inc. Elisea Bebet Gozun

Seated (left to Right): FEU Treasurer Rosanna Salcedo, WEnergy Power Pilipinas, Inc. President Quintin Pastrana,

FEU Chief Finance Officer Juan Miguel Montinola, and WEnergy Power Pilipinas, Inc. Antonio Gozun

“Investing in better solutions for energy conservation and efficient power utilization is not just a conscious effort to fight climate change, but also our contribution to the advancement in Philippine education. We aim to offer our students and community with sustainable structures that will withstand this century and beyond,” explains FEU Chairman Aurelio Montinola.

The partnership reflects the university and company’s shared passion for excellence and innovation.

“It gives us hope to have a private university taking the lead for green growth. There is nothing like sustainability where it counts the most: the place where we educate our nation's best and brightest,” says Quintin Jose Pastrana, President of WEnergy Power Pilipinas Inc.

Embracing advance Solar PV Energy in FEU is also in line with the university’s commitment to providing quality, future-ready education. It continues to find ways to utilize technology in its campuses, from the state-of-the-art facilities to its outcomes-based curriculum.

FEU Makes Choral History with 10th Musica FEUROPA

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Musica FEUropa, the annual choral festival and competition of Far Eastern University done in collaboration with the European Union in the Philippines, is set to make history with some of the best choirs in the country battling in the newly re-opened prestigious FEU Auditorium.

On its 10th year, the celebration of Filipino and European music and culture returns to its original home, the FEU Auditorium. The country’s cultural center since the 1950s continues to feature local and international performances, including the seventeen choirs who will participate in this anticipated music festival.

“We envision a bigger and bolder 10th run of Musica FEUropa. We are happy to be hosting the competition back in the place where it all started,” says Musica FEUropa festival chairman Karl Angelo Tangco. “For the past two runs, we had to move to the FEU Chapel due to the renovation and retrofitting of the Auditorium. Now, with upgraded facilities, the venue will provide the participants and audience an exceptional musical experience.”

All competing choirs will perform two songs, one from any EU composer and one from the Philippines. In the last nine years, the competition has featured a wide range of classical, contemporary and challenging melodies in different European and Filipino languages.

The internationally-recognized choral festival welcomes respected and renowned musicians as this year’s adjudicators. Joining the roster are choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers Mark Anthony Carpio, internationally-published composer and arranger Jude Bautista Roldan, University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors founder and conductor Dr. Ed Lumbera Manguiat and two-time Choir of the World Grand Prize winner Prof. Fidel Calalang, Jr. of the University of Santo Tomas Singers among others.

Musica FEUropa 10 competition dates are on May 26 to 27, 2018. Admission is free. The Grand Champion, first runner-up, and second runner-up will each receive a trophy and cash prize of P100,000, P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.

For more information, please visit https://www.musicafeuropa.com/ musicafeuropa.com and follow Musica FEUropa on Facebook and Twitter, and Instagram.