Dr. Rommel C. Sulabo (2nd from L) receives his certificate and token of appreciation from the College as a recipient of the Nelia T. Gonzales Award of Excellence in Teaching. (Photo courtesy of EB Carandang)

“The recognition and honor that we give to you is not due to a solitary achievement or discovery,” said Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. as he addressed the recipients of the Nelia T. Gonzalez Award of Excellence in Teaching during the 109th Foundation Day Celebration of the UPLB College of Agriculture held at Nemesio B. Mendiolla Hall, March 6. “We recognize the dedication, the diligence, and the hard work which you all poured into your respective endeavors,” he added. In honoring excellence and public service, the College of Agriculture and Food Science named Dr. Rommel C. Sulabo of the Institute of Animal Science, among others, as Outstanding Teacher for his sustained excellence in teaching Animal Nutrition courses and valuable contributions in the development of courses toward global competitiveness of Animal Science Education at UPLB. The College recognizes his outstanding service for the benefit of undergraduate and graduate students through academic advising, and for other notable contributions in creating a vital community of scholars in the field of Animal Science.

Learning about the recognition

As a seasoned researcher and professional in the field of Animal Nutrition, Dr. Sulabo is accustomed to receiving distinctions from both national and international grounds. Most notable among his awards include the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Outstanding Young Scientist for Animal Science (2014), and the UPLBCAA Distinguished Alumnus for Science and Technology (2016). It was, however, unprecedented that he would receive a mark of honor in teaching.

“It was a big surprise and fairly moving to be recognized as such,” Dr. Sulabo recalled when he first learned about his most recent recognition. “I don’t want getting awards to dictate my effort to do the job I do. My motivation in working [as a professor] is not to pad out awards,” he explained.

Road to teaching

Spending most of his professional life in the private sector, Dr. Sulabo did not intend to work in the academe, much more to become a teacher. It was not until his time in graduate school as a Fulbright scholar that he discovered his heart for the Filipino farmers.

“Graduate school helped me change my perspective in teaching. If I go back in the private sector, the learning I acquired will only be beneficial to whomever I will be working for. Teaching is the best vehicle to influence more people,” stressed Dr. Sulabo.

When asked if he ever doubted his decision to leave the comfort of industry work, “I think I made the right decision although people are telling me I’m crazy,” he said jokingly.

Being a student once, Dr. Sulabo is conscious of the complexity and struggles that students face in understanding Animal Science jargons and technical constructs. To help his students, he first introduces principles and concepts before using practical applications which he gained from years of supervisory work and extension services.

In the eyes of his mentees

His mentees feel blessed to be working with him. Not only was he a true leader, but also their non-biological father. He is open for mentoring, assisting trials, and checking the flow of activities, making sure that everything is under schedule.

“He places high premium on the quality of our work. That is the foremost thing he demands,” one of his research assistants claimed.

Dr. Sulabo wants his students to own their project and experiments just like how he would lead them. Surely, it takes oodles of effort to be in his team but a fruitful experience nonetheless.

Challenges in agriculture education

While many are aware that agricultural programs are declining in terms of subscription which has become a major challenge for the country’s agricultural sector, only the noble makes an effort to change the landscape.

Dr. Sulabo finds joy to deliver talks among high school students and inform them about the science of agriculture. “There is a lot of science in agriculture, especially in Animal Science, from the whole animal level down to the molecular level.”

If only our young audience knows that, and the many careers that await Animal Science graduates, then we could have recruited more students in the Institute. This proves that we have to do a better job in communicating what our purpose is.