21/06/2026
๐โจ What a BUZZy Week for the UPLB Bee Program! โจ๐
The past week has been filled with exciting milestones, international engagements, and field activities for some members of our colony.
๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Congratulations to our Program Researcher, Jessica Baroga-Barbecho, together with her co-authors from KMU, Taiwan, and members of the UPLB Bee Program, for winning the Best Video/Paper Presentation Award during the 2-day online 2026 International Symposium on Stingless Bees (ISSB) organized by International Bee Research Association - IBRA on June 17โ18, 2026.
Their award-winning paper, โ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ก ๐บ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ,โ highlights important advances in the understanding of Philippine stingless bee diversity. The study contributes valuable scientific insights that can support species conservation, sustainable meliponiculture, and future taxonomic and genetic research on native pollinators.
๐ ๐ธ๐ฎ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
The UPLB Bee Program was honored to be invited to the 35th Statehood Day of the Republic of Slovenia held on June 19, 2026, at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.
Representing the Program were Dr. Maria Amelita Estacio, Dr. Cleofas Cervancia, and RG Cervancia. During the event, Her Excellency Smiljana Knez, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the Philippines Embassy of Slovenia in Manila / Veleposlaniลกtvo Slovenije v Manili, highlighted the initial engagement and collaboration on our project supporting women-led stingless beekeeping initiatives in Labo, Camarines Norte. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to empowering communities, promoting biodiversity conservation, and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities through beekeeping.
๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐
๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐
Meanwhile, members of the UPLB Bee Program are currently in the Davao Region conducting field surveys of native bee colonies and undertaking experiments involving ๐ด๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. These activities aim to expand our understanding of bee distribution, ecology, behavior, and adaptation across different habitats in the country. The fieldwork will generate valuable data that can help guide future conservation and management strategies for both native and introduced bee species.
From international recognition to global partnerships and on-the-ground research, the UPLB Bee Program continues to champion science, innovation, conservation, and community development.
One BEE at a time. ๐๐