Teresita “Tess” Harina-Borromeo (Rodeo ’74) is a Professor in the Crop Science Cluster and Head of the Plant Genetic Resources Division, University of the Philippines Los Baños. She obtained her BS Agriculture and MS (Plant Breeding) degrees from the same university in 1978 and 1983, respectively.
Tess
Tess is happily married to Dr. Emerlito S. Borromeo, a microbiologist, and they are blessed with three children: Katrina, Ria Mae and Elaiza.
How did you come to know about the UP Varrons and what made you decide to eventually join the organization?
I think I am destined to be a Varron.
I came to know UPVL since I was 13 when I was still a high school student. I needed to find a boarding house which was near UP Rural High School. Alam mo na bagong salta sa UPLB, baka ako maligaw at di makauwi from school, sosa Gonzalez compound ako tumira together with my sister Amor Harina-Oro (who also became a Varron). One of my roommates happened to be a Varronette, Josie Villacorta (Batch ’68). Masipag, orderly and strict – that’s how I remember her. Then, puro Varronettes na ang mga naging roommates ko, all of them belonging to Batch ’70 (my sister, Detty Yatco-Guianan, and Linda Santiago-Tuliao). I was so naive then, but had very fruitful experiences with them. They told me that UPVL is a very prestigious organization in UPLB, matatalino at makatao ang mga myembro, (at halos mga Ilocano). Syempre, mga intelihenteng diskusyon ang aking mga naririnig, pero marami ring mga kalokohan ang aking nasasagap. I witnessed how members respected, cared and assisted one another. Hatid at sundo palagi ang mga sis ng mga brods kapag may meetings. Di pa uso nun ang tutors, may tutor na ako sa Trigonometry, thanks to brod Tony Hinayo (Batch ’70).
I had no plan of joining an organization after witnessing the physical sufferings of one of my roommates after the UPVL’s finals. I wouldn’t subject myself to a similar situation. But a new UPVL evolved in the early 70’s, right at the time I entered college. Having known most of the members, in addition to the new paradigm, logically, if I intended to join an organization, sa UPVL na, di ba?At hindi rin ako tinantanan ni Brod Edmund Sana (Batch ’70), sya ang aking ninong.
What are some of your fondest memories of the UPVL and in what ways did these impact on your later personal and professional life?
The meetings, committees, and the February fairs. I needed to get the permit from Office of Student Affairs (OSA) for use of the meeting room. Meetings were really great, lots of discussions, everyone’s opinion was heard. I couln’t imagine how I took the minutes (being the Varron Scribe) and then summarizing the minutes for submission to OSA, for the next meeting to be allowed.Alam nyo ba, during my first years na nagtatrabaho, lagi akong tagakuha ng minutes ng meeting. Salamat at graduate na ako dun! Di kasi pwedeng dumaldal nang dumaldal kung ikaw ang kumukuha ng minutes.
CSC- criticism self criticism I think was a policy that had helped each member to be more open-minded. I learned a lot from UPVL (punctuality, respect, resourcefulness and to be humane) which had been useful in my professional career.
Tess Harina-Borromeo (left) with fellow Varrons in one of their gatherings in Gonzales compound in the late 70s. From right: Evelyn 'Lyn' Amit-Corado (Crystal '77), Tim Ruel Ongchangco (Crystal '77), Flora 'Pola' Credo-de Guzman (Interaksyon '75) and Danilo Fonollera (Crystal '77).
One of the fondest memories was securing novel items for fund raising during fairs. Sis Pola Credo-de Guzman (Interaksyon ’75) and I had to take the train at 5am from Crossing to Muntinlupa, with an incredible one-way fare of 25 centavos! We went to the New Bilibid Prison to get the prisoners’ handicraft products. We also went to Carmona and other places to get novel items. February fairs provided fantastic experiences, from the making of booths and developing the contents and setting-up of the exhibits. I could still vividly recall when we made the 2 domes out of bamboo and coconut leaves. We spent a lot of time in weaving them. Mas mahirap actually ang mag put-up ng photo-exhibit. UPVL garnered the most symbolic and creative awards ata that time. That was really cool. Teamwork in the committee was the key to success for any activity.
Of course I liked and enjoyed joining and winning quiz contests especially the Chem Quiz and Paramihan ng Alam, which brought pride to UPVL. Nakikilala rin ang Varrons through those contests.
The socialization every Friday was worth remembering. It was the time to unwind for the week’s academic load, kuno. Masaya ang kantahan, kantyawan and kwentuhan.
You’ve been teaching in UPLB for more than 25 years. What valuable lessons or insights on education did you learn or imbibe along the way?
I always wanted to impart knowledge and experiences that I have to my students. But you know, you should not expect that they will all be appreciated. Just be contented that only a handful may imbibe what you taught them.
What are your current research interests?
I started my career as a research assistant in the Department of Agronomy being involved in the wide hybridization project in rice. This project aimed to widen the genetic base of cultivated rice to minimize the disastrous effects of genetic uniformity. My main job was to prepare meiotic squashes of rice for cytogenetic analysis. The work became so routine that I could even see the rice chromosomes without the aid of a microscope! Pagmulat pa lang ng mata ko sa umaga, yong mga chromosomes at pachytene ang nakikita ko, completely paired, sometimes may deletion loop pa! Ay naku, gusto ko naman applied research, so in 1980, I started to be involved in the rice varietal improvement program of UPLB.
Last Updated on October 12, 2016 by Tudla_Admin
Inspiring!!